Gathering Blue is a young adult-dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry and was published on September 25, 2000. A companion book to The Giver (1993), it is set in the same future time period and universe, treats some of the same themes, and is followed by Messenger (2004) and Son (2012) in The Giver Quartet. The central character, Kira, who has a deformed leg, is orphaned and must learn to survive in a society that normally leaves the weak or disabled exposed to die in the fields. In the course of the book, she begins to learn the art of dyeing thread to different colors except for blue, which nobody in her community knows how to make. She also learns more about the truth of her village and the terrible secrets that they hold. Plot The main character, Kira, who has a deformed leg, is recently orphaned since her mother abruptly died from unknown sickness, and her father died years ago on a hunt with the Hunters by being killed by The Beasts. Kira must learn to survive in a society that normally leaves the weak or disabled exposed to die in the fields. Kira needs a reason for the council to keep her in the village and not to take her to the Field, which is certain death at the hands of The Beasts. A member of the council, Jamison, defends Kira during the trial, much to Kira's surprise, and convinces the Council that Kira has a gift for embroidery. She is found worthy of life in society at the trial and is given the task of repairing the Singer's robe. She is taught how to further solidify her talent from a much older woman, Annabella, who continues to teach Kira how to create dyes for different shades and hues for her thread work. To Kira's dismay, she learns that there is no ability to create the color blue for the threads that she will be using. Eventually, to Kira's surprise, Annabella tells her that with her own years and knowledge, she knows much of the society's history and even goes so far as to say that there really are no Beasts, contrary to the society's beliefs. Kira is unsure what to think of that revelation or what Annabella really means by it. Along the way, she becomes closer friends with a younger boy, Matt, and makes a new