Summer Book #10

Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

Allegedly, this is the second book in the series that began with The Giver. I say allegedly because I am having a hard time seeing how the two are related. I read the blurb on the back of the third book, and it relates to this one, but neither seem to relate to the first. Perhaps book four ties it together.

Kira is our heroine in this one. At the beginning of the book, her mother has died. Kira's father died before she was born, thus making her an orphan. In her society, most orphans are given away to others in the village. In Kira's case, no one would take her because she is crippled. That alone shoulf have been a death sentence for her when she was born, but Kira's mother insisted that she live.

There is an awful woman in town who wants Kira's house, but Kira tries to fight for it. It is brought before the town council, and they decide to give Kira's house to the mean woman. Why? Because Kira has a skill. She can sew like no other, and they need her to repair and complete the robe that the Singer wears at their annual gathering. Apparently, they take those with a skill into the council building, and use them as needed. Sometimes, they even dispose of the parents so that they can acquire the child they need.

While Kira is skilled at sewing, she is only just learning to dye her threads. She is sent daily to train with Annabella so that she can learn to dye thread. Annabella is able to teach her how to dye all the colors except blue, and this is only because the plant needed for it is not found nearby. Suddenly, one day, Annabella is taken to the fields, so Kira thinks she's died.

I forgot to mention, Kira has a little friend, and urchin, named Matt. Matt has gone to Annabella's home with Kira, and he remembers where she said, more or less, the plant to make blue dye is. Matt brings the plant, and something else. Something Kira thought she would never see.

Kira realizes she and the other two children who are gifted are basically prisoners, but she decides to stick it out where she is because she thinks she can change things. Can she? I have no idea because it will be revisited in book four, which I have just ordered.