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Jun 09, 2011

Debbie rated it:

Messenger is the third book after The Giver and Gathering Blue. Readers who were dissatisfied by the vague ending of The Giver will appreciate the glimpse of Gabe and Jonas' important role as Leader of Village.

Matty, who befriended Kira in Gathering Blue, is the main character in Messenger. He is anticipating earning his true name, which he hopes will be Messenger. He knows all the paths of the mysterious forest, which becomes more and more sinister as the story progresses. Vil More...

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

May 02, 2008

Cortney rated it:

Here's the second companion piece to The Giver. I liked this one better than the first, Gathering Blue. Actually, it had potential to be a great book, but it's like Lowry forgot her plot lines and things just fell off at the end of the book.

The first two books, The Giver and Gathering Blue deal with utopian societies. This book takes place in a village with all the outcasts from these utopian societies. It's called the village of the Broken, people with some deformity, disfigure More...

2 comments like (8 people liked it)

Apr 02, 2009

Rebecca rated it:

This book is really good you finally find out what happened to Jonas and Gabe. The end is pretty good but you may be disapointed. The forest is finally at peace.

8 comments like (5 people liked it)

Sep 25, 2010

Jinky rated it:

Reference: The Giver (book #1), Gathering Blue (book #2), Messenger (book #3)

Let me begin to tell you that I had to re-align my thinking since book #2 because for some reason I had a wrong name in mind. I was quick to forget that the main character in book #1 was Jonas. For some reason when reading book #2 and saw the name Christopher, I pictured Jonas. So throughout book #2 and most of book #3 Christopher was Jonas to me. You can imagine how the story must have been different f More...

2 comments like (4 people liked it)

Mar 04, 2009

Jillian rated it:

A book loosely related to The Giver and Gathering Blue, both of which I highly recommend. Unlike the Utopian societies in The Giver and Gathering Blue, Messenger deals with the outcasts of society. Through the main character Matty, the reader learns to embrace our unique gifts. Lowry does an amazing job of painting the three societies and connecting them all in the smallest ways.

Series:

The Giver
Gathering Blue
Messenger More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 20, 2008

Caroline rated it:

I'm a bit torn on this. I didn't enjoy it as much as I did the two previous novels in this "series," but it had such a powerful ending and the extreme geek in me was so excited that it united all three of the books together in such a good way... It's just hard for me.

Matty didn't appeal to me as much as Jonas or Kira had in the previous novels, and while his struggles were interesting I felt it focused entirely too much on the journey through the forest while I was really w More...

1 comment like (4 people liked it)

Nov 08, 2007

Suzanne rated it:

The third (and final?) installment of The Giver books. The Giver was more uptopic/dystopic worlds, Gathering Blue had a Sci-Fi feel, and this one was more fantastical. I enjoyed it very much.

One complaint: if I met the reader on the street (I audio booked it) I would say, "Hey guy, SLOW DOWN! St. Elsewhere has been cancelled; what are your rushing off to?"

Addendum: The more I thought about this book since completing it, the more annoyed I became. It just ends so More...

2 comments like (3 people liked it)

Jul 29, 2011

Peachy rated it:

Messenger is the last in the trilogy that commenced with the ever popular The Giver, and which then was followed by Gathering Blue. Unfortunately the first two novels proved to be difficult acts to follow successfully, in my opinion. This story seemed somewhat contrived, haphazard and written with less creative flow. I was left with a lot of unanswered questions by the end, and felt slightly ripped off and let down. Ultimately I feel the story had the potential to be so much more. Ah, well, More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 08, 2008

Julie rated it:

Arrrrrgh! (In the best way...)

I was 15 pages from the end and said to my husband, "I don't see how this is going to end!"

So when I get to the end, I moaned, and he asked whether it was a bad ending, to which I replied, "Really good--but bad."

And that is all I can tell you. This is one you really must read if you have not. I think I might even read it again to really "get" it.

If you can, start with The Giver and go ri More...

