This post contains affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission—at no extra cost to you—if you make a purchase.

Like a lot of people, my first introduction to The Giver series by Lois Lowry was in school. I read The Giver when I was younger, and that was my entry point into the world.

I actually tried reading Gathering Blue back then too, but I never finished it. I got about halfway through and eventually put it down, and for years it just stayed unfinished.

Reading The Series Backwards

When I started reading consistently again, committing to 20 pages a day, the first book I picked up from this series wasn’t Gathering Blue at all. It was Son, the final book.

I’ve already written about Son in a different post, but I picked it up because I always wanted to know more about the birth mothers, what they did, what they were for, and how that part of the world worked.

After finishing Son, I read Messenger, the third book in the series. Only then did I finally come back and finish Gathering Blue.

So technically, I read the series completely backwards, and honestly, it worked.

A Series You Can Enter Anywhere

Reading these books out of order really showed me how flexible this series is. You don’t have to read them in sequence to understand or enjoy them. Each book stands on its own while still connecting to the larger world.

I never felt lost reading them backwards, and I still found the experience meaningful and enjoyable.

The Story of Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue follows Kira and Matt, and the story itself is gentle and quietly emotional. It’s an easy read, simple to follow, calm in its pacing, and very accessible.

It still carries that dystopian tone the series is known for, but it feels softer and more intimate. It’s the kind of book you can pick up without much effort and sink into without feeling overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts

This isn’t a book that demands intense analysis or emotional investment, and that’s not a bad thing. It’s neutral in the best way, approachable, thoughtful, and steady.

I would rate Gathering Blue a 7.5/10.

I don’t regret reading it at all, and I’d easily recommend Gathering Blue, or honestly, any book in The Giver series, to someone who just wants a quick story to dive into. It’s a great choice for casual readers, returning readers, or anyone trying to rebuild a reading habit.