3.5 rounded up. This book, when considered as a stand-alone piece, ignoring its connection to a series, did manage to bring me enjoyment.

It may not have been a revolutionary work for me, but it was highly entertaining. I found it effortless to engage with Kira's story. The narrative flowed smoothly, allowing me to easily follow her journey.

One aspect that I particularly appreciated was Matt's character. He added a significant depth and charm to the story. Without him, I feel that the book would have lacked some of its vitality and might have felt a little flat. His presence brought an extra layer of interest and excitement, making the reading experience even more enjoyable.

Gathering Blue tells the story of Kira, a young orphaned girl. She has no extraordinary powers like flying or x-ray vision. In fact, she has a twisted leg that somewhat cripples her, yet she shows inspiring strength in handling it. What she can do is weave, and her weaving ability is truly spectacular. The patterns and colors come to her naturally, allowing her to create incredible designs.

One of the most impactful aspects of the book is the exploration of what makes an artist and what it's like to be one. It delves into the reality that being an artist isn't all fun and games. There are times when one has to grind out the necessary tasks instead of freely creating new worlds or works of art. The book also deals with the可怕的 feeling of reaching the bottom of the well of creativity, of having peaked. However, Kira, along with other characters like Thomas the Carver and little Jo the future Singer, realizes that they were given their gifts for a reason - to reshape the future.
Unfortunately, I had a hard time connecting with Kira as a character. She seems rather aloof, which I think is due to Lois Lowry's writing style. The minimalistic style that worked well in The Giver doesn't work as effectively in Gathering Blue. The secondary characters, especially little Matt, are often better developed than Kira.
In terms of content, Kira's people have some strange beliefs regarding births and deaths. There is mention of worshipping a cross, although they've forgotten the reason. There are also references to p--s and naked children.
At first, as a sequel to The Giver, the transition to Kira's noisy and squalid village is jarring. But there is a growing sense that something is amiss and that those in power are not as benevolent as they seem.

Overall, Gathering Blue offers an interesting exploration of art, creativity, and the role of those with special gifts in society, despite some of its flaws in character development and content.

This book presented a truly captivating comparison. On one hand, there was a society that was brimming with caring and love. People in this society showed kindness and compassion towards one another, supporting and helping each other through thick and thin.

On the other hand, there was a society filled with hate and envy. In this environment, people were constantly at odds with each other, consumed by negative emotions and a desire to bring others down.

Moreover, the book also served as a reminder of the remarkable strength that can develop within a person through adversity. When faced with challenges and difficulties, individuals have the potential to rise above and discover inner reserves of courage and determination that they never knew they had.

This exploration of different societies and the power of the human spirit in the face of adversity made for a truly engaging and thought-provoking read.

Of Threads and Hues


"Gathering Blue" can be regarded as an unexpected sequel to "The Giver". It's unexpected because readers had every right to anticipate a continuation of the story about what becomes of Jonas and Gabe. However, "Gathering Blue" doesn't unfold that narrative.


Set in the same serene post-civilization world as "The Giver", it presents a parallel tale. In this village, life is more primitive, with a cutthroat "every man for himself" attitude. It's a place that is nasty, brutish, and short, where the old and the infirm are callously cast out due to a desperate shortage of supplies. Perhaps the only exception is within the council walls, where a select few are nurtured to uphold tradition and remember the past in their unique ways.


Once again, Lowry crafts a quiet, poetic, fable-like story that is disconcerting in that not all answers are disclosed. For some readers, this may be disappointing. Although the themes of "The Giver" are echoed and delved into, the story of those beloved characters is left to simmer unresolved elsewhere. This leaves readers with a sense of longing and a desire to know more about what truly happened to Jonas and Gabe.

If you want to know what the book is about, read the synopsis. I stopped doing book reports when I was in grade school. If you want to know what I thought of the book, read on.

Wow, what a well-written little story! It's little in the sense that it isn't long, but there is a wonderful sense of economy with her writing. There is no, or very little, extraneous material. No outside characters that clog up the narrative.

I did see one of the plot twists coming and wondered why the author took her sweet time about revealing it to the main character even though as a reader, I saw it coming. Seems to be my trend lately. I keep seeing when writers throw in their version of the "McGuffin" or whatever Hitchcock called it. Which isn't a bad thing, just try not to make it so obvious next time. I'm not sure if the reader should be smarter than the main character. It's like in films when the audience knows something it takes the character on the screen half the movie to figure out. Not good.

