Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Reading Response

Gathering Blue

By Lois Lowry , Delacorte Books for Young Readers , 2006 genre : special needs fiction

Plot Summary : Kira was born into a world ruled by the Council of Guardians , which spared her life when she was but an infant and her mother and her mother 's father - who was the chief guardian - pleaded with them to spare her life instead . Now that her mother has died , her father eaten by beasts before she was born , and her possessions taken to an aggressive woman named Vandara , Kira wonders about her future and her

br life now , being alone . However , because of her special , magical talent in artwork and needlecraft , Jamison of the Council of Guardians looks at her with favor , offering her a special place and task of keeping and designing the Singer 's robe . On the other hand , her young friend Thomas , whose parents have also departed , and who has a special talent in woodwork , would take care of keeping the Singer 's staff . An old woman , Annabella , helps and teaches Kira in the art of dyeing . However Annabella dies right after Kira hears beasts in the forest , and Kira and Matt suspect that maybe their parents died under the direction of the Council of Guardians , especially after Matt hears a frightened girl named Jo crying from the Edifice of the Guardians . By the time of the Gathering , Thomas follows Kira to her room where the former has prepared a special gift to her - her father whom she thought was already deceased yet her father narrates that he was blinded right after Jamison , his political rival , struck him from behind and then left him for dead . Kira leaves the village to start a new life with her father

Theme : At first it appears that people who are born with a defect or an illness can never help the society , but the opposite appears to be true children of imperfection can also possess special talents that make them unique and valuable to the society

Personal Response : Writer Lois Lowry is a magnificent writer I understood perfectly how it is to be despised in a community where defects and imperfection are enough reasons to be neglected and left to die . I enjoyed reading the vivid scenes , but the part I enjoyed most is when Kira meets her father , who appeared to be a blind man struck by Jamison , whom I did not suspect would be anything but good . Lois Lowry has a talent in bringing suspense to the fullest , making the reader jump in anticipation to another scene that would be anything except boring It made me think that culture and traditions have a way of ruling people especially children . Instead of helping people out , certain old traditions are taking their life out

Extension Ideas

What do you think are the talents that you possess ? Express it with the use of art

Do you have certain talents that , you believe , should be honored and harnessed ? Make a list of them and then classify...