JU READS

When a young patron came in asking for Gathering Blue and Messenger by Lois Lowry I decided it was time to read these "sequels" to The Giver. Calling them sequels is a bit of a stretch. Gathering Blue and Messenger are more clearly connected. The Leader from Messenger is the the young Jonah from The Giver but it is not explicitly stated. I found these books interesting but not as compelling as the first. (Sometimes it is a mistake to mess with a masterpiece. ) But the books have strong messages about the value of individuals, the meaning of community, the importance of finding and using one's talents, and more. They also present interesting ideas about what the future might look like.