At any rate, I love the characters and mostly loved the style of writing. It was told simply and elegantly. The introduction of the world inhabited by the characters was top-notch.

As I predicted, I was sorry to see the book end but was very happy with the resolution of the story. It made sense to me, which I can't say about a lot of books.

When I returned the book to my local library, I went looking for the prequel (The Giver) only to come away empty handed. It is a very popular book! But, then to my surprise, I found "Gathering Blue" had a sequel. I'd love to say I'll be diving in this right away but I have a whole stack of books that need to get read. Plus, I'd like some time to ruminate over this generally well-told story.

Not much happens, but it is still a very fascinating read.

(I got an older copy from my local library and like the older/original cover better than the one pictured.)

I was truly and deeply disappointed with Gathering Blue.

While The Giver wasn't my absolute favorite, I did enjoy it when I read it last year. I had high hopes for a similar level of intrigue in its companion.

However, the story in Gathering Blue seems to be completely unconnected to the previous one. The plot was so convoluted that it only served to confuse me. I never felt that I had a clear understanding of where the plot was headed or what its purpose was. The world in which the story is set is nothing like the perfect society in The Giver. Instead, we are in a primitive-like village that has reverted to the 'old ways'. Women are treated as inferior citizens, everyone lives in squalor with poor hygiene, there is a distinct lack of education, and there is no technology at all. I have no idea if this is meant to be set in the same dystopian world as the previous book.

The characters were the only redeeming factor. How anyone couldn't like the adorable little Matt is beyond me. However, there was still a lot missing from the story. It lacked spark and drive. I was able to finish this nearly 300-page book in little over an hour because the writing was so simple and plain, although still beautiful.

Overall, I am very disappointed with this story. It was boring, dull, and not at all satisfying. I never felt that I understood what was going on, and the lack of connection to The Giver was a major annoyance.

  "Take pride in your pain," her mother had always told her. "You are stronger than those who have none."

1.5 stars

Hundreds of years into the future, the Earth we know today has vanished. Lois Lowry constructs an entirely new world in "Gathering Blue" where the color blue is absent, people suffer from starvation, and they depend on a single song to recall their past. This book offers an intriguing perspective on the possible future of our planet.

Kira, a girl with only one functional leg, becomes an orphan when her mother succumbs to an unknown illness. In this world, Kira must rely on her weaving and embroidery skills to survive. The plot of "Gathering Blue" is filled with several twists that will keep readers engaged and eager to turn the pages.

Similar to other Lois Lowry books, "Gathering Blue" is set in the future on Earth, yet it takes a different path from what most envision. The people reside in a village and are governed by a council. Every year, they gather to listen to a song sung by the singer, which narrates the downfall of Earth and the emergence of this new village from the ruins. Kira is chosen to care for the robe worn by the singer each year. The robe depicts the story of Earth and the history of its inhabitants. It is vivid and beautiful, but the color blue is completely missing. Additionally, Kira is tasked with filling in the blank portion of the robe with what the council dictates will occur in the future.

The characters in "Gathering Blue" are relatively static, as most of what we learn about Kira and the others is revealed in the initial chapters when we are introduced to them. The majority of the story focuses more on the plot rather than on developing the characters.

Overall, "Gathering Blue" is a good book, but it is not my favorite among Lois Lowry's works. I would recommend this book to fans of her writing, although I believe some of her other books are superior.

It wasn't entirely evident to me whether or how this particular work was related to The Giver from a plot perspective. However, as a "thematic sequel," it was indeed quite fascinating.

I noticed parallels in the form of more "rules" within Kira's society. In contrast to the situation in The Giver, where everyone was gaslighted into believing that life was wonderful when in reality it was awful, here we have rules that are designed to exert physical and emotional control over young people and acclimate them to labor in a highly competitive society. In this society, one had better contribute or else face dire consequences. This seemed almost more severe than the circumstances in The Giver.

Nevertheless, it didn't captivate me to the same extent as The Giver. Still, I will persist with this series. I can understand how this would hold significance as important YA literature. It presents thought-provoking themes and ideas that can engage and challenge young readers,促使 them to think about the nature of society, the role of rules, and the importance of individuality and freedom.

This is the second book in the Giver Series. However, it presents a completely different story.

