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Book Title:

Author(s) and Artist(s)--if applicable:

Publisher:

Copyright Date:

Selection Choice:

Brief Annotation:

Your Rating:

Readers who will like this book:

Question to ask about this book before reading:

Question to ask about this book during reading:

Question to ask about this book after reading:

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Sunday, October 16, 2011

Gathering Blue

Book Title: Gathering Blue

Author: Lois Lowry

Publisher: Dell-Laurel Leaf

Copyright Date: 2000

Selection Choice: #5, Novel by Lois Lowry

Brief Annotation: In this companion book to Lois Lowry's The Giver, the main character, Kira, lives in a savage and animal-likesociety during the same futuristic time as Jonas. Kira is an orphaned girl who's mother has recently passed away from illness, and has never known her father. Left to face a society that is unforgiving of disabilities, like her own deformed leg, she fears that she will be left in the field for the wild animals because that is the custom of her people. However, the community of elders has already decided her fate. Kira has an almost magical talent for weaving that intrigues the elders and she is called upon to repair and restore a ceremonial robe that is precious to their community. In her adventures with the other talented children, like herself, she learns that things may not be what they seem and she soon finds another village that is forgiving and accepting. Will Kira choose to join the village for a better life, or will she choose to stay in her community to help spark a change in her people?

Rating: 5/5

Readers who will enjoy this book: Readers who like science fiction, dystopian fiction and exploring social issues will like this book.

Questions to ask before reading: What kinds of things do we value in our society? Why?

Questions to ask during reading: What kinds of things do Kira's community value? How do you know this?

Questions to ask after reading: What kinds of parallels can you draw between our society and Kira's?
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1 comment:

  1. Suzy Kaback & FamilyOctober 17, 2011 at 11:46 AM

    I like the way you used the selection criteria to allow yourself to read the "loose" follow up to The Giver. If you decide to read Gooney Bird Greene, you'll be completing a mini author study this term!

    Your series of questions is an interesting thread to follow throughout the book. For question #3, can you think of a graphic organizer you'd design on which kids could keep track of their comparative (parallel) thinking? With a completed graphic organizer, students have a useful road map for writing an essay about the similarities between Kira's dsytopian society and our own.

    If you like this genre (dystopian fantasy), and you want to read something a little more edgy, try Scott Westerfeld's The Uglies. It's grim, but fascinating.

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