The strands come together....!

After reading The Giver and its sequel, Gathering Blue, I was struggling to figure out how these two books related to each other. The Giver is about Jonas and his mission to rescue baby Gabriel from his ruthlessly repressive community. Gathering Blue told the story of Kira, a crippled orphan girl from a horribly brutal village, who has a gift of embroidery skill.

They come from different communities. They seemed to be two entirely separate entities. I was confused!

In this book, The Messenger, all the strands come together and make sense. Both Jonas and Kira come together in the same place. Kira's gift becomes more deeply developed into something mystical which helps her see the future. It is Kira's young friend Matty who unites her and Jonas. Matty brought Kira's father, Seer, to the village and is the only one able to travel back and forth through an increasingly dangerous forest separating the two places. He ultimately brings Kira safely through this forest into his own village where she is reunited with her father.

An evil character, Trade Master, is trying to destroy the peaceful village where Jonas has become Leader. His influence has poisoned the forest and the minds of the people. Only Matty, who is gradually becoming aware of his unique gift, can save them all!

The narrator has a deep, rich, expressive, gravelly voice and fits well with the slightly sinister storyline.

I enjoyed this story and have also listened to the sequel, Son, which reveals who is the true mother of Gabriel.

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