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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
I loved the Giver and the books that followed because they each had a strong message about humanity. This book starts strong from the perspective of Gabe's birthmother and her search to be reunited with him. Maybe because I am a mom myself, I could really identify with the first part of the book. The middle, however, slowed things down too much in my opinion. Things picked pack up toward the end, where Gabe has to fight the Trademaster one last time, this time, to save his mother. This last book brings everything full circle and ends beautifully.
This book is meant to provide closure for the previous 3 books in the series by tying them all together with the story of Gabe. It is is divided into 3 parts. The first part is extremely predictable because as soon as you realize you’re back in the same community where The Giver takes place with the same familiar characters, you can guess everything that follows. However, it is interesting to be back in this eery place and to learn about additional jobs that exist. Most notably the one of Birthmother and the following system of creating family units. But for me the book didn’t really pick up until Part 2.
In Part 2 we learn of a rural pre-modern village that supposedly exists at the same time as The Giver community, where Claire suffers from a form of amnesia and her past comes back slowly over time. This was my favorite story in the book.
Part 3 felt rather short but wasn’t altogether rushed. This is the section where the title of the book comes from and makes the connection between the first 3 books in the series. The Trademaster has a large role here and I was slightly disappointed in the predictability of the ending but not so much that I disliked it. I think if I were younger it would have hit the mark a bit more.
Overall I can’t say I enjoyed the whole series more than just the first book, but I was entertained and appreciated a deeper dive into this otherworldly storyline created by one of the most talented authors. The jury is out on what age would be most appropriate audience for this particular book, but definitely would require a bit of maturity.
In Part 2 we learn of a rural pre-modern village that supposedly exists at the same time as The Giver community, where Claire suffers from a form of amnesia and her past comes back slowly over time. This was my favorite story in the book.
Part 3 felt rather short but wasn’t altogether rushed. This is the section where the title of the book comes from and makes the connection between the first 3 books in the series. The Trademaster has a large role here and I was slightly disappointed in the predictability of the ending but not so much that I disliked it. I think if I were younger it would have hit the mark a bit more.
Overall I can’t say I enjoyed the whole series more than just the first book, but I was entertained and appreciated a deeper dive into this otherworldly storyline created by one of the most talented authors. The jury is out on what age would be most appropriate audience for this particular book, but definitely would require a bit of maturity.
Son
Lois Lowry
I finally finished the last book of The Giver quartet. And I shall repeat what I said after book 3: why didn’t more schools make us read these??
Each book has its own moral theme, so to speak. The fourth book beautifully brings the first three together and wraps up nicely. (Not the way I absolutely needed it to, but nicely!)
Even those these are all YA, I think they’re absolutely still good reads for adults. And they aren’t “light reads.” The concepts are deep and the emotions are raw.
I’ll go with a 5/5 - especially considering it’s YA.
Lois Lowry
I finally finished the last book of The Giver quartet. And I shall repeat what I said after book 3: why didn’t more schools make us read these??
Each book has its own moral theme, so to speak. The fourth book beautifully brings the first three together and wraps up nicely. (Not the way I absolutely needed it to, but nicely!)
Even those these are all YA, I think they’re absolutely still good reads for adults. And they aren’t “light reads.” The concepts are deep and the emotions are raw.
I’ll go with a 5/5 - especially considering it’s YA.
Maybe I'm not the target demographic but I didn't like this book either.
There are too many elements that aren't even remotely hinted at in the previous books.
There are too many elements that aren't even remotely hinted at in the previous books.
I really liked this book. The book tells the story of Claire, who we haven't met before, but we do get her history. The book is divided into three parts: before, between, and beyond.
Before gives the history of Claire and gives her connection to the series. Claire was a birthmother in the village where Jonas grew up. She was only able to give birth to one child, through what appears to have been a c-section, and then was sent to the fish hatchery without much explanation to her or to her co-workers or the other birthmothers. She was never given the "pills" that all people were required to take. This caused her emotions not to be repressed and she wonders and cares about the child she had. She goes to visit the nurturing center and figures out who he is and spends time with him. The end of this part is unclear and disjointed, which I suppose is on purpose and shows the likely effect of Jonas leaving the village.
Between picks up Claire's life in the new community where she lives. She washed up on their shores without any memory of who she is, where she came from, and what her life was like before. As she lives in the community, she gets some of her memory back, most specifically her memory of her son. She wants to find him and starts to talk with Einer, a lame man in the community, about getting out of the community by going up the cliff that locks them in. He trains her and helps her achieve her goal. At the top of the cliff, she meets the Tradesmaster and agrees to trade with him.
Beyond has us join Claire in her new life with the trade she made. She is living in the community from Messenger. She sees her son but doesn't introduce herself. However, she does talk to Jonas and tells him the story. When things become complicated, Claire's son learns her story and that he must do something about the Tradesmaster.
Before gives the history of Claire and gives her connection to the series. Claire was a birthmother in the village where Jonas grew up. She was only able to give birth to one child, through what appears to have been a c-section, and then was sent to the fish hatchery without much explanation to her or to her co-workers or the other birthmothers. She was never given the "pills" that all people were required to take. This caused her emotions not to be repressed and she wonders and cares about the child she had. She goes to visit the nurturing center and figures out who he is and spends time with him. The end of this part is unclear and disjointed, which I suppose is on purpose and shows the likely effect of Jonas leaving the village.
Between picks up Claire's life in the new community where she lives. She washed up on their shores without any memory of who she is, where she came from, and what her life was like before. As she lives in the community, she gets some of her memory back, most specifically her memory of her son. She wants to find him and starts to talk with Einer, a lame man in the community, about getting out of the community by going up the cliff that locks them in. He trains her and helps her achieve her goal. At the top of the cliff, she meets the Tradesmaster and agrees to trade with him.
Beyond has us join Claire in her new life with the trade she made. She is living in the community from Messenger. She sees her son but doesn't introduce herself. However, she does talk to Jonas and tells him the story. When things become complicated, Claire's son learns her story and that he must do something about the Tradesmaster.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I am rarely, if ever, a five star reviewer. However, this book truly gave me no other option but to leave a stellar review.
Many of us grew up reading The Giver. I wasn't even aware it was part of a series for a long time. This book ties up every loose end in such a reverent and meaningful way that causes the first book to pale in comparison if you think of it as a solo story. The way Lowry has plotted and weaved intricate details that come together in a way that feels natural but still unexpected to the reader truly rivals many modern book series.
I considered myself changed after reading the first book as a child. I consider myself changed after completing the series as an adult. I have never been so moved by a book and its cast of fictional characters.
Nothing but praise from this reviewer.
Many of us grew up reading The Giver. I wasn't even aware it was part of a series for a long time. This book ties up every loose end in such a reverent and meaningful way that causes the first book to pale in comparison if you think of it as a solo story. The way Lowry has plotted and weaved intricate details that come together in a way that feels natural but still unexpected to the reader truly rivals many modern book series.
I considered myself changed after reading the first book as a child. I consider myself changed after completing the series as an adult. I have never been so moved by a book and its cast of fictional characters.
Nothing but praise from this reviewer.
I am glad to have resolutions for Jonas, Kira, Gabe, and Claire. I’ll still never forgive Lois Lowry for Matty though.
The question I wanted answered here was: does it stand alone? And I think the answer is yes. It's better having read the other three, but I don't remember books 2 and 3 well and that was not a problem. I would recommend reading The Giver at least before Son, but The Giver is remarkable and better than the other three books and you should read it anyhow.
Enjoyable. Probably the second best in this series with the best being The Giver.