Gathering Blue Discussion Questions By Matt Goll, TJ Tobin, Paul Acquaviva, Alison McHugh, and Megan Miller

By Matt Goll “Suddenly Kira knew that although her door was unlocked, she was not really free,” (171). How does this quote have a deeper meaning than what is worded in the story? This quote has a deep meaning because it shows that Kira knows that she will never do anything but weave, weave, and weave. She finally realizes that she doesn’t have freedom and that the Council of Guardians might be taking advantage of her skill. In the book, Matt asked if Kira would be held captive. Even though her door is open, the door to her freedom and passion to thread whatever she wants is closed, and she really is being held captive because she can’t escape the job she will be doing forever.

Paul Acquaviva Question: In Gathering Blue, Kira mentions very often how the color blue is scarce in her community. Why do you think blue is scarce? Explain.

Paul Acquaviva Answer: The color blue is scarce and hard to find in Kira’s community because her community does not consist of freedom. Since blue represents freedom and it is hard to find, this means that freedom is no where to be found in her community. Also, notice that pictures on the robe in the past have some blue, but in the current images, there is no blue. Overall, blue is scarce because there is no freedom in Kira’s community.

Alison McHugh Chose five of the events and or quotes in order of importance, and put them in chronological order: Kira’s mother dies leaving her with nothing but her extraordinary talent to thread. “She be expecting nobody. She be gone to the Field right when the sun be coming up. Dragers took her. I seen it” (148) Camilla breaks her arm and her hubby desperately tries to straighten it. “ ‘ Matt..You found blue!’” (209) E . Thomas heard the crying from the floor below, yet a second night. “‘Look they are setting up a dyeing-place for me’” (155) “ Suddenly Kira knew that although her door was unlocked, she was not really free.”(171) Kira wonders where her uncles tykes will go since they no longer have a mother.

Alison McHugh : Answers Kira’s mother dies, leaving her with only the extraordinary talent to thread. B . “ She be expecting nobody. She be gone to the Field right when the sun be coming up. Dragers took her. I seen it” (148) E . Thomas heard the crying from the floor below, yet a second night. “ Suddenly Kira knew that although her door was unlocked, she was not really free.”(171) “ ‘ Matt..You found blue!’ ” (209)

TJ Tobin “The day of the Gathering was approching” (186) When the day of the Gathering is over, what do you think Kira will do for the remaining time of her life? Use specific examples from the novel to support your answer. Kira will take Annabella’s spot.

Megan Miller Question: On page 211 Matt states “It be the small giftie. But the big one be coming soon.” Do you think Matt is lying about a big gift? If not, what do you think it is? Why?

Megan Miller Answer: Considering Matt’s social standpoint in the community, being a trickster but also being kind and making people laugh, I believe that Matt is not lying about this big gift. When Matt says to Kira “Them all broken, them people. But there be plenty of food. And it’s quiet-like, and nice.” (Lowry 210) After Matt talks about the other community with the “broken” people, I can infer that the gift might be a person. Possibly Kira’s father. I can predict that Jamison tried to kill Christopher in order to get on the Council of Guardians. Once Jamison left, people from the other community, the one Matt told Kira about, came to help Christopher and took him to their community and Matt found him and decided to bring him to kira as a surprise. That is why the author, Lois Lowry, also starts to change Jamison and put his personality in a whole new perspective. Maybe Kira will finally reunite with her father who is supposedly “dead”.