Lois Lowry's Messenger continues the quartet beginning with the quintessential dystopian novel, The Giver.
For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.
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"Other than "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, of the four books that make this quartet, "Messenger" is my favorite. It should be read third, though, after "Gathering Blue" and before "Son". Mattie is a young man who is searching for his calling in this ongoing story Lois Lowry wrote about possible futures after the "world we know has blown itself up". Lowry doesn't spend any time on the End of the world as we know it. She describes different groups of survivors and how they have adapted. This one is where Kira's father ended up, for those of you who have already read the first two books, and an old friend from The Giver shows up. Yes, we get that answer as to what happened to Jonas AFTER he left the Communities. But more importantly, this story centers around Mattie who believes his true name (calling) is to be Messenger, but it is so much bigger than that. In many ways there are echoes of other much loved classic stories in our cultures that mirror this. Beautifully written, even more beautifully narrated. Mattie more than rises to the challenge set before him, which looks to all, including Leader, as if it were insurmountable. But not for Mattie, who's true name is revealed nearly on the last page." — S. Carpenter (5 out of 5 stars)
"Other than "The Giver" by Lois Lowry, of the four books that make this quartet, "Messenger" is my favorite. It should be read third, though, after "Gathering Blue" and before "Son". Mattie is a young man who is searching for his calling in this ongoing story Lois Lowry wrote about possible futures after the "world we know has blown itself up". Lowry doesn't spend any time on the End of the world as we know it. She describes different groups of survivors and how they have adapted. This one is where Kira's father ended up, for those of you who have already read the first two books, and an old friend from The Giver shows up. Yes, we get that answer as to what happened to Jonas AFTER he left the Communities. But more importantly, this story centers around Mattie who believes his true name (calling) is to be Messenger, but it is so much bigger than that. In many ways there are echoes of other much loved classic stories in our cultures that mirror this. Beautifully written, even more beautifully narrated. Mattie more than rises to the challenge set before him, which looks to all, including Leader, as if it were insurmountable. But not for Mattie, who's true name is revealed nearly on the last page."
" I like Matty a lot. I like the idea of getting a true name. I would like a name like Friend or Helper or Reader. "
" Likable characters create emotion, especially when they are lost. "
" Yes I just started this last night and yes I'm already done this morning. "
" This story was full of adventure and action. The ending was a complete shocker I found myself on the verge of tears. "
" Not a fan of the ending! "
" i liked this book, it took me longer to get into than the other two but it was enjoyable "
" Not nearly as strong as tThe Giver but a critical piece in the series! "
" I really liked this final book in the series. It answered the questions left hanging after the 2nd. Glad I stuck it out and read this to complete them. I loved Matty, and only complaint would be it was so short! "
" I really enjoyed this book. I liked the characters and the story. However, the author really hammered his views at you. Consumerism is bad, selling out is bad. Living pure and simple is good. In concept I liked these ideas but they were both extreme and there was no middle ground. "
" This was an interesting companion book to "The Giver" but I was puzzled by the supernatural stuff with the Forest, and sad about the way it ended, and what happened to Matty. "
" Loved this book til the end. Sigh.. I wont ruin it for you but it is a sad ending. "
" More symbolic than The Giver or Gathering Blue, this sequel explores themes of the outsider, compassion, and wishes (and their cost). I'm looking forward to the fourth book in the series. "
" This book shows a true story of friendship between Kira and Matty. The only reason I took off a star was because I felt that Gabriel could have been talked about more, even though Jonas is mentioned in the perfect way. I hope that Lowry decides to write a fourth book about Gabriel. "
" I enjoyed his book more than Gathering Blue, but not as much as The Giver. I enjoyed the suspense of what was going on, but in the end still had some questions about what exactly was going on. I can't wait to see where the next book leads. "
" 4.5 stars. Lois Lowry knows how to write. "
" The plot took a while to develop so when the resolution happened it seemed a bit juvenile. "
" This book was awful! I hope Son lives up to the expectations of Lowry's other books because this book was awful. I love The Giver, liked Gathering Blue okay, but this book was just awful! Skip it and try Son, I wish I could. "
" Looking forward to reading the son. I actually think I like the giver much better now that the story is being completed.... "
" A little too cryptic for me. Maybe the last one will tie the whole series together. Is it just me or did it feel like she jumped from a sci-fi-feeling futuristic world in The Giver to some apocalyptic fantasy world in #2 and #3? "
" I loved The Giver and Gathering Blue. I was really disappointed with this book though. There wasn't much character or plot development at all. "
" I LOVED and ADORED this book. It had everything, and everyone, in the series who i wanted to see again! Cant wait to read son! I loved it so much, i read it in 4 hours, and 46 minutes exactly! 6 stars and 2 thumbs up! "
" I read this years after The Giver and Gathering Blue. I was thrilled to see pieces tied together that I had wondered about. "
" I really enjoyed all the books in this series "
" Seems like another easy and eloquent piece of writing by Lois Lowry. Looking forward to it. "
" I always like Lois Lowry's work. _The Giver_ is one of my all-time favorites. This third installment in a quartet is well-written and thoughtful, but a tad slower than _The Giver_. I'll nonetheless look forward to the fourth, _Son_. "
" The conclusion to The Giver series... it was okay, but the other two were definitely better. "
" I liked the way this book tied The Giver and Gathering Blue together. I have mixed feelings about the ending - part of it was hopeful and part of it was deeply sad but beautiful at the same time. "
" Quick read, but left me wanting more. Feel like the story is not yet over. "
" This was a great book. It tied together "The Giver" and "Gathering Blue" quite nicely. "
" When I read this book, it was exactly what I needed. The timing couldn't have been more perfect! Great Read and very soul searching! "
" Lois Lowry's books really question the ills of different types of society. I think The Giver and Gathering Blue were much more thought provoking than this book; The Messenger seemed more of a tying loose ends book. "
" My grade seven teacher read this whole series to us as some form of torture. At least I like to think that. "
" She should have stopped while she was ahead with The Giver. "
" So very sad - I like happy! "
" What a wonderful ending to the trilogy that started with THE GIVER! Lois Lowry is a genius. "
" Story of discovering who you really are. "
" Sort of like Stars Wars, I liked the middle one best but this was a good series. And I was glad to re-met the Leader. "
" A sequel to The Giver. "
" I really recommend reading all 3 "companion novels." They make a nice triptych examining dangerous trends in society, as set in 3 different post-apocalyptic villages. "
Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books for children and young adults, including the bestselling Giver Quartet and the popular Anastasia Krupnik series. She has received many honors, among them the Boston Globe–Horn Book Award, the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award, the California Young Reader Medal, and the Mark Twain Award. She received Newbery Medals for two of her novels, Number the Stars and The Giver.
David Morse is best known for his role as the amiable Dr. Jack “Boomer” Morrison on the long-running TV drama St. Elsewhere. The New England native got his start with the Boston Repertory Theatre in 1971. After six years he moved to New York where he appeared in such shows as Threads (1981). Additionally, he was featured in regional productions of various plays, including Of Mice and Men, A Hatful of Rain and A Death in the Family. In 1997, he won rave reviews and numerous stage awards for his powerful performance as a pedophile in Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer-winning How I Learned to Drive. For his starring role, he won the Drama Logue Award, the Lucille Lortel Award, the Drama Desk Award and the Obie.
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