Rating: 
Summary: Gathering Blue
Review: This is one of the best books I have ever read. I have read the Giver too. It is also a favorite of mine. There is no doubt that this book should have a sequal. It leaves you hanging and it is driving me crazy. I want to know what happened after Kira decided to stay with the community. I also want to know what ever happined to the dye maker that taught Kira to dye. I believe this is a great book for kids 10-15. It is a huge mystery to what the outcome will. The stoy is about a girl named Kira who is orphaned by her mother. Her mother was her only protection from being cast out of the community. To be cast out is a means of death once casted out the wild beast will get you.
I don't want to give the whole story away (...)
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: What can I say?
The Giver is my favorite book, so when I heard that Gathering Blue, a "companion book" was out, I immediately went out to borrow a copy. What I read disappointed me. It seemed that "Blue" was extremely similar to The Giver (a Utopian society, a special gift, a shocking secret of society that is hidden, a journey at the end) but lacking in character depth or description. In "Giver," I was able to understand how and what each character thought--also, these feelings and emotions are deep ones. "Blue" is exactly the opposite. My hypothesis is that Lois Lowry wanted to write a less controversial version of "Giver" to appease all those in favor of banning it. Unfortunately, however, this attempt simply didn't work. The Giver, and all books with the same idea, will be very controversial--anything less will not bring out any deeply-felt or strong emotions or opinions in us. Bottom line:
If you loved The Giver, you probably won't be kept from reading Gathering Blue.
If you hated The Giver, you will REALLY hate Gathering Blue.
If you haven't read either, read The Giver first and go from there.
Rating: 
Summary: disappointing
Review: I have read both The Giver and Number the Stars and loved them both. They were both deep, well-written explorations of society, past future. Gathering Blue was very disappointing to me after that, and I could barely get through it. It seemed predictable, shallow, and I think tried to define things far too narrowly. The book seemed to me to be just about unfolding its fantastical plot, which was not particularly extroadinary.
Rating:
Summary: Gathering blue...
Review: I didnt really like this book because it seemed so corny to me. Although the scenery and time period were cool, the main charactar really annoyed me because the whole book was basically about one incident or about gathering blue cloth. The ending wasnt that great either. overall, i think this book may be good for younger children...but definatley not for teens.
Rating:
Summary: Another rapturin Lowry
Review: The tale of a lonely, crippled girl who must decide between different hardships each day, is definately worth a try. Torn from her mother at an early age, in a world where she is unwanted, Kira has only a few friends that must help her through the week. Finding the secret of the town's tradition brings her fame, but not in a way she wanted.
If you're looking for suspense, try this.
Rating: 
Summary: Gathering Blue
Review: After the death of her mother, Kira is left orphaned. She is left alone in a hostile civilization after the time of the world destruction. A society where Darwin's law prevails, only the strong will survive. Her angry neighbors take her before the Council of Guardians to try to get rid of her because they think she is cripple and useless. But young Kira possesses an extraordinary talent that pleases the council. Unbeknownst to her, the council has a future planned for Kira's specialty and decides to let her live. Kira embraces her new responsibilities with wonder and excitement. She works hard towards the goals of the council. She begins to uncover secrets of the only world she has ever know. She begins to understand many of the norms she has taken for granted, and learns what is really important to her. Lois Lowry gives us a glimpse of what a future society that used to be our world could be like. She provides an easy flowing dialogue without much of today's bad language. Her style is intriguing in a childish sort of way in this artistic science fiction story. Lowry provokes thought of what our world could turn to, leaves us with an ever thankfulness for how fortunate our lives are, long after we put the book down. Adults as well as children will enjoy this book. I recommend the children should be at least 10 years or older.
Rating:
Summary: Eerie coincidence
Review: This book was published at least a year before September 11, 2001. It is set in an un-named future time. Yet the main character, assigned to study the history of her very primitive world, finds graphic evidence of tall buildings toppled by explosions, and whole cities of her past civilization destroyed. Against the background of current news it is chilling to read. At the same time the message of the book's conclusion is heartening, as a young person commits herself to creating a better and more peaceful future. Teachers will find a lot for students to ponder in this gripping, prophetic book.
