Gathering Blue Chapters Twenty-One, Twenty-Two, and Twenty-Three

                               Although chapters twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three has lots of surprises and action, which I always enjoy in books, I didn't really like them because of the ending. I feel as though it's become very expected of Lois Lowry to have very short, not very well written endings. I really don't have a problem with cliff hangers at the end of a book as long as there is a sequel. I feel as though, even a book is part of a series, it should have a beginning, middle, and an end. Gathering Blue has an awesome beginning and a really interesting middle but the ending was a bit of a let down. The whole book was a climax leading right up to that one moment and just you thought the thing you had been waiting for the entire book was about to happen... You ran out of things to read because the book ended. Other than than the rather disappointing ending I liked chapters twenty-one, twenty-two, and twenty-three. They were really interesting but I felt like parts become slightly random. Like when all of a sudden Kira's dad, Christopher, became a huge part of the book, I was a little bit confused.  I think they should have added more stories and have Kira care a bit more about Christopher than she seemed too. He brought blue, proved my prediction about Jamison correct, knew the truth about the beasts, and he lives in a village that is almost the exact opposite of Kira's village. All of those things are very important parts of the story and I didn't think it was very good to have a character who is mentioned maybe twice, before the ending, play such a huge role in the final three chapters. Another thing I wasn't crazy about the,"Because why?" part. It could have been really cool but it got kind of repetitive and slightly dull when it could have been really dramatic and cool. I really did like the story over all an the concept of the book though. So, I would give the last chapters three out of five stars.

Gathering Blue Chapters Eighteen, Nineteen, and Twenty

            I really enjoyed chapters eighteen, nineteen, and twenty. They were really interesting and had much more action than the previous chapters. Those three chapters of the book, were my favorite set of chapters so far. During chapter eighteen I was really starting to worry about Matt. For some reason I thought he was kidnapped, like Jo, or taken away by the beasts. One thing I have enjoyed through out the book is Matt and Jo's very unique dialect that shows that they both come from the Fen. It reminded me of how in the Hunger Games, Gale and Katniss come from the Seam. Another connection I made between Gathering Blue and the Hunger Games is how everyone's name has to do with something very specific. In the Hunger Games, Katniss hunts and gathers and her name is a plant. Peeta is the son of a baker, and there is a type of bread called Peeta bread. In Gathering Blue, there names express there age. Older people having four syllable names, younger children have one syllable names, and so on. One thing I was a little surprised about, is the fact that Kira is reluctant to have to finish the robe how ever she wants. If I were Kira I would probably hate doing the repairs and be much more excited to be able to do by own thing and be creative. Although the freedom to design the robe would be awesome, I have a feeling Kira will not be able to do anything she wants. I predict that the guardians will probably tell her exactly what to make, the only difference is she will have to make it all by herself. I would give these chapters five out five stars!

Gathering Blue Chapters Fifteen, Sixteen, and Seventeen

                    Chapters fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen were really interesting. My favorite part of the entire book so far was at the end of chapter seventeen where Kira talked about Matt's gift. I liked how Kira valued Matt's gift of making people laugh and smile just as much as Jo's singing, Thomas's carving, and her own weaving. It reminded me of a theme through out The Giver, you cannot have pleasure without pain, because when Jo goes missing the people feel pain because the thing that gave them pleasure goes away. If they had never known Jo they wouldn't have missed her or been upset when she disappeared. I feel really bad for Jo. She is still only a tyke and even younger Matt which lead me to predict she is four or five. She has to work all the time and she never gets to be with her family or kids her own age. I couldn't imagine my life without my family and friends. She also probably gets so bored with being locked up.  I think it is really sweet that Matt is trying to find blue to give to Kira.  I also think it's really sad that people don't really give gifts anymore. I predict that Matt will find blue. I also predict that Kira's dad will be in the book again. I don't think there are any actual beasts. I wonder who was following Kira in the woods that day because if beasts aren't real than what was it. I really like the book so far. I would give Gathering Blue five out of five stars because chapters fifteen, sixteen, and seventeen introduced lots of new interesting concepts.

Gathering Blue Chapters Twelve, Thirteen, and Fourteen

                        Chapters twelve, thirteen, and fourteen were very intriguing. Many of the question I had were answered. One question that was answered was; if there were other people with talents living in the building besides Thomas and Kira. The answer to that question is yes. There is also a tyke named Jo. Although she is a Tyke, like Matt, she is much younger. It reminded me a little bit of The Giver, because in The Giver the people aren't being locked up, like Jo, but they are in a sense imprisoned. The people who live in Jonas's world don't have any choices. They are not allowed to pick who they marry, what holidays to celebrate (there is no religion), and there also not allowed to pick what colors they wear because color has been taken away completely. Although they aren't physically locked up like Jo, they are very far from being free. I feel really bad for Jo, because all she wants is to see her mom, but her mom is dead and no one even cared enough to tell her. I predict that Jamison had something to do with Jo's parents death, because it seems very suspicious to me that the three most talented kids in the village parents die and at that time Jamison just so happens to have extra rooms. I don't think Kira made a good choice asking Jamison about beasts and telling him what Annabella said. I think Jamison is responsible for Annabella's death. He yells harshly at Jo and keeps her locked up and he also snaps at Kira when she asked about the beasts. I think those are three very good reasons to distrust him. I am really curious about what will happen next and I can't wait to read more. I would give chapters twelve, thirteen, and fourteen four and a half out of five stars.

