Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue



by Lois Lowry



ISBN:0-553-49478-3,



Bantam Books, New York, 2005







Plot Summary: Kira is a weaver and in her weaving she hears warnings about the future. It is her weaving that makes her special, as she is crippled and in her village they cast aside crippled people and actually leave them to die. As she faces the Council of Edifice, she fears for her life and thinks they might send her away. It is her weaving that they value; and they choose her to make the robe for the Singer. This is a very important job, and Kira takes it seriously. In addition through her weaving Kira learns the deep dark secrets of this village and also realizes that she can stay and make a difference in the future of her village. She plans to stay and work on the robe and learn more and she also plans to introduce blue to the robe and create a better world for the people of her village.







Critical Evaluation: In this second book of The Giver trilogy, Lowry creates another story where the protagonist faces difficult choices. Kira also faces possible death at the hands of the Council of Edifice depending on if she can prove herself worthy. As Kira learns the hard truth about her village, she like Jonas must make hard choices and face the realities of the village. For teens, this challenges her readers to again consider social constructions such as history, but also the power one person holds. Kira acts with agency and largley on her own.







Reader's Annotation: Kira loses her mom, and then learns she will go before the Council of Edifice and learn her future. The council learns she is a skilled weaver and assign her the important task of completeing the ceremonial robe for the Singer.







Information about the author: Lois Lowry moved a great deal in her childhood as her father was in the military, then she married a military man as well and raised four children. She also managed to finish both a Bachelor's and Graduate degree as a mother and started to write. She has written many books and series including The Giver trilogy, and Anastasia Krupnik. She claims that all of her stories vary in style and place, but hold one constant; they all explore the "importance of human connections" (Lowis Lowry). Lowry continues to write, and is now a grandmother as well. One can read her blog and find out more about her interesting life and writing on her website: http://www.loislowry.com/.





Genre: YA Science Fiction





Curriculum Ties: History, Sociology, Language Arts





Booktalking ideas:


1.) Why does Kira feel blue is so important to the robe?





2.) Annabella claims there are no beasts in the forest; so why do those in power want the people to believe there are?





3.) In Kira's village, the more syllables in one's name, the older they are. Would you like a system like this where as soon as you met someone, you knew about how old they are and how wise they might be.





Reading Level/ Interest Age: 7th grade and up/ 7th grade - 12th





Challenge ideas: Death/ euthenasia



Defense: I would include information regarding Lowry's beliefs on censorship.

I would also share the selection policies for San Diego County Libraries: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf





Why include this book: This book like its predecessor challenges readers to evaluate their societies, cultures, and history. Kira faces difficult choices and learns some truths about her village which are hard to process, this teaches teens to act with agency and evaluate their cultures.