Rating:
Summary: Memory and Deception
Review: In this compelling narrative of a dark and frightening alternative future, Lois Lowry has woven an extraordinary tale of memory, deception, and creativity. Kira is a newly orphaned girl with a twisted leg fighting to survive in a primitive society that shuns weakness or disability in any form. Only her remarkable ability to embroider saves her from being cast to the "beasties"-a superstitious aphorism for death. An apparently benevolent member of the authoritative Council of Guardians saves Kira from her fate. In exchange, she must repair the historical images embroidered on a ceremonial robe, which is worn during the annual presentation of the Ruin Song-a chronicle of the world's past. She is provided with all of the materials she needs-except blue. This elusive and symbolic color doesn't exist in her world. However, she finds out that "there be blue yonder." As she repairs the robe, she begins to understand the responsibility of preserving the memory of her people. But her creativity is stymied by the shadow of authority hovering over her. Darker secrets are revealed as she realizes that the Council has its own malevolent agenda. In many ways, Gathering Blue is reminiscent of Lois Lowry's award-winning The Giver. The reader is forced to contemplate provocative issues of authority, community, memory and human nature. In Kira's dismal world, we can only hope that when she finds blue "down yonder" she will find the courage to weave a more hopeful future.
Rating:
Summary: Review for Gathering Blue
Review: Have you ever read a book that is a complete bore? Well, Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry, is one of those. Gathering Blue is a book told by a girl, Kira, who is rejected from society because of a twisted leg. After fighting for her life in front of the council of guardians, Kira receives a very important job in weaving. She sews the robe worn at the Ruin Song Gathering, which is a very long, sad song about the past. Kira has to find and make her own thread, so she seeks an old woman who lives deep in the forest. The old woman teaches Kira how to make all different colors with plants and parts of trees. Gathering Blue has a few strengths and some weaknesses. Towards the end of the book, Kira meets up with someone she has not seen in a very long time. It is exciting to find out whom she meets. A weakness is how Lowry does not make this story interesting until about the last seventy-five pages of the book. Gathering Blue does not have lots of effect on me, until Kira meets that one special person. This story is very slow; therefore, I do not recommend it for children under fifteen. Personally, I did not enjoy the book, but who knows, maybe you will.
Rating:
Summary: Gathering conclusions (2 and a half stars)
Review: I have always been a fan of Lois Lowry ever since I listened to Anastasia Krupnik on tape every night for about two years, because i couldn't read very well. I remember being about eight and trying to read The Giver but ending up throwing it across the room, because i couldn't understand it. I ended up reading it when i was 11 and (of course) i adored it. It is such a wonderful book. So i was willing to take a stab at Gathering Blue. It had a fascinating begining and was working its way up towards a nice climax when things fell apart. FIrst, i think trying to emulate the giver was a mistake. Most people who read Gathering Blue had probably already read the giver, and was hoping for a book like, but not exactly like, The giver. Sure, there are differences: 1. kira's a girl 2. She is handicapped 3. She can sew! 4. Her culture is more in the past then The Giver's futuristic culture. But the key problem here is character delopment. I went through a faze where all i read was Tamora Pierce's Circle Of Magic series. If anyone has read them they know of Sandry's thread magic thang and her guardian/mentor...uhhh i can't remember his name but he really reminded me of Jamison (who'se character needed developing as well as THomas's and Annabell) and basically what i'm trying to say is most of this book seemed like already used material from previous books of ms.Lowry's and other books as well. None of this would've bothered me as much if the book had auctually had a satisfactory ending. But it just seems to leave you hanging with thousands of annoying little questions unanswered, like the ending of The Subtle Knife (another book it reminded me vaugley of) except without the promise of a sequel. Which i urge ms. lowry to write, because this book would be thousands times better with one. This book isn't all bad..it has a promising beggining, an interesting concept, and fascinating deatails (like the adding on to one's name as they get older), but if there's a sequel i promise not to throw it across the room!
| 
