Brick Wall

Brick Wall
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This was an important picture because it represents the brick wall that Mentor and others built. It represents the changes in people once they traded and part of Forest. It represents the darkness that was seeping into Village.

Opinion/Review of Messenger

Companion to the Newberry Award Winning book The Giver, Messenger delivers an emotional story of a boy who dared to enter Forest. Lois Lowry is the renowned author of The Giver and many other books. Messenger was an extraordinary book. While chills ran down my back, my mind swirled with thousands of frightening thoughts. Questions popped into my head with every delicate page turn. This riveting tale is about a messenger, Matty. He must journey through ominous Forest and while the path looks treacherous for Matty, he has a gift and the courage to help Village, his town.

Messenger illustrates the different perceptions that people may have which helps readers fathom this novel better. Lois Lowry hits each main point with precision and clarity. Messenger informs readers of numerous morals that will benefit readers later in life. Messenger is truly a fascinating book.

Messenger is an extremely entertaining book, keeping you awake reading it for hours and hours until you finish. You will not be able to put down this book as it will haunt you with memories of sadness in the book for days to come. I highly recommend this book to readers galore. Any reader who has the ability to comprehend this novel will enjoy it immensely. I promise you the adventure of your life when you read this phenomenal and prodigious book.

Healing Hands

Healing Hands
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This image is important because Matty's hands were healing hands. His true name was Healer. He could cure anyone with his hands. This picture represents his healing hands.

Frog

Frog
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This is an important picture because a frog was the first thing that Matty healed with his powers. This picture represents the frog that Matty cured.

Message/Envelope

Message/Envelope
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This is an important picture because it shows that Matty was a messenger even though it wasn't his real name.

Forest

Forest
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This is an important image because this is where most of the story takes place. The whole plot of this book is about Forest and what happens in there with Matty and others.

Fabric and Needle

Fabric and Needle
Originally uploaded by Floppy123

This is an important image because this was Kira's gift. By threading her needle through fabric, she was able to see into the future.

Chapters 19-21

In chapter 19, at night, Forest had reached for Matty and Kira and injured them even more. Kira just wanted to fall into a deep sleep. Leader was in Forest and could feel it attack him, too. But he was only focused and intent on finding Matty and Kira. A frog lead him back on path. Leader entered a swamp where insects bit at him mercilessly and almost killed him. He was extremely injured. He willed himself to look beyond and see where Matty and Kira were. It was all he could do.

In chapter 20, Kira saw that Leader was very close to them. Matty couldn't even see anything; his eyes were swollen to the point that they couldn't even open. Kira and Leader contacted each other through the place called Beyond. Leader told Kira that they needed Matty's gift now. Kira told Matty what Leader said and told Matty he needed to use it.

In chapter 21, Matty used his gift. He vibrated and clawed his hands in the earth and willed for his gift to come. He finally realized that he was the one; he was chosen for this. He was able to heal all of the sick and ill. Kira, Ramon, Leader, Seer, Mentor, and other sick ones were healed by Matty's gift. Forest also began to lighten up. Matty used up all his great power and felt free and relaxed. He could see that everyone was joyful. Kira confided to Leader that Matty wanted his real name to be Messenger, but Leader disagreed. He named Matty Healer. They walked together with Frolic and carried Matty back home.

**Connections**

In The Giver, people were given names. In Messenger, people were also given names. For example, Matty's real name was Healer. In The Giver, Jona's father's name was Nurturer.

Chapters 16-18

In chapter 16, Kira's feet were bleeding because Forest was giving her a warning. Matty could smell decay and sensed that something terrible was about to happen. Matty saw that bushes overgrew to hide his path. Acidic sap dripped on him everywhere and tormented his arms. It was throbbing and unbearable pain to him but he hid it from Kira. Leader saw that Forest was attacking Matty but did not tell Seer.

In chapter 17, Matty just could not stand the pain. He told Kira the truth and showed her his arm. His arm did not even look human; it was red-hot and swollen. A swamp had grown in front of them and they journeyed through it. Its vines pierced them. After they got through, Kira's feet were completely grotesque. Kira saw Leader coming to rescue them and told Matty.

In chapter 18, Leader told the blind man the truth about what was happening to Matty and Kira. Seer cried out in anguish. Leader left to help Matty and Kira. Seer felt death when he touched the tapestry Kira made for him. He could even smell death.

