A side note before I get to the book: I tried, during our last book group, to convince the women who come to read this book. I also tried to convince them that LOTR was not a “fantasy” book but rather a significant work of fiction, and history and a meaningful epic for our times. They kept responding, “But it has trolls and elves and magic, right?” “But it’s not ‘real’, right?” “I just don’t read that sort of stuff.”

Well, they’re missing out.

Messenger, by Lois Lowry, is a powerful, wonderful, simple, eloquent tale. It’s set in the same “world” as The Giver and is meant to tie that book and Gathering Blue (which I haven’t read, but will as soon as I find it) together in one cohesive story. My friend, Janice, thought highly of this book. She also thought highly of Lois Lowry, as do I. She’s one of those writer’s who surpasses the “good” label and makes it into the “I don’t think she’s ever written a bad book” category.

A highly recommended book. Even if you haven’t read The Giver and don’t like “made-up” worlds.