Summer Blog #4: Book to Book Connection

John Z.

8/12/2015

Book to Book Connection:

Gathering Blue & Wonder

The one way Gathering Blue & Wonder is that both of the main characters are deformed in some way. Everybody thinks they are useless because only one or some parts of their body is deformed. Both "Kira" and "August" feel like they are not welcome at all and are alone most of the time. People around them seem to judge a book by its cover.

Another way they are similar is that they are avoided most of the time. All the females in Kira's village outcast Kira, similar to what most of the kids in school do to August. Most of the people Kira and August can go to for help are usually not around, for example both of Kira's parents are dead, and August could only see his friends at school. They don't have anyone to turn to, and if they do they would have to wait for a long time.

The final way they are similar is a time when they work is the only way to escape all of the troubles they have. For Kira doing joys brings back memories of her mother. When August goes to English class he enjoys the messages the teacher writes on the chalkboard. They both take the experience and interpret it into something that comforts them. 

Gathering Blue, Summer Blog #3

John Z.

8/6/2015

Gathering Blue by

Lois Lowry

Blogging Topic: Grief from Two Different Worlds

Description:

Grief is something we all have to go through every now and then. Whether it's an outcome of  a disease or maybe a terrible accident. Although it is a sad and negative topic, I decided to see how grief in the world of Gathering Blue differs with the real world. 

In the Gathering Blue after your loved one dies they don't pass on as fast as you would expect them to. Their spirit still lingers around you for four sunsets and sunrises so you can get a little bit more time with them. You would have to use your time as wisely as possible when you are with their spirit. Every second counts, so you can tell them something you didn't tell them when they were alive because you were never sure what they were going to think, or maybe recreate memories of when they were alive. 

Here we are in the real world where none of that really happens. We live our lives normally and as we mature we learn to cherish the good times we have with our family and friends. Every second counts so we have to learn to take that seriously all the time because you never know when you or someone else is going to go. That's why I feel like books like the Gathering Blue teach us morals to get us through life and teach us important lessons to hold on to.

Now, I want to talk about the "Kira" the main character of the book and how she grieves compared to us. She gets an extra four days to talk to her mother after she passes, yet she still does grieve. To be honest, I don't really get that, you just talked and communicated with her spirit for four days and there also is a possibility that she is literally watching down on you. That means she is technically still with you for the rest of your life. In the real world we don't get that at all. Sure we got the spend the whole or majority of our life with them but Kira gets something more, extra time. Extra time with a loved one can critically important to how you remember that person, because that last memory of them is the one that will never forget no matter what.