**Connections**

In The Giver, people cared about each other and were very sad when people were released or about to be released. In The Messenger, it is the same. Leader cared about Matty and Kira, and Seer cared about them, too.

Chapters 13-15

In chapter 13, Matty reminisced about his past when Kira took care of him. Kira was crippled--one of her legs was twisted. He finally found Kira's small cottage and went in. Kira and he chatted together, glad to be reunited. Kira did not know yet that there was no time to rejoice or anything like that. The border was closing. Before Matty slept, he thought "I must tell you this, I can fix you."

In chapter 14, Kira told Matty that she did not want her leg to be fixed. Matty showed Kira his powers and Kira gasped with amazement, but she still did not want her leg fixed. Then Kira showed Matty her gift and Matty marveled at it. He saw the future and it was Mentor and a group of people setting logs down to build a wall and close the border. Matty asked Kira on whether she saw "a young man with blue eyes" that was about her age which was Leader. Kira said, "No. But I felt him."

In chapter 15, Matty, Kira, and Frolic left their cottage and entered Forest. Leader saw them enter and informed the blind man. Seer told Leader how Matty was like a son to him. Leader was worried about Matty, Kira, and Frolic because he could see how Forest was shifting, darkening, and preparing to annihilate them.

Chapters 10-12

In chapter 10, the meeting was to discuss and vote on the petition. Matty was gripped by fear because he could see the changes in people once they had traded. At the meeting, everyone joined in yelling, "Close Village! Close the border!" It was unanimous; the border of Village had been closed and Matty was crushed. When Matty trudged home, Seer clued Matty in on how Leader had a special gift--to see beyond. The blind man's daughter, Kira had a special gift, too. She "made things change" for the better. Seer ordered Matty to find Kira and bring her to Village because the border would be closing in three weeks.

In chapter 11, Leader sent Matty on a long journey. But first, Leader told Matty how forest was thickening and Matty should be careful. Also, Leader said that Kira was lovely. Matty went home and packed his belongings. Jean came and told Matty that Ramon and his sister were very sick. No one was to enter their house because Herbalist thought that the disease might be contagious. Right before Matty left on his journey, he looked out the window and saw that Forest was thickening. Jean kissed Matty at the very end of the chapter.

In chapter 12, Matty realized that Frolic was afraid of the dark. After the fourth night of the journey, the food supply was exhausted. Matty was not afraid though, and to his surprise, Frolic didn't need to be carried. Matty posted messages along paths. But Matty could tell that Forest changed because Matty received hostility from Forest. Chipmunks bit his fingers and fish were slow to come to his hook. Poison ivy grew along the paths, too. Forest was darker. There was a nasty stench to Forest and when Matty sat on the log that he knew was sturdy, it collapsed on him and perished. He had nightmares suddenly and his head ached and his throat was sore.

Chapters 7-9

In chapter 7, Matty hurried to Trade Mart. There was a difference in the atmosphere though. The usually light-hearted people who went to Trade Mart were more serious and there was a sense of worry. Matty felt that something was definitely wrong. Matty found Mentor and his daughter and told Mentor that Jean, his daughter, "better not trade him [the puppy] away" because Jean promised Matty the puppy. This time, no one brought anything to Trade Mart to trade. Trademaster scuttled to the stage. As soon as Trademaster officially began Trade Mart, Mentor raised his hand to go first. It was as if Matty wasn't even there because Mentor paid no attention to Matty. When Matty went home, he talked to Seer about what happened with Mentor. During Trade Mart, Mentor only said three words in each reply. He said, "Trade for what?", "Same as before.", and "Trade away what?" There was a woman at Trade Mart who received a Gaming Machine, but after she had it delivered, her gentle and nice personality changed. She became scornful at her husband because she thought he walked too slowly, even though he had a hunched and twisted back. Then, Matty suddenly remembered something. "Mentor's birthmark is completely gone," he told Seer.

In chapter 8, Matty approached Mentor's house for the puppy he was promised. He saw Jean and they discussed about Mentor. Mentor was visiting Stocktender's widow. Then, after Jean asked if she could tell him something that was troubling her, Matty felt a rush of affection toward her and felt like he loved her. Jean informed Matty that Mentor traded his deepest self for Stocktender's widow. It was why Mentor's bald spot grew new hair and why his birthmark had disappeared. Matty thought about his powers and wondered if he could heal Mentor with them. Later, when Matty scurried back home, Matty played with the puppy and showed it to the blind man. Then, he set off to Leader's homeplace to see if Leader could name the puppy. Matty had to deliver messages anyways. When he got to Leader's homeplace, he announced to Leader about how Mentor traded his deepest self and his concerns about others doing the same thing. Matty went home and told Seer that Leader had named the puppy, Frolic. Matty commanded Frolic to sit down and such and Frolic obediently did whatever Matty asked him to do.

