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Book Summary

Reviewed by Matt Berman

Kira, born with a bad leg in a harsh society that shuns imperfections, is left an orphan when her mother suddenly dies of a mysterious illness. To her surprise, she is taken in by the Council of Guardians, given a comfortable room with food and indoor plumbing, and allowed to pursue the craft for which she has an unusual talent -- embroidery. She trains with an old woman in how to make dyes, and is given the task of restoring the robe worn by the Singer once a year, when he sings the history of the world to the people of the village.

But this unusually kind treatment hides many mysteries; what really happened to her parents, why was she taken in, who is crying on the floor below her, and what is the nature of her talent that so interests the Council. With Thomas, a boy with a similarly unusual talent for carving, also orphaned and taken in by the Council, and Matt, a cheerful little urchin from the Fens, she begins to explore the nature of the society she had taken for granted.

Is It Any Good?

4

The parallels with the author's Newbery-winning novel, The Giver, are many. Both take place in ordered villages in a future after worldwide destruction, and both revolve around children who, given the task of preserving cultural memories, discover the secrets upon which their society is built. Author Lois Lowry explored a seemingly perfect future society in the previous novel, but here the society is squalid and hateful.

GATHERING BLUE asks readers to think about the sacrifices they would make to improve an angry and loveless culture. The ending is ambiguous, and most of the questions are not answered, which some readers will find frustrating. The story, though engrossing, is focused on exploration of the society and the revelation of some of the secrets. Fans of the earlier book will find this an interesting and well-written, if somewhat paler, companion.

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