Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue

• Genre: Fiction; young adult dystopian
• Originally Published: 2000
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 680L; grades 7-9
• Structure/Length: 23 chapters; approximately 256 pages; approximately 5 hours on audio Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Kira, a young girl with a disability, living in a society where only the physically “perfect” can survive. When her mother dies, she must use her talent for embroidery to secure her future. Kira’s central conflict involves her struggle for survival and the eventual realization about the dark truth of her community.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Depictions of a dystopian society; themes of death, disability, and societal injustice; enslavement; ableism; passing mentions of violence directed against both adults and children

Lois Lowry, Author

• Bio: Born 1937; acclaimed American author known for her children’s and young adult literature; often explores complex themes of morality, societal structures, and the individual’s role within it; served as a photographer and a writer in the US Army; has written over 30 books; continues to write and influence young readers
• Other Works: Number the Stars (1989); The Giver (1993); Messenger (2004); Son (2012)
• Awards: N/A

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Mercy
• Power
• Difference and Diversity
• Artistic Genius

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Explore background information on the experience of disability and the role of art in the artist’s life to increase their engagement with and understanding of Kira in Gathering Blue.
• Read/study short paired texts and other resources to deepen their understanding of themes related to Mercy, Power, Difference and Diversity, and Artistic Genius.
• Demonstrate their understanding of the gap between Kira’s present experiences of her community and her dreams for its future by creating their own versions of the Singer’s robe.
• Analyze the significance of various elements of the novel—such as characterization, plot detail, symbolism, and diction—and construct essay responses tying these to the novel’s meaning.