Series: The Giver Quartet
Author: Lois Lowry
Released: 2012
Rating: 3.5/6
Basic Plot: They called her Water Claire. When she washed up on their shore, no one knew that she came from a society where emotions and colors didn’t exist. That she had become a Vessel at age thirteen. That she had carried a Product at age fourteen. That it had been stolen from her body. Claire had a son. But what became of him she never knew. What was his name? Was he even alive? She was supposed to forget him, but that was impossible. Now Claire will stop at nothing to find her child, even if it means making an unimaginable sacrifice.
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On the Cutting Room Floor
On the Wikipedia for this book it says that Lowry originally intended for Son to be about Gabe's search for his mother. This, to me, confirms what I think about how the book should have been written. A more interesting and better book would've followed Gabe searching for his mother. We could have an excuse for him to go back to the society of The Giver and see how The Giver's plan worked out. As well as finding out what exactly happened after Jonas left. While Claire's journey is interesting, there is a point in the final part of the book where a few chapters could've gotten cut. A version of this book focusing solely on Gabe's search for Claire could've eliminated that problem.
The Role of Mothers
In The Giver society, Birthmothers aren't given much respect. This is even though they help keep the population up rather than down. They are among the only ones allowed to have emotions...well...only during times of pregnancy. One of the most important jobs in The Giver's society and they are given shit for it. Later on in the book Gabe is searching for his mother because he feels like part of himself is missing without her. These two viewpoints of what mothers are considered to be is good to look at. While I don't have a good connection with my mother, and I won't say you're wrong if you don't like yours, The Giver's society of mothers is just...just...creepy. The love between a mother and son is much more comforting.
What Happened
Throughout this whole Quartet there has been a raging question: what happened to the world to create the societies we have seen? The good news is that this book answer that very question. The bad news is that the answer is very unsatisfying. If the series had answered it sooner and had been about the heroes solving the problem, the reveal in this book wouldn't have felt like such a let down.
Final Thoughts
This was a good book minus a few chapters. If certain things had been different it could've been so much better. As is, it's a good read if you want to find out what happened to Trademaster or get another little glimpse into the society first seen in The Giver. The amnesia sub-plot is a little annoying but really helps you appreciate Claire more.
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