Messenger
Written by: Lois Lowry
Houghton Mifflin Company $23.95
Recommended for ages 11 and up

This long-awaited novel by Newbery Medal winner, Lois Lowry, unites characters from both The Giver and Gathering Blue.

Matty, the orphan-like boy, from Gathering Blue is the main character of this fantasy novel. Along with his father figure, Seer, Matty discovers that something dreadful is happening in his utopian Village. In a place where castoffs from other communities are welcome and where secrets are forbidden, Matty is troubled by the healing power he seems to hold. As one of the few members of Village who can travel through the forest unscathed , Matty is chosen to alert the other communities that Village is closing. He must do this by traveling for several days by himself, posting signs on trees at significant spots. In addition, Matty must reach Kira, Seer’s crippled daughter, and bring her back to Village before it closes. He is warned by Leader (Jonah from The Giver) not to use his gift until absolutely necessary. Will he know the proper time to put his power to use or will he drain himself of all of his energy and disappoint everyone?

For those of us who were left wondering at the end of The Giver what became of Jonah on his red sled, and where Matty of Gathering Blue wound up, this book weaves together the two stories beautifully. Matty, Seer, and Leader are likable characters while Mentor and some of the others are less so. They are tempted by the greed of Trade Mart when they realize that they can become more physically beautiful by trading away their deepest self. We can all learn something about human nature through this great work of fiction.