Gathering Blue

By: Lois Lowry

Narrated by: Katherine Borowitz

Length: 5 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Lois Lowry’s Gathering Blue continues the quartet beginning with the quintessential dystopian novel, The Giver, followed by Messenger and Son.

Kira, an orphan with a twisted leg, lives in a world where the weak are cast aside. She fears for her future until she is spared by the all-powerful Council of Guardians. Kira is a gifted weaver and is given a task that no other community member can do. While her talent keeps her alive and brings certain privileges, Kira soon realizes she is surrounded by many mysteries and secrets. No one must know of her plans to uncover the truth about her world and see what places exist beyond.

©2006 Lois Lowry (P)2008 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Lowry returns to the metaphorical future world of her Newbery-winning The Giver to explore the notion of foul reality disguised as fair....Readers will find plenty of material for thought and discussion here....A top writer, in top form." ( Kirkus Reviews)
"Lowry has once again created a fully realized world full of drama, suspense, and even humor." ( School Library Journal)

Excellent!

I enjoyed The Giver so much that I didn't think Lois Lowery could deliver such a wonderful story again. I was wrong!

Beautiful story

I love the characters. It is a wonderful story for both children and adults. A strange future view that is both sad, compelling, and hopeful.

great story!

listened for days during my workday. I loved every word. the story gave me hope for all civilization. Thanks.

Giver book 2

Really liked the story, but was hoping it would tie to The Giver. Hopefully they will all tie later?

Great story, but left off with no resolution.

This story is like The Giver in that it left off with no resolution. The two stories didn't tie into each other either at all, so I hope the other books in the series do. The story itself is very well written and enjoyable, until the end.

Uh...what happened?

Much like The Giver, the reader is stuck guessing what happens in the end. I don’t need everything wrapped up with a pretty bow but you gotta give me something. Was a very good story until then.

if you enjoyed the giver this is a must read!!

this book is second in the giver series and it was great! my kids loved it, it isn't until we listened until book 3 that we truly figured out how this book ties into the giver!

Good Story (Can't Beat the First Book Though!)

Another good read. While the Giver was mostly about advanced technology/has a more futuristic feel, this book is more about the past/prehistoric. Definitely gives you another view of how the world could turn out. Keep listening to the books because it really all comes together in the books after this.

and now for something different.

this book is completely different than the giver. the community (Giver) is the polar opposite of the Village (gathering Blue) there are many examples of this and I think Lowery's intension is that the reader pick out the differences and compares the two. the theme/lesson is the same in both books. but the giver is more interesting for two reasons. 1) the futuristic community is more compelling than the primitive village. and the plot arch are opposite. where the giver increases in suspense. gathering blue decreases with Kira on trial at the beginning and finding acceptness at the end. once again this was Lowery's intention. Jonas became isolated by his memories and Kira as the visual link to the memories became important in the village. you have to wait until the next book to find out what happened to Jonas. but is you look closely the link between the book is obvious. narration is good and there is no awful music. the production itself is better.

fantastic!

wonderful book!! I love Lowry and it definitely didn't disappoint. I enjoyed the Giver as well. I look forward to the other books!