Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry Reading Guide
Kira's life has changed completely, almost entirely over night. After her mother passes away from a rare but deadly disease, Kira is saved from being exiled from her community when the Council of Guardians recognizes her incredible talents for weaving. Kira is assigned the awesome responsibility of repairing and restoring the Singer's Robe, which the Singer wears during the annual Gathering where he sings the entire history of the world. Kira is grateful the opportunity, and the prestige and comfort her new status brings and she is especially glad to meet Thomas, another orphan who the Guardians have singled out due to his incredible talent for carving.
Things are finally looking up for Kira. She has a home, she has friends, she has food, and finally, she has purpose. But when she and Thomas discover a little girl being held in a locked room in the Guardians' headquarters, a girl with the most beautiful singing voice either of them have ever heard, Kira begins to wonder if everything in her community is truly as it seems.
Vocabulary by Chapter Index
Vocabulary from Chapters 12-17
Vocabulary from Chapters 18-23
Discussion Questions
Compare and contrast the two communities we learn about in this book. What is the general mood of each community? Why do they differ?
Character Analysis: The women in Kira's community seem to rally around the cruel Vandara when it comes to ousting Kira from her home. Do you think they did this because they wanted to? Or were they simply afraid of incurring Vandara's wrath? Can you find any passages in the book that shed any light on this?
