History Literature / GatheringBlue

''Gathering Blue'', written by Lois Lowry, is a story set within the universe of her earlier YA novel, ''Literature/{{The Giver}}''. It is part of the ''Literature/TheGiverQuartet'' and followed by ''Literature/{{Messenger}}''.

* Foreshadowing: Towards the end of the book, Matt tells Kira about a boy about her age with bright blue eyes (in the village her father now lives in) and suggests she could marry him. Between ''Messenger'' and ''Son'' [[spoiler: she does just that]]. Not to mention the fact that the boy [[spoiler: turns out to be Jonas]].

* ContinuityNod: A boy looking like Jonas in another community is mentioned to Kira.

** Kira, whose mother dies in the opening. Also Thomas and Jo, who are similarly orphaned.

* AbusiveParents: It's implied that abusive parents aren't the norm (most notably, Kira expresses skepticism at the idea that a father would commit suicide and leave his young daughter alone), but we never seem to see the ones who aren't (except in Kira's memories of her mother [[spoiler:and eventually her interaction with her father]]). Very few parents are shown as positive. Neglect, physical and emotional abuse are all used against "tykes" and there is little sympathy for them. Kira's mother is the lone aversion, and [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest she's dead.]]

* AbusiveParents: It's implied that abusive parents aren't the norm (most notably, Kira expresses skepticism at the idea that a father would commit suicide and leave his young daughter alone), but we never seem to see the ones who aren't. Very few parents are shown as positive. Neglect, physical and emotional abuse are all used against "tykes" and there is little sympathy for them. Kira's mother is the lone aversion, and [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest she's dead.]]

* AbusiveParents: While it's implied that abusive parents aren't the norm (most notably, Kira expresses skepticism at the idea that a father would commit suicide and leave his young daughter alone), but we never seem to see the ones who aren't. Very few parents are shown as positive. Neglect, physical and emotional abuse are all used against "tykes" and there is little sympathy for them. Kira's mother is the lone aversion, and [[DeceasedParentsAreTheBest she's dead.]]

%%* TheChosenOne: Kira, as well as Thomas and [[spoiler:Jo.]]

* GoodScarsEvilScars: Vandara has a scar that goes down her face and uses it to boast how she fought off a beast. Subverted with Christopher, [[spoiler: Kira's father]].

%%* PluckyGirl: Kira.

%%* TagalongKid: Matt for Kira.

%%* TreacherousAdvisor: [[spoiler: Jamison.]]
%%* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Kira, Matt, and Thomas. Gender-reversed with Kira, Thomas, and [[spoiler:Jo.]]

[[quoteright:307:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/12936_1656.jpg]]

''Gathering Blue'', written by Lois Lowry, is a story set within the universe of her earlier YA novel, ''Literature/{{The Giver}}''. It is part of the ''Literature/TheGiverQuartet''.

* AbusiveParents: Very few parents are shown as positive. Neglect, physical and emotional abuse are all used against "tykes" and there is little sympathy for them.
** Averted with Kira's mother, however, who defied both cultural trends and local authorities in refusing to let Kira be killed at birth because of her bad leg.
** It's implied that abusive parents aren't the norm (most notably, Kira expresses skepticism at the idea that a father would commit suicide and leave his young daughter alone), but we never seem to see the ones who aren't. (Then again, we don't see a ton of parents period; Kira mostly interacts with Matt, who is orphaned, and the other orphaned children being "raised" by the Council.)

* BrattyHalfPint: Matt.
* BodyHorror: The description of [[spoiler: the chains around the Singer's feet, and their disgusting effects on him]].

* TheChosenOne: Kira, as well as Thomas and [[spoiler:Jo.]]
* ContinuityNod: A boy looking like Jonas in another community is mentioned to Kira. However, some copies of ''Literature/TheGiver'', which have interviews and notes with Lowry, [[WordOfGod mentioned]] the reader is allowed to believe or not believe if this book is in the same universe as ''The Giver''.
** [[spoiler:Confirmed in the third book of the series "Messenger", where Jonas is in the village that Matt (called Matty) and Seer live in. He is the Leader of their town. It is also implied he finds a love interest in Kira as well through the story.]]

* FutureImperfect / ShroudedInMyth: The Christian Cross is simply known as "The Worship Object." Information about it has been lost, but the citizens know that it was special to their ancestors, so they bow to it out of sheer respect.
** Also, the Council of Edifice's building was formerly a church.
*** More like a church based hostel or some other living area as the rooms each had an attached bathroom complete with a bath.

* MeaningfulName MeaningfulRename: Citizens, when born, have only one syllable in their name, but as they grow older and more established, they gain additional syllables. (eg. Ann --> Anna --> Annabell --> Annabella). They actually refer to their ages in terms of syllables in their names.
* MoodWhiplash

* ParentalAbandonment: Kira, whose mother dies in the opening. Also Thomas and Jo.

* PluckyGirl: Kira.

* TagalongKid: Matt for Kira.

* TreacherousAdvisor: [[spoiler: Jamison.]]
* TwoGuysAndAGirl: Kira, Matt, and Thomas. Gender-reversed with Kira, Thomas, and [[spoiler:Jo.]]

* AwesomeButImpractical / ItWillNeverCatchOn: The latter trope is subverted when Kira, while in the Council of Edifice's building is exposed to indoor plumbing for the first time. She finds it interesting, but thinks how it is simply just easier to go down to the river to do bathroom activities.

* ParentalAbandonment: Kira, whose mother dies in the opening, Thomas, and Jo.

** It's implied that abusive parents aren't the norm (most notably, Kira expresses skepticism at the idea that a father would commit suicide and leave his young daughter alone), but we never seem to see the ones who aren't.

'''Gathering Blue''', written by Lois Lowry, is a story set within the universe of her earlier YA novel, ''Literature/{{The Giver}}''. It is part of the ''Literature/TheGiverQuartet''.

* AbusiveParents: Very few parents are shown as positive. Neglect, physical, and emotional abuse are all used against "tykes" and there is little sympathy for them.

* AwesomeButImpractical / ItWillNeverCatchOn: The latter trope is subverted when Kira, while in the Council of Edifice's building is exposed to indoor plumbing for the first time. She finds it interesting, but thinks how it is simply just easier to go down to the river to do bathroom activites.

* MeaningfulName: Citizens, when born, have only one syllable in their name, but as they grow older and more established, they gain additional syllables. (eg. Ann --> Anna --> Annabell --> Annabella). They actually refer to their ages in terms of syllables in their names.

* BookEnds: The book begins with Kira sitting with her mother's body, saying goodbye to her and looking at an uncertain future. It ends with her saying goodbye to her [[spoiler: father whom she thought was dead]] and looking forward to helping to [[create a new future for her village]].

Character sheet [[Characters/TheGiver here]].

[[quoteright:307:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/12936_1656.jpg]]

'''Gathering Blue''', written by Lois Lowry, is a story set within the universe of her earlier YA novel, ''Literature/{{The Giver}}''.

Kira, a girl in an isolated and backwards village, receives an apprenticeship from the village's weaver. This is lucky for her, because she is crippled and would otherwise be left to die. The weaver repairs, maintains, and adds to a pictorial history of the village and the world around it, a job considered highly important. Things get more complicated as Kira's sidekick and friend Matt discovers the existence of a utopian village alluded to in ''The Giver''.

* KidHero
* MeaningfulName: Citizens, when born, have only one syllable in their name, but as they grow older and more established, they gain additional syllables.
** i.e. Ann --> Anna --> Annabell --> Annabella
** They actually refer to their ages in terms of syllables in their names.