#0103A Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry

I first read The Giver roughly 10 years ago. It was one of my favorite books. I had no clue that it was part of a trilogy! (I actually heard recently that Lowry was coming out with the fourth book in October! Technically, that will make it a quartet) 

Gathering Blue is the 2nd book of the series and to me, this could be a stand alone book. You need to read the 3rd book, The Messenger, to see how everything ties in together. It is worth being confused how this fits in with The Giver 's story later.

I don't know why, but I love dystopian books. It makes it easy for your "heroes" to come out through all of the characters. Something is always being overcome. The protagonist becomes stronger, faster, and smarter. They stand out in a crowd; whether it is through a power, that they learn that they have, or they have that stronger urge to not die and get through anything that is thrown at them. Lowry makes me want to be a better, stronger person by using her characters as guides. I also like that she uses both boys and girls as protagonists. It is so important, these days, to encourage all young people. 5 stars