Gathering Blue Chapters Nine, Ten, and Eleven

                   I really like chapters nine, ten and eleven! Although one thing I did not like is that girls are not allowed to read or write. I can't imagine not being able to read and write. I love writing stories and I also love to read! It really reminded me of The Giver. In The Giver only Jonas and the Giver are allowed to read the books. I did like the part where Thomas helped Kira study because I could really relate to it. One thing I am wondering about is if Jonas or the Giver will be in the story at all. I think they might be because on the cover it says it is a companion to The Giver. Although I do like Gathering Blue, so far I like The Giver better. I also predict that Kira will find blue. I also predict Matt will have some type of talent like Kira and Thomas. I predict that because he is a huge part of the story so I think he will have a bigger role than just a friend for Kira. I think it would be interesting if the author combined both books and went back in forth. There worlds are both far from perfect in very different ways. In The Giver everything is to planned out and chosen for you. In Kira's world everything is completely chaotic and in many cases people make the wrong choices. They also don't have enough food. I would give it four out five stars so far.

Gathering Blue Chapters Six, Seven, and Eight

                I thought chapters six, seven, and eight were really interesting. One element I particularly enjoyed was how at the start of chapter six they talked about the bell. I think it was great to put the bell in, because people still having a concept of time made the book seem much more real. I also liked how the author gave Matt such an interesting dialect. Another thing that I have continuously enjoyed throughout the book is all of the detail. When Kira's leg is described as making a broom sound as she walks; it really brings the book alive. For some reason I don't think Jamison is going to end up being very nice. I predict that he is going to end up being very evil actually. The reason I think that is because the two most talented kids in the village parents are dead and living in the same place. I predict that the robe has something to do with the way people live, if something happens to the robe there way of life will change. One thing I am wondering about is if there are people with other talents, besides just Kira and Thomas, living in the building. I am also very intrigued by Annabella's character. I think she will play a very important role in the story. Another thing I have a question about is whether or not blue is hard to make or a secret. I am really enjoying it so far! I would so far give Gathering Blue four out of five stars.

Gathering Blue Chapters Three, Four, and Five Post

               I really like chapters three, four, and five. One thing I am really enjoying is how descriptive the book is so far. At the start on chapter three I liked how the author (Lois Lowry) described the messenger who told Kira to report to the Council of Guardians. The descriptions used really make the book feel real, like when Kira describes the messenger as bored and scratching an insect bite on his neck or when in chapter four when she describes Jamison as a man with calm attentive eyes. One part I did not like is how they discourage anyone whose different. Although it was not the exact same concept, it reminded me of The Giver because in The Giver they strive for a concept they call, "sameness." I also thought it was really sad how Kira was made of fun of because of her leg. It isn't fair how much they belittle her, although she might nit be ale to run or garden it's wrong of Vandara to call her useless. Many jobs require strong hands and arms, which Kira has. Kira is probably much more talented than Vandara with thread and weaving. Something I am wondering about is the significance of the robe that Kira has to repair. Because it keeps being brought up, I predict it is probably much more than just a fancy robe. I was really surprised that the guardians were okay with the idea of Vandara keeping the tykes in a pen when they misbehaved. Our government would never allow that kind of thing and even if it was allowed I doubt the government would support that kind of thing. In Gathering Blue, the government thinks it's a great idea and is in full support of it.  I would give these three chapters four out of five stars.

Gathering Blue Chapters One and Two Post

                Gathering Blue Chapters One and Two

             So far I am really enjoying Gathering Blue, by Lois Lowry.  Although it is very different than The Giver, it is still very good. In Jonas's world everyone has a family and a home. In The Giver release in common, but death of other natural causes is very rare. In chapter one of  Gathering Blue, Kira has no home or family. Also in chapter one, a plethora of deaths occurred (including Kira's mother and aunt). Also Kira expresses her fear of beasts, in The Giver there are no more wild animals. Other than Jonas and the Giver the people believe that animals such as bears and elephants (that are there comfort objects) never actually existed.  Also in The Giver everyone has enough food. Kira has no food at the end of chapter one.

               One concept that I really liked in Gathering Blue so far is how people can tell your age my the number of syllables in your name.  Having age so clearly designated reminded me of how ages were expressed in The Giver.   One ting I did not like very much is how mean the women were to Kira because of her leg.  The women, especially Vandara. It was really mean to call her useless, especially after she had already so much to deal with. It was unfair and harsh of them to judge her.  Also the reason they wanted to take Kira's land in the first place was so they could build a pen to keep their children when they misbehaved. To me that in itself is very wrong. The land could be dangerous and it would probably be unsupervised so the children are at great risk. Also it is inhumane to keep kids locked up as though they were animals. They are only children and have probably not been taught any better. The cruel punishment reminded me of how in The Giver, Asher was whacked with the discipline wand when he asked for a smack, when what he really meant to ask for was a snack.
              I am really liking Gathering Blue so far. I really like the way it is written and I think the more I read the more I will enjoy it. So far it has many similar concepts to The Giver yet is very different. I can't wait to keep reading!
-Margo Kaplan