After the events of Gathering Blue Lowry follows Matty when he leaves with Christopher. They settle in the healing Village where Christopher is the Seer. Jonas, originally introduced in The Giver, becomes Leader who manages the village and its altruistic members. Jonas and Gabe have found refuge from their dystopian hometown, just as many of the residents have escaped from hardship and injury.
Several years after arriving, Matty strives to earn the name Messenger. His caring for the people of the Village begins to manifest in a gift of healing. When the people begin to make dangerous trades with Trademaster (a shadowy figure which trades elements of personality for what the trader most desires, wishes which never come into reality as planned).
The Village begins to lose its identity and some even aim to close their sanctuary to outsiders. Matty goes in search of the Seer's daughter Kira before the city can close the borders. In his search for Kira's home (introduced in Gathering Blue) Matty finds his healing gift can be used to save the town from itself.
Matty travels through the Forest, which has a sentience that reflects the health of the Village, it has become more and more dangerous of late. Returning to the Village with Kira the Forest begins to attack the two; Matty must decide what it will take to finish his task and whether his life is worth the changes he can affect.
Lowry's tale gives more insight to the dangers Jonas and Gabe faced when they escaped in The Giver, and a future for the characters of Gathering Blue. The idea of a trade of inherent qualities for intangible, or even tangible goods is explored, along with the consequences to individuals and communities for such a trade. For readers who enjoyed the City of Ember and its sequels Messenger follows a post-apocalyptic world and its different developing societies.
No comments:
Post a Comment