Messenger

After finishing Gathering Blue, I saw no need to delay reading it's sequel, Messenger. It focuses on Kira's young friend, Matty, who leaves their village at the end of Gathering Blue.

Messenger is much better than Gathering Blue, but, honestly, both books spoil The Giver. As much as people might like to know the "real ending", this is the literary equivalent of watching Matrix sequels :-D Apparently there is a fourth book in the works.

( Spoilery stuff )

So really, there are more questions than answers. Where do the people get fantastic material goods? Why was Kira's village so rustic, when Jonas' city was so organized? Why are Village and Kira's village different when they're just a ten day walk apart? Why do the works of Shakespeare survive, but no accounts of what happened to the world? It's the kind of frustrating thing that seems like a cheap cop out with no respect for the reader.

The City of Ember

After reading The Giver sequels, it was nice to finish off the first book in a four part series called The City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau. It's young adult dystopia done right!

Actually, I would say it falls somewhere between tween and young adult. The language seems to fall just a bit short of books aimed at older teens. Lina and Doon are two classmates who switch jobs on Assignment Day and accidentally discover secrets about the only home they have known - the City of Ember, a city bathed in light and perimetered by darkness. Lately things have not been so great in Ember - there are numerous blackouts and supplies are running low. Both 12 year olds are determined to find the way out of Ember and they encounter peril in doing so.

The ending was so satisfying, especially as my husband and I took turns reading it. Lost knowledge is a common trope and Jeanne DuPrau does a fine job of probing this question.

It was made into a movie that we both enjoyed. The movie was definitely an amped up version of the book - I think it could have been more successful if it could have decided whether it was a children's movie or a young adult one though.