{REVIEW} Messenger by Lois Lowry

MESSENGER
by Lois Lowry

 

Genre: Young Adult, Scifi – Dystopian
Pub Date: Apr 26, 2004
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers
Length: AUDIOBOOK
Spoilers: N/A
Goodreads ♦ Amazon($4.99)

 

 

 

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For the past six years, Matty has lived in Village and flourished under the guidance of Seer, a blind man, known for his special sight. Village was a place that welcomed newcomers, but something sinister has seeped into Village and the people have voted to close it to outsiders. Matty has been invaluable as a messenger. Now he must make one last journey through the treacherous forest with his only weapon, a power he unexpectedly discovers within himself.

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Quick Read
I was actually quite surprised just how quick of a read this is. Yes, it’s a short book in general, but even so, the plot moves so quickly that I didn’t realize how much had actually happened over the course of the story. What’s more, I don’t think I realized what exactly the arc of the story was until closer to the end, which meant I kept expecting a longer time line than what occurs in the book.

Subtlety
The real kicker and the explanation behind why you don’t realize the fast pace of the plot is the subtlety of the plot elements. I was shocked when I realized where the book was going to end because I kept expecting something more, something bigger, something dramatic to happen, but it didn’t. And it didn’t need to happen. The subtlety is honestly what makes this story.

Tie-In
I don’t want to say too much, but I did not expect the way Messenger ties back into The Giver and Gathering Blue. It was definitely an ‘aha’ moment and it was so perfect for this particular story. I absolutely loved this piece of the story and the way it approaches the tie-in. Oo! Secrets. Secrets! :p

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