The Barnes & Noble Review
Newbery medalist Lois Lowry once again ushers readers into the hypnotic, disconcerting fantasy world she made familiar in her award-winning The Giver and its sequel, Gathering Blue, introducing us to young Matty, a boy whose role for Village is more profound than he thinks. Fraught with the same tension and subtle complexities of the previous novels, Lowry's third episode follows Matty -- who lives with Seer and doesn't yet have his true name -- as he keeps busy running errands through Forest and otherwise lives a youthful, carefree life. But Matty also has a power he can't explain, and when he understands that local attitudes are becoming intolerant and aggressive due to mysterious happenings at Trade Mart, the boy sets out to bring back Kira (Seer's daughter and the main character in Gathering Blue) before Village barricades itself entirely against outsiders. The novel crescendos as Matty and Kira make a heart-stopping, dangerous journey through Forest, and it packs a final punch when the hero summons his power and we learn his true name. The author, as usual, is a master at storytelling as she brings various plot threads together for a satisfying conclusion, leaving readers in this case with a bittersweet taste that will stay with them long after the book is finished. A must-have if you loved Lowry's two companion books, sure to be fodder for in-depth discussions. Matt Warner
Newbery medalist Lois Lowry once again ushers readers into the hypnotic, disconcerting fantasy world she made familiar in her award-winning The Giver and its sequel, Gathering Blue, introducing us to young Matty, a boy whose role for Village is more profound than he thinks. Fraught with the same tension and subtle complexities of the previous novels, Lowry's third episode follows Matty -- who lives with Seer and doesn't yet have his true name -- as he keeps busy running errands through Forest and otherwise lives a youthful, carefree life. But Matty also has a power he can't explain, and when he understands that local attitudes are becoming intolerant and aggressive due to mysterious happenings at Trade Mart, the boy sets out to bring back Kira (Seer's daughter and the main character in Gathering Blue) before Village barricades itself entirely against outsiders. The novel crescendos as Matty and Kira make a heart-stopping, dangerous journey through Forest, and it packs a final punch when the hero summons his power and we learn his true name. The author, as usual, is a master at storytelling as she brings various plot threads together for a satisfying conclusion, leaving readers in this case with a bittersweet taste that will stay with them long after the book is finished. A must-have if you loved Lowry's two companion books, sure to be fodder for in-depth discussions. Matt Warner
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Used availability for Lois Lowry's Messenger
See all available used copies of this book at: Abebooks UK or Abebooks US
Hardback Editions
May 2008 : Library Binding
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 1-4352-8541-7 / 978-1-4352-8541-5 Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
April 2008 : Library Binding
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 1-4352-4892-9 / 978-1-4352-4892-2 Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2006 : Hardback
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-7569-6787-2 / 978-0-7569-6787-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Perfection Learning Availability: Amazon Amazon UK More details... |
August 2006 : Library Binding
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 1-4177-5959-3 / 978-1-4177-5959-0 (USA edition) Publisher: San Val Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2006 : Library Binding
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-7383-6895-4 / 978-0-7383-6895-5 (USA edition) Publisher: Turtleback Books: A Division of Sanval Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
July 2004 : Library Binding
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-7862-6686-4 / 978-0-7862-6686-9 (USA edition) Publisher: Thorndike Press Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
April 2004 : Hardback
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-618-40441-4 / 978-0-618-40441-4 (USA edition) Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Paperback Editions
January 2009 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-385-73716-5 / 978-0-385-73716-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Bantam Books for Young Readers Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
August 2006 : Paperback
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-385-73253-8 / 978-0-385-73253-6 (USA edition) Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
January 2006 : Mass Market Paperback
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-440-23912-5 / 978-0-440-23912-3 (USA edition) Publisher: Laurel Leaf Library Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Audio Editions
January 2006 : Audio CD
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-307-28421-2 / 978-0-307-28421-1 (USA edition) Publisher: Listening Library (Audio) Availability: Amazon Amazon UK Amazon CA More details... |
Audio Cassette
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry ISBN: 0-8072-2372-7 / 978-0-8072-2372-7 (USA edition) Publisher: Listening Library (Audio) Availability: Amazon Amazon CA More details... |
Other Editions
April 2004 : Kindle edition
| Title: Messenger Author(s): Lois Lowry Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Books for Children Availability: Amazon More details... |
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