Gathering Blue-The Giver Quartet#2

 Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry

The second book in The Giver Quartet seems to have no connection to the first one. Both are set in dystopian futures, but in different villages with different characters and different cultures.                                                                                                         In this one Kira, a young girl with a bad leg, attends a hearing to find out if she will be allowed to stay in the village or if she will be left in The Field to be "taken by beasts". People with disabilities are considered useless and Kira would have been sent to the field as baby - because in this village that is "the way" - but for her influential grandfather who made an exception for her. Now, with her grandfather and both parents gone, she is alone with no defender.  

But the elders have other plans for her. The fine needlework skills she learned from her mother lead them to choose her as the Robe -Threader of the future, the one responsible for repairing and completing the stitching on the magnificent robe worn by The Singer when he performs every year at The Gathering. 

Kira's new position provides her with a comfortable place to live, good food, and even a new friend. Thomas, chosen for his wood-working skill, will be responsible for the  carvings on the Singer's staff and is declared The Carver of the future.

Kira and Thomas soon begin to suspect that all is not as it seems in their new roles. Why is there a little girl crying in a room below them? Why has no one ever seen the beasts that are such a large part of village life and lore? And why did Kira's mentor, Annabelle, die so quickly after revealing what she knew about the beasts? Although some of these things become clear, much is left unexplained. 

I had more questions at the end of this one as I did with The Giver because it seemed to stop in the middle of the story. Let's hope it all comes together later on in the series.