3 comments like (2 people liked it)

Dec 17, 2009

Shaylece rated it:

This book is the third and final in the trilogoy of the future written by Lois Lowry. This is the book that ties The Giver and Gathering Blue together. This is where the two stories of self realization come together and connect with each other to form one more lesson of learning who you are and how you are supposed to use your own unique gifts. I have read this book more than once also, and I love it every time. Just like The Giver and a couple parts of Gathering Blue though, it made me cry More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 27, 2007

Lara rated it:

This sequel is set in the same fictional-but-strangely-like-our-own world as The Giver and Gathering Blue. In it, in another lively and exciting story, Lowry continues to examine ideals and problems of socialism. She also brings in a heated immigration debate. I've really enjoyed the whole group of these books.

However, the very end of this one made me mad. I don't know what I expected, and I probably wouldn't have minded it, actually, except that she chose to include some hints earli More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 08, 2009

Katrina rated it:

This one is way up there with The Giver for me! So much potential for classroom discussion, writing activities, etc.--yes, the English teacher in me comes out sometimes. It can be understood on a few different levels, which is something I love in a book. And the allusion to and symbolism of Christ are powerful. I told Kirk if he doesn't read another novel all the way through in the next 5 years, he should read this one. (He and I read The Giver together during the beginning of our marriage More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Oct 05, 2008

Sella rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Cici rated it:

The 3rd book of the Giver, but I am thinking they're all companion books and stand alone books, even though they're linked.

I'm thrilled Matt is the main character in this book, he did become a favorite of mine in the last one. And I already got a glimpse of Jonas and Gabe! YAY!

Finished! You definetly have to read this book if you've read the others to find out what happens to the characters. This was a good but also sad, nearing the end.

I really enjoy Lois Lo More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Aug 17, 2007

Ngoc rated it:

I LOVED The Messenger! Now I finally understand how it is a companion novel to The Giver and Gathering Blue. It is just fantansic how Lois Lowry separates the three villages, showing how the flaws of Jonas and Kira's towns had flaws which can tear people apart and in Village where people are drawn together, caring for one another in community. What happens when selfishness, jealousy, vanity, greed, pretty much the seven deadly sins come into play: The Messenger is heart-wrenching and the ending More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 08, 2010

Tracey rated it:

Messenger is the last of the trilogy and I loved it. I was quickly sucked into another place and time in the trilogy. My curiosity for what troubled them kept me interested. Lowry's ending, like the other two, took me by surprise where I expected a cliché ending to tie all of the loose ends for a "happily-ever-after" finish. Instead, the ending was perfect and it touched me. I think the first book in the series, The Giver, was my favorite, but the other two are still amazing. I highl More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 10, 2009

Preeti rated it:

Maybe even 6 stars! You have to read The Giver, then Gathering Blue, before you even attempt to pick up this book. You could almost call it a trilogy, though I wouldn't. This last book basically ties the first two together in a simple, but amazing way.

It's an easy read, since it's written for Grades 6 and up. But trust me, a lot of times these YA (young adult) books are astounding, and carry great messages, even while being simple and easy to read.

As with the earlier two More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 11, 2009

Ruhama rated it:

Matty has gone to live with Kira’s father in Village—the all accepting, peace loving and healing place that is on the other side of the forest. Here everyone gets a new name when they are of age, and Matty hopes for “Messenger” when his time comes. He’s always been
good at going through the Forest, which is often inhospitable (adding a bit of a fantasy element to the story). But something is happening in Village, and Matty must go back to his home “town” and get Kira and bring her back to l More...

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Jan 24, 2009

GirlwiththeBraids rated it:

Matty, six years after leaving his life of mischief and stealing, was living with the blind man in Village, a town where the handicapped and misfits have a place to stay. Matty had grown to be a fine young man, found love with the schoolteacher’s daughter, and was a devout messenger. When the town decided that no more wanderers would be allowed to live in Village, Leader sent Matty on a journey. To deliver the messages that Leader gave him and to get to the blind man’s daughter, Matty had to wal More...

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Dec 05, 2008

Denise rated it:

I loved this book. I especially loved how it pieced together the previous two and gave away their endings. Matt was a fabulous character. It really made me take a second look at my life and what I was trading for worldly things.

Lines I loved:

Teasing’s part of the fun that comes before kissing.

