Gathering Blue
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| Gathering Blue | |
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 second edition cover |
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| Author(s) | Lois Lowry |
| Illustrator | Lois Lowry |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Giver Series |
| Genre(s) | Children's, Dystopian novel |
| Publisher | Houghton Mifflin |
| Publication date | 2000 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| ISBN | 0-618-05581-9 |
| OCLC Number | 43728928 |
| Dewey Decimal | [Fic] 21 |
| LC Classification | PZ7.L9673 Gat 2000 |
| Preceded by | The Giver (1993) |
| Followed by | Messenger (2004) |
Gathering Blue is a 2000 children's, social science fiction, dystopian novel by noted children's author Lois Lowry. The book is a companion novel to The Giver (1993), and is followed by Messenger (2004) in The Giver trilogy. It is set in the same future time period and it treats some of the same themes. The central character, Kira, who has a twisted leg, is orphaned and must learn to survive in a society which normally leaves the weak or disabled exposed to die in the fields. In Gathering Blue Kira needs a reason for the Council of Edifice to keep her in the village and not take her to the Field (which is certain death at the hands of The Beasts). Kira has a gift for weaving, and the Council keeps her around to mend and update a beautiful robe that shows the history of their society. In the course of the book she begins to learn the art of dying thread different colors, except for blue, which no one in her community knows how to make. She also learns more about the truth of her village and the terrible secrets they hold.
[edit] Plot
This book considers one of the possibilities which humankind might face in the future. Gathering Blue clearly takes place in a dystopian society. People live in primitive, animalistic ways and must revert to aggressive behavior to survive. The world outside the village is considered dangerous and believed to be inhabited by fearsome beasts. Fear runs the lives of the people, and a need to survive drives them to value work and productivity. Children are beaten and penned up like animals so that they do not interfere with the work of the adults. Every year, everyone in the town goes to a large building known as the Council Edifice and listens to the recitation of a very long song. The "Singer" wears a fantastic robe with the story of the song embroidered into it while using an intricately carved staff to help him find his place in the song and remind him of the next part. The story centers around a young crippled girl named Kira, who has a twisted leg. Born into a society that usually euthanizes the weak, Kira was saved from death by her mother's refusal to follow the custom, though the rest of the villagers regard Kira with contempt. Kira's father, Christopher, never came back from a hunt while her mother is still pregnant with her, and he is presumed dead, leaving Kira an orphan after the passing of her mother. When Kira's mother dies, Kira is summoned to The Council of Guardians to determine her future. The neighboring villagers want her cast out so they may take her property and finally be rid of a useless worker. Kira prepares to fight for her life for she fears the elders will agree with the village and send her to death.
Because of Kira's great skill with weaving, she is instead saved from death and invited to live in the council building. It is now her duty to repair the robe worn by The Singer, who annually sings a great concert which tells the history of their people. The robe visually tells the story along with The Singer, and repairing as well as updating it takes great skill. The council gives her the supplies to begin mending the robe, and sends her to learn how to dye her own thread from a well respected woman. Kira's new responsibilities give her a new life and a freedom she has never known. She meets a young wood carver named Thomas, who also lives in the Council Edifice and was also orphaned and saved by his skill in the arts. One night, Thomas hears a sound coming from what he thinks is the room below his in the Council Edifice. When he and Kira investigate, they find that there is a small girl crying in the room. She has the talent of singing, and is meant to be the next singer. She, too, was orphaned just recently. It is the time of the Festival, when all villagers are required to attend the Singing of the Song. At the beginning of the song, Kira and Thomas, who have privileged seats near the front, hear a kind of dragging noise. Later in the song, Kira discovers that the dragging was the sound of chains, chains that are attached to the feet of the singer. Intrigue, curiosity, danger, fear, and love are woven into an intricate plot. Will Kira find her father? Will the Singer be set free? Is all the world that Kira's ever known based on lie after lie? And, finally, who is the mysterious blue eyed boy that is mentioned only at the end of the story?
