Reviews tagging 'Ableism'

Die Gabe des Boten by Lois Lowry

10 reviews

adventurous mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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adventurous challenging hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Wow. This one will be a re-read for sure. This one felt way more purposeful and focused than Gathering Blue, and I finally (in the first three chapters of this book) fully  understand how those first two books fit together. 

Beautiful, mysterious, and this book in particular strikes an ominous drumbeat very effectively. Like the rest of this series, some questions are never very clearly answered, but you're left with a mystical, un-articulatable understanding on a much deeper level. 

There is so much meaning to mine out of this book, but (as an adult) I find it very accessible, in a Narnia sort of way. There's delight for what you're picking up but you don't feel like you're missing stuff because the story is so engaging. 

Some will want it noted that the ending is
sad. The protagonist dies to save/heal the world, using a fantastical & unique "gift" that he channels but does not control.


As a side note, I love the portrayal of disability as beautiful diversity, as well as the picture of community and loving kindness, whole and marred and healed. 

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adventurous challenging emotional reflective 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 liked how it continued more directly from the previous book. 


There were some interesting plot points that I felt deserved more time and exploration within the village. 

I do feel like the story ended rather suddenly. More so than the first two. 

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adventurous emotional mysterious sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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adventurous dark emotional 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: No

Expand filter menu Content Warnings
adventurous challenging dark emotional sad fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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dark emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious 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: No

Title: The Messenger
Author: Lois Lowry
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Format: ebook from libby
Series: The Giver
Star Rating: 4 stars

tw: violent deaths, child abuse, animal abuse, assault, cruelty to those with disabilities, ableism (a character is called the blind man)

When I first started this book, I was a little apprehensive. I liked Matty in Gathering Blue but he wasn’t my favorite character. I wasn’t super into that book anyway. I was so in love with the Giver, that it was hard for any other book to live up to it. So that’s why I waited so long to start this book. I am so mad I waited so long because this book was fantastic!

The world Matty lives in is just so amazing. The whole world would be such a better place if the world was like Matty’s. There was no selfishness. Neighbors are already ready to lend a hand. People from other places were welcome and treated with love and respect. It was just a truly great place. It made me sad that I live in a world where we are selfish and treat others like garbage. 

While I was reading this book, I remember an assignment from school. We had to write an “ending” for the Giver. Like what happened with Jonas and the baby he rescued. I think I made mine into a happy ending, where they get taken in by a nice family and taught about the holiday of  Christmas. It was pretty fun, even though at the time, for some reason, I hated the Giver. This book kind of reminded me of the ending that I wrote. I wish I still had it. It’s probably not very good but I remember being pretty excited about it. 

I am so mad about how this book ended. I won’t give anything away but, ugh. I stayed up way too late reading this book and I was just devastated by the ending. I just laid there and stared at my wall for a couple of minutes. Thank goodness I have the next book already, as I’m trying to collect a certain edition of all the books or I would have been even more furious because I probably would have waited for the book to be available on Libby. 

Overall, this was a fantastic book. It’s a great tie-in with the first and second books. I’m anxious to see how everything gets wrapped up. There are still a lot of unanswered questions that I sincerely hope get answered. I really can’t recommend this series enough. 

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

I read Messenger in one sitting this morning. I started reading when I woke up, I couldn't put it down.

I am not OK. 

I can't describe the level of emotion I am currently feeling. I am anguished. The only book comparable in my recent reading history would be The Song of Achilles. This book has wrecked me. It's been thirty minutes since I finished it and I can't stop crying. How does a book so small contain so much love and pain? How did these characters capture my heart,
just for one to be ripped away from me on literally the last page? 
I am in shock; I am grieving. 

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challenging dark inspiring mysterious tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Plot
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

I think this book brought something up that's very important about disabilities.

I'm surprised ableism wasn't one of the CWs before I made this review.

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