The Giver Quartet

The Giver ***

by Lois Lowry
Book Type: Dystopia, Fiction 

Summary: Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
summary found on goodreads

My Review: Alright I was one of those few kids in the world who never had to read this book in school. So I decided to read it now. And I have to say that it was definitely interesting and thought provoking. It was super depressing at the end though. It just stops and leaves you thinking "really? is he dead or what?" So I like to tell myself that something really was there... Not what he saw, he saw what he knew, but something was there... I just hate to think after everything he went through he just DIED and so did the poor little baby. But anyway, it's not meant to be a happy book. But it was good. Too advance to be reading in middle school... But good. :)

Gathering Blue ***
by Lois Lowry
Book Type: Y/A, Dystopia, Fiction
Summary: In her strongest work to date, Lois Lowry once again creates a mysterious but plausible future world. It is a society ruled by savagery and deceit that shuns and discards the weak. Left orphaned and physically flawed, young Kira faces a frightening, uncertain future. Blessed with an almost magical talent that keeps her alive, she struggles with ever broadening responsibilities in her quest for truth, discovering things that will change her life forever.
summary on goodreads
My Review: This book was kind of slow, but I liked the main character. The story felt incomplete to me. But all of the books in this series have been slow. I felt like Lowry has a good idea for a dystopic society, I just don't feel like it came together all the way.

Messenger ***

by Lois Lowry
Book Type: Y/A, Dystopia, Fiction
Summary: For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.
summary on goodreads
My Review: I loved Matty in Gathering Blue, he had grown up a lot by this book and he wasn't as fun. The story was still so short and slow. The ending was horrible. I hated the way Lowry attempted to wrap up this story. But now I have to read the fourth book in hopes of pulling the first 3 books together and maybe having a more complete story. I think these books would have been better if they had all been one book broken into the different stories.

Son **
by Lois Lowry
Book Type: Y/A, Dystopia, Fiction
Summary:
They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.
Son thrusts readers once again into the chilling world of the Newbery Medal winning book, The Giver, as well as Gathering Blue and Messenger where a new hero emerges. In this thrilling series finale, the startling and long-awaited conclusion to Lois Lowry’s epic tale culminates in a final clash between good and evil.
summary found on goodreads
My Review: This book was SO incredibly disappointing for me. It started out slow, the girl looses everything, and then miraculous the bad guy is vanquished with the bat of an eyelash and then it's all over. Bam. Whole series wrapped up in about 2 seconds. One of the most unsatisfying conclusions to a series I have ever read. EVER. Like seriously. This series was horrific. The first book was interesting, the second was better, the third was best up until the end... Where I wanted to chuck the book across the room. And then this book. Oh my gosh this book. Why did she write it? Like this of all things? I hated this book. It was horrible. Stupid. Irritating. Grrr... Don't read this one. Maybe the first two. But stop there.