Messenger by Lois Lowry

In Messenger, the third book in the Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry (Lexile: 720; Interest Level: Grades 5-8), we find the story of Matty, Kira's friend in Gathering Blue, who has lived in Village for some time, being cared for, and caring for, a blind man known as Seer. Village, another community, has always been open to outsiders and welcoming of anyone who needs a place in the world, even the blind and crippled.  But something evil is creeping into Village, pushing the residents to vote to shut Village down.  Matty seems to be the only person who can still come and go as he pleases, and he runs messages through the woods to neighboring communities, such as the one where Kira lives.  As Matty makes one more trip through Forest to bring Kira to Village, he has only his knowledge of Forest and the special power he discovers within himself to protect Kira on her trip through Forest.  

I really can't seem to stop reading these books, and I wonder how the last two stories connect to the first.  Readers who have read the first two of this series will find themselves searching for this one as well. (169 pages)

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