Gathering Blue
Lois Lowry’s magnificent novel of the distant future, The Giver, is set in a highly technical and emotionally repressed society. This eagerly awaited companion volume, by contrast, takes place in a village with only the most rudimentary technology, where anger, greed, envy, and casual cruelty make ordinary people’s lives short and brutish. This society, like the one portrayed in The Giver, is controlled by merciless authorities with their own complex agendas and secrets. And at the center of both stories there is a young person who is given the responsibility of preserving the memory of the culture–and who finds the vision to transform it.
Kira, newly orphaned and lame from birth, is taken from the turmoil of the village to live in the grand Council Edifice because of her skill at embroidery. There she is given the task of restoring the historical pictures sewn on the robe worn at the annual Ruin Song Gathering, a solemn day-long performance of the story of their world’s past. Down the hall lives Thomas the Carver, a young boy who works on the intricate symbols carved on the Singer’s staff, and a tiny girl who is being trained as the next Singer. Over the three artists hovers the menace of authority, seemingly kind but suffocating to their creativity, and the dark secret at the heart of the Ruin Song.
With the help of a cheerful waif called Matt and his little dog, Kira at last finds the way to the plant that will allow her to create the missing color–blue–and, symbolically, to find the courage to shape the future by following her art wherever it may lead. With astonishing originality, Lowry has again created a vivid and unforgettable setting for this thrilling story that raises profound questions about the mystery of art, the importance of memory, and the centrality of love. (Ages 10 and older) –Patty Campbell
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars The Girl with a Twisted Leg - KCS
Kira is a 2 syllable girl with a twisted leg. In her village, those who are diseased or unable to contribute to the village are left to die in the Field, but Kira was saved by her mother. The village is of little technology and is ruled by the Council of Guardians. When Kira’s mother dies, she is left alone as an orphan. She is to be put into another family, but instead, the Council of Guardians takes her in. Her task is to restore the Singer’s Robe, the robe worn by the Singer on the day of the Gathering, with her great weaving skill. There are other gifted orphans living beside her, such as Thomas the Carver, and Jo the soon-to-be Singer. With the help of her little rascal of a friend, Matt, they unravel a dangerous mystery that could get them killed.
This science fiction novel teaches you to be brave and to stand up for what you think is right. This book starts out pretty slow in the beginning, and the ending seems too short and incomplete. The author’s writing style is magnificent; she can create another world so well that it makes you believe it is real. I had a blast reading this book as Kira and her friends go through hilarious and touching moments. I would recommend this novel to everyone because it is a wonderful book to get lost in.
4 Stars Gathering Blue, Written by Laura Deemer
“`Can you make blue?’ she asked.
But Annabella frowned. `You need the woad,’ she said. `Gather fresh leaves from first year’s growth of woad. And soft rainwater, that makes the blue.’ She shook her head. `I have nought. Others do, but they be far away.’
`Who be others?’ Matt asked.
The old woman didn’t answer the boy. She pointed toward the far edge of her garden, where the woods began and there seemed to be a narrow overgrown path. Then she turned toward her hut. Kira heard her speak in a low voice. `I ne’er could make it,’ she was saying. `But some have blue yonder.’”
When Kira’s mother dies of sickness Kira is left all alone to die because of her crippled leg. Then unexpectedly the Council of Guardians grants Kira a place as The Weaver. While working to repair the Singer’s robe Kira works with the old dyer Annabella, and learns that they have no woad to make blue. While living at the Council Edifice Kira finds out many secrets, about the Council, herself, places yonder, and their future. As she ventures into ideas she’d never even dreamed of her role becomes clearer. She must change the future to save the town from the Council, and help gather blue.
Gathering Blue fits right along with The Giver. In both worlds there are secrets hidden from the town, and the main characters uncover the secrets. They also both try to save the town and make the townspeople stronger. The leaders of the towns rule the people and leave the people clueless. Gathering Blue has deeper emotions, and is better than The Giver. If you like The Giver you will definitely enjoy reading Gathering Blue.
In Gathering Blue there are more complex characters. The main character Kira is filled with adventure and suspicion. This makes the book interesting and makes the reader want to read on. Matt is her little friend that follows her everywhere, and he matures during the book, to understand Kira more. Jamison is Kira’s defender, who is a suspicious and very uncertain character. Thomas is very serious, and is knowledgeable. He helps Kira unravel the secrets of the council.
In the end, Louis Lowry leaves you to imagine what happens to Kira next. I was disappointed that it was another cliffhanger ending. The book could have used a little more resolution, like The Giver. I was so frustrated when I didn’t get to find out if Kira actually succeeded in her mission or not. I’ll always be wondering what happened. Read the book Gathering Blue and see what you think will happen to Kira after all. Happy reading!
5 Stars A time-honored tradition - Power
Gathering Blue, like The Giver, delves into a recurring theme found in humanity - power and control and the consequences thereof. Once humans moved beyond hunter and gatherer and created complex societies, a hierarchical class structure also developed - the Haves and the Have Nots. Lowery delves into this class structure by blatantly pointing out how power, in the hands of the few, shape society to their liking - at a cost. Both Gathering Blue and The Giver illuminate this aspect of human society irregardless of time period or setting; it is yet present today in the USA as it was in the Middle Ages. I believe this is one theme, Lowery may want the reader to think about.
4 Stars Good read
This book was interesting and a parrallel to The Giver, being a primitice society while The Giver presented a futuristic society. This is a worthwhile book like I said, but I read it because I was told it was a “companion” to The Giver, which is my favorite book. If you are looking to find out what happens to Jonas and Gabe by reading this book you won’t find an answer! The conclusions of the characters from both The Giver and Gathering Blue are given in the third companion, The Messenger.
4 Stars Gathering “Blue” Against the Savagery
In this post-apocalyptic society, culture has regressed to a primitive form, with art and advanced technology being almost completely lost. This scenario seems more believable than the advanced, utopian society of The Giver; Lowry presents the savagery of human nature when it needs to survive. The few artists here are the rational, creative opposite of that instinct (while also being enslaved to it).
Despite being written for young readers, Lowry does not talk down to her audience or point out the blatantly obvious, as so many writers in this genre do. I’ve always appreciated her writing for that, and this holds up to her standard. The characters are solid, sometimes even truly shocking in their capabilities for cruelty. I enjoyed the symbolism she hints at with gathering, literally, “blue”– the color of peace and calm that is gone from their particular village.
I do have one nitpick: the ending. While the story builds up to an ominously dangerous scenario for the main characters, it then ends, and on an oddly optimistic note. I understand the sequel, Messenger, picks up a few years after this book ends; now I have no choice but to read it! Instead of making Gathering Blue self-contained, as The Giver is, Lowry leaves the bulk of the resolution to the next book. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but the sudden (and a little too cheery) ending threw me off.
