I thought this was better than