In chapter 9, Matty and Frolic scampered to the marketplace to buy bread. Matty met a new one, a woman, and the woman asked him about her concern for her little ones. She had heard that Village might close their border and her little ones were still back where she was living before. The new one asked Matty what she should do. Since there would be a petition tomorrow, Matty told her to wait and listen to the petition on whether Village should close their border. Matty talked to Jean at the marketplace and wondered about Macduff's famous speech. All my pretty ones. Suddenly after remembering that, he feared for all of Village. He felt that everyone was doomed. He forgot all about his powers and the frog.

**Connections**

In The Giver, new people were not allowed to come in to the community. Now, in Messenger the same might happen.

Chapters 4-6

Lois Lowry began chapter 4 when Matty was summoned to run a message errand by Leader. Leader had books galore! He had rooms filled with books and bookshelves. Leader had never received any warnings from Forest, but he refused to go back in. He thought there was no need to. Leader chatted with Matty about the fishing that Matty had been doing. Leader told Matty about the dwindling food supply of fish. Later, Leader gave Matty messages to deliver around Village about the next meeting. Seer conversed with Matty about how selfishness was creeping into Village. It was appalling because Village had been created out of selflessness.

In chapter 5, Matty was commanded by the blind man to seek any evidence that Mentor had traded. Only Jean was in the house and she had some sick dogs. Matty adored dogs, so he wanted to relieve them. The mother dog and the puppy were dying and Matty knew he had to do something about it. He obtained a sudden surge of strength and he healed the dogs with his powers. He reflected and remembered when he was at Forest and he met an injured frog. He held the frog in his hand and cured it with his powers unintentionally.

In chapter 6, new ones came. Usually, new ones were injured, however Village's people always greeted them warmly. Mentor lead a small group of protesters shouting, "Close. Close. No more. No more." Mentor seemed odd that day, but Matty could not pinpoint what was different about him. Trade Mart was a very old custom. Nobody knew how it began. Seer watched it and talked to Matty about it. Matty thought of Trade Mart as something like Market Day. Seer and Leader both thought that something was happening at Trade Mart, so Seer told Matty to be careful and made Matty promise that all he would do was "watch and listen" during Trade Mart. But something troubled Matty and it was not Trade Mart. It was his powers and he wondered if anyone wanted them.

**Connections**

In The Giver, new people were not allowed to come into their community. The only new people allowed were people born there.
Also, Matty was a messenger and it was his job. The Giver also had jobs that people received.

Chapters 1-3

Chapter 1 began when Matty prepared supper. Matty was not a boy, but was not a man either. He lived with Seer, a blind man. Matty helped him with numerous chores. The man told Matty what to do, and Matty listened to Seer and did everything Seer told him to do. In Village, their community, you couldn't joke about trading and you were not supposed to discuss trading either. Also, markings and failings were valued, they weren't considered flaws. Matty liked to visit Forest. He went there often, although most people from Village almost never ventured into Forest. Sometimes, people that wanted to travel beyond would get entangled and die because Forest did not like them. But Matty never was hurt in any way by Forest. Actually, it seemed as if Forest liked Matty. Matty was a messenger, so he delivered messages to people. It was his job.

In chapter 2, Matty found out that Gatherer had died because Forest killed him. Ramon, Matty's friend, told Matty about Gatherer. Forest always gave warnings, and once you got a warning, you would die if you went back. Ramon had a Gaming Machine that you could play with. Village was a tranquil and elegant place. Leader saw everything, except the border of Village where Forest became concealed in shadows.

In the 3rd chapter of Messenger, Matty was dropping hints to Seer that he wanted a Gaming Machine. Seer tried to distract Matty by talking about Mentor's beguiling daughter. In Village, there were no secrets because it was one of Leader's rules. Matty used to be a cunning and tricky boy, but now he learned to be truthful because only honest people were tolerated in Village.

**Connections**

In the 3rd chapter, I was talking about how only honest people were tolerated in Village. In The Giver, only intelligent people were tolerated. Uneducated people worked night shifts only and were not to be seen by the public.