Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue is a companion novel to the Giver. It doesn't involve any of the same characters as the Giver but is is similar in theme. It is set in a future dystopian society. There is a hierarchy in society and the most respected people of the society are the singer, the carver, and the threader. The singer tells a yearly tale of the history of all society. The tale is pictured on his intricately woven robe and his carved staff. As you age in society, your name gains syllables with the maximum being four. There are wild beasts outside of the community which are known as incredibly dangerous. And when people die, they bring you to the field, where you will be taken by the beasts.

Our main character Kira has an injured leg and only is alive because her mother fought for her when she was born. Generally, injured people are left to the beasts because they cannot contribute to society. Kira has found a niche in weaving and is incredibly talented with her hands. Her mother dies and Kira is worried that society will cast her away to the fields because of her leg. However, a man on the council of the guardians defends Kira and she is given a new job, repairing the role of the Singer. She makes a friend in Matt a dirty rascal of a young boy who rescued a small dog and Thomas, the carver, who is given the job of repairing the singer's cane.

The book was really interesting in a similar vain to the Giver. Our main character and her rag tag gang uncover secrets about the society they thought they knew so well! Huzzah!