While many of the themes remain consistent and follow the same pattern, different characters and a distinct "community" unfold the tale of Kira.

Kira, who becomes an orphan and is born with a disability, possesses a remarkable gift for threading fabric.

The Council takes her in and tasks her with creating the "singer's robe," a magnificent garment that showcases the history of their community.

I derived pleasure from reading this book. Nevertheless, I was disappointed that the story of Jonas and Gabriel was not continued.

I am hopeful that Lois Lowry will bring everything together in the end.

Overall, this book offers a unique perspective and an engaging narrative that keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

Despite the absence of the familiar characters, Kira's story is equally captivating and thought-provoking.

It makes one wonder about the role of the individual in a community and the power of one's gifts and talents.

I look forward to seeing how the series concludes and whether Lois Lowry will tie up all the loose ends.

In 1996, Lois Lowry graced my middle school in Jakarta with her presence. For a few wonderful days, we had the privilege of hearing her read passages from her books, discuss her work, and even ask her questions. As a sixth grader, I adored her books Number the Stars and A Summer to Die, but The Giver was always my favorite. When we got the chance to ask her about the ambiguous ending of The Giver, I vividly remember her saying that she intended it to be that way.

Fast forward to 2000 and 2004, and two sequels/companion novels were released. I postponed reading Gathering Blue for a long time, fearing it couldn't possibly live up to The Giver. However, during YA Appreciation Month, I finally had the opportunity to read and review it. With some trepidation, I began Gathering Blue.

And I was pleasantly surprised. It tells the story of Kira, a young woman who becomes an orphan when her mother succumbs to a mysterious illness. Kira's world is nothing like Jonas's safe and organized society. In her village, only the strong and ruthless survive. Born with a twisted leg, Kira is completely on her own. But she has a saving grace - a magical ability to weave. After her mother's death, she is saved from banishment by Jamison, who has a special task for her - to weave the Story Singer's ceremonial robe.
As Kira delves deeper into her task, she discovers secrets about the council and the village that could change her perception of the world forever. The book is completely different from The Giver, following an unrelated character in a different environment. But both books share the same theme - young adults with magical abilities fighting to uncover the truth in their dystopian societies.
Kira is a worthy counterpart to Jonas. Her physical handicap makes her character even more complex and relatable. Like Jonas, she has an older mentor who teaches her the skills she needs. The most important similarity between the two protagonists is their determination to discover the truth and inspire change.
Gathering Blue is a powerful story with strong characters. In addition to Kira, Thomas and Matt are also well-developed. It is a perfect companion novel to The Giver and even contains an allusion to Jonas in the final pages. Now, I'm excited to read Messenger and see how all the characters come together in the grand finale.

Full Review Link

Rating: 7 Very Good

**Original Article**: The importance of exercise cannot be overemphasized. It helps to keep our bodies healthy and strong. Regular exercise can also improve our mental well-being.

**Expanded Article**:

The importance of exercise truly cannot be overemphasized.

Exercise is like a magical potion that works wonders for our bodies. It helps to keep our bodies healthy and strong, as it tones our muscles, improves our cardiovascular system, and boosts our immune system.

Moreover, regular exercise has a profound impact on our mental well-being. It reduces stress, anxiety, and depression, and gives us a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence.

Whether it's a brisk walk, a jog, a yoga session, or a strength training workout, every form of exercise has its own unique benefits. So, make it a point to include exercise in your daily routine and experience the amazing transformation it can bring to your life.

3.5 ✨

This is book two of The Giver. However, it felt more like a stand-alone book rather than the next installment in the series.

I found this one to be more straightforward and easier to understand, especially for a juvenile audience. The characters in the book were truly endearing. Lowry did an outstanding job of giving the young characters distinct voices, making them seem believable at the ages they were supposed to represent.

While I didn't think the context was as disturbing as that of The Giver, there are still some issues that might need to be addressed with younger readers. Initially, I had planned to skip to book 4 to learn more about The Giver, but this book was a pleasant surprise. I'm glad I decided to continue with the series.

I really enjoyed it and believe it is age appropriate for 9-year-olds and up, as long as adults are willing to take the time to discuss some of the "whys" in the book. It offers valuable lessons and opportunities for thought and discussion.

Overall, it was a great addition to the series and I look forward to seeing what else Lois Lowry has in store for us in the remaining books.