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Summary: Got the Blues, by Noah Downes
Review: I thought this book was very imaginative and hard to put down. It had an unusual plot with interesting characters. As in "The Giver," the community was communistic yet the people had more freedom. The way the community was set up was kind of twisted. The "Elders" used people with special talents to preserve the past intact for future people. One person was supposed to sew scenes of history onto a cloak. Another was supposed to carve scenes on a staff. Then a singer was supposed to sing the events that happened. Another thing I found interesting was when a lost character returned. Kira's mother, Katrina, had told her that Kira's father Christopher was dead. By the end of the book, he turns up in Kira's life again. Though like "The Giver," I did not like the way the book ended, the author does tell the reader what's going on at the end. I never got a full description about what happened, though I suppose, the author may want the reader to imagine what would happen.
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Summary: I predict another Newberry Award for this book
Review: Every bit as good as The Giver. Not exactly a sequel, but set in the same time frame. I think this clears up the controversy about the ending of The Giver. This book would be a great read for high school, or adult book discussions.
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Summary: Too many loose threads...
Review: Although I greatly admire the writing of Lois Lowry, I was disappointed with this book. It had a compelling premise and the potential to provide an interesting contrast to "The Giver". Unlike "The Giver", however, "Gathering Blue" raises questions that are not satisfactorily resolved in the conclusion of the story. At the end, the reader has ample evidence to doubt that the young characters will be able to bring about a new and brighter society for the brutish and morally challenged people in their community. How long, for example, will it take for the authorities to discover that the young girl has obtained blue thread or the plant capable of producing the color blue? How patient will the authorities be when she begins to stitch a future different that the one they have in mind? How much discretion will the young boy have to carve out a new future on the Singing Stick? How long will it take the Council to discover and destroy the healing community? Indeed, how long will it be before all three young people are deemed to be dispensible, and fall victim to the typical accident or illness? Of course, their special talents may give them some protection, but only until a creative replacement can be found. Consider, for example, the fate of the two women who created beautiful dyes. At the conclusion of the "The Giver", one has hope for the main character and his small charge. Escape was the only route for him, and his absence, the only hope for the society he left behind. In "Gathering Blue" one sees no real hope that the main character's decision to stay will result in anything other than a senseless and preventable death. Plot elements seemed less well developed than is typical of Lois Lowry's work. For example, why are pages devoted to helping the 3 year old signal her older friends upstairs, when this is a lost element in the story? The idea of name syllables to denote age was a good one, but there are too few examples given to show how the names of the main characters might develop, and no examples of a four syllable man's name to provide any clues. The mystery of the children's talents is also not fully developed. Is magic involved? Moral superiority? A divine gift? Perhaps this is part of the storyteller's plan - to tell less than the reader wants to know. But so many unresolved questions ultimately interferred with my enjoyment of a book I truly wanted to like.
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Summary: Lois Lowry and Gathering Blue
Review: The Giver was my favorite book until I read Gathering Blue! This new book by Lowry is as intriguing as The Giver, and gives the reader more to think about. Science fiction is not my favorite genre, but these books are definitely an exception. Kira, the main character, is a likeable, compassionate young woman who is saved from death because of her talent for embroidery which she had learned from her mother. Matt, her friend is enjoyable in his naivity, but he definitly becomes a valuable friend. Thomas, the Carver, is interesting because of his artistry and background being so similar to Kira's. The theme of the artist as the predictor of the future is an interesting theme. This book explores the value that artist's bring to society, as well as, the importance of community and of love among humans. The idea of the artist being controlled by the state is interesting because of the many struggles our country has against/for censorship in the arts. I would recommend this book to young adults as well as adults.
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Summary: IT MADE ME BLUE ;-D
Review: If you lived in a world that was continually devestated, in a place where powerful athorities controlled the world and kept all their secrets hidden, where you had to fight for food, you'd be living in the setting of Gathering Blue, Ms. Lowry's new release. In this story, much like Ms. Lowry's classic The Giver, a young person, different from the rest of their age group, is singled out to do great things. Kira, an orphaned girl with a crippled leg, is sent to live with a select group of marvelously talented children. She meets Thomas, a skilled woodworker, and Jo, a girl with an amazing voice. Eventually, Kira realizes she and her friends are prisoners, like Jonas did in The Giver, but she does not take any action on the fact. The story has a very bad ending, she ends up staying where she is, not caring she is just a slave for the Athorities, so maybe there's a sequel. I really hope so. The writing is beautiful. This story is a New York Times Bestseller. Lois Lowry has won awards for Number the Stars and The Giver previouly.
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Summary: Beautiful
Review: Here's a touching novel with a great moral. Kira, the main character of Gathering Blue is a girl with a lame leg who lives in a future world that has a simple rule - all those who are weak must go. Somehow, Kira's mother saved her from the demise; but now that Kira's mother is dead, the first thing that happens to Kira is that she is accused of being lame and brought to the council of Guardians. Surprisingly, the Council saves Kira because of the special gift she has to make beautiful embroidery. Kira stays in a special room and discovers another child like her who also has a unique talent named Thomas. Kira, Thomas, and a younger boy named Matt together find the secret of their village. This is a great book for all teens.
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Summary: Wasn't satisfied
Review: I remember reading "The Giver" a few years back and being absolutely drawn into it. I couldn't believe the imagination Lois Lowry had and it became my all-time favorite book, just in one day. So recently I discovered "Gathering Blue" and was willing to give it a try. I was very disappointed. The setting of the story was all too familiar, and the ending was very predictable. Even the "singled out child" type of plot was the same. I was looking for something different and fresh, not just a mere copy of "The Giver." I applaud Lois Lowry for her attempt to make "Gathering Blue" as worthy as "The Giver" but in my opinion, it was hardly that.
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Summary: Remarkable
Review: This novel is a remarkable book, one level better and stronger than The Giver. It's a utopia, a dystopia, an exploration of the role of the artist in society, and--to my great surprise--a spiritual allegory of such quiet beauty that I was astonished. The weaknesses of C.S. Lewis or Madeleine L'Engle are completely transcended by this piece. This is the best book Lois Lowry has ever written.
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Summary: A good read
Review: I grabbed this book on the way to the cash register because I am a fan of "The Giver". I started reading it when I got home and couldn't put it down. It is an interesting read and I recommend it.
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Summary: Very well done
Review: Kira knows she has no one to care about her, not even her uncle, now that her beloved mother has Katrina died. Her father died before she was born. Her mother barely kept Kira alive when their people wanted the newborn with the deformed leg left in the Field of Leaving. Kira knows that her neighbors hate her for her twisted leg and though a recognized skilled weaver will probably force to leave the village. Kira becomes frightened when the Council of Guardians summons her. To her shock, they bestow on her the honor of caretaker of the sacred Singer's robe, a garment that depicts the history of the world. They need her skills to repair damaged segments of the ceremonial garb. Kira moves into the Council Edifice, a structure that survived the Ruin that destroyed a previously advanced technological world. However, her new haven soon feels like a prison as the Guardians tell Kira what to do. She begins to question society, leaving her to wonder what she can do to make the world a freer place. GATHERING BLUE is an intriguing post apocalypse look at a society in which artistic creativity wars with the "common good." Middle school readers will enjoy the story line that depicts a young girl learning about responsibility while challenging the absolute dictatorial adult authority that rules her activities. Although Kira seems feeble at times for her sacred role, the ensemble is fully developed and provide insight into a society struggling to survive. Hopefully future books will give the audience deeper looks at why the Ruin occurred, but for now readers have this novel and Lois Lowry's previous tale, THE GIVER, set in the same world. Harriet Klausner
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