He knew that there were communities everywhere, sprinkled across the vast landscape of the known world, in which people suffered. Not always from beatings and hunger, t More...

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Feb 06, 2012

Maurinejt rated it:

It's not that this book was bad per se. It is like the others in this series, beautifully written and deals with beloved characters. However, it would be a stretch to say I liked it. First, the plot elements are mystical which has never really happened before and I found totally out of place in the world. The series has toyed here and there with fantastic ideas, but they could be explained, if at a stretch. The Messenger is dealing with things like sentient forests and paranormal powers and More...

1 comment like

Feb 03, 2012

Alicia rated it:

Six years after the events of _Gathering Blue_, Mattie lives with Kira's father in the village for refugees. He is a lot more tame now and uses his skills with the forest to deliver messages for Leader (AKA Jonas). While the village was once a peaceful place, people that have participated in the trade market seem to be getting more cruel and it's starting to effect the community. Leader tries to keep order while also allowing the people to have rights and soon a decision is made that changes eve More...

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Feb 01, 2012

Roger rated it:

Lowry’s Messenger brings together characters from her classic Newbery winner The Giver and the follow-up, Gathering Blue. Similar to the preceding books, Messenger expresses the theme of compassion. In the alternate worlds Lowry creates, young readers see a miniature of humanity at its most vulnerable and triumphant. She demonstrates the power of giving and caring amongst so much disorder, danger, and ideologies gone wrong. These are worlds where people who have carried out extreme ideas are cou More...

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Dec 27, 2011

Leeann rated it:

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here

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Dec 27, 2011

Robin rated it:

WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS

I really enjoyed 90% plus of this book. I found the ending unsatisfying-- not just because the main character dies, which maybe I didn't like and am holding against the story unfairly-- but also because the story feels like the author ran out of time at the end and sort of threw an ending on in 5 min. There was a lot of foreshadowing of more story throughout the book (which some readers might find masterful-- we have a sense of how the village might continue More...

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Dec 13, 2011

Madison rated it:

Messenger is a book about a village where people who have been in terrible homes can escape to and be safe and welcomed. Matty is a boy who found his way to the village after living in an abusive home. Matty now lives under the care of an old, blind man named Seer. Matty’s job is delivering messages to different people and villages. Towards the end Matty’s village starts to turn against opening the village to new people. Now he must go warn the Seers daughter and along the way put the messages o More...

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Nov 12, 2011

Emily rated it:

This is the second book in companionship to The Giver and Gathering Blue. I was reluctant to put this book into my series shelf, but I was not about to create a new shelf for a companionship that I would only put 3 books on. So series it is.
Yes, this book does directly link to The Giver. Gabe and Jonas are both in it, Jonas's name being Leader. Gabe is only mentioned once.
Matty lives is Village, a place lead by Leader and through the guidance of a wise blind man called Seer. Village of More...

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Oct 12, 2011

Ron rated it:

I picked up Messenger looking for answers and closure. This will be a little spoilery, so read no further if that bothers you. This is the third book in a series of related books that began with "The Giver". I was glad to find that Matt, my favorite supporting character from "Gathering Blue" had returned to become the featured character along with Kira's father, also from "Gathering Blue". Both of the books that preceded "Messenger", "The Giver" More...

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Oct 06, 2011

Burouj rated it:

This book was better than book #2 (Gathering Blue), but still not as good as #1 (The Giver).
By now, I knew Lowry wasn't going to continue Kira's story, but I was surprised that it connected so closely.. this book centers on Matty, Kira's friend from Book#2.
Matty was probably one of the best characters in the second book, so I loved that this book centered on him. I liked the story, the pace was better here, I felt like she had recaptured the magic of The Giver much better than she ha More...

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Sep 19, 2011

Andrei rated it:

This book is awesome! Just the real Lois Lowry writing. This book (Giver 3) is so good, so beautiful...God! I have no words to explain. Some of its events connect quite well with my life. Like for example, Matty has his special ability to heal in his hands. I (not healing), I have the spical talent to play the keyboard. Lets take yesterday. I was playing Fix You, which is by Coldplay. Suddenly (I just don't know, just suddenly), my hands changed its speed. It played so fast, that even I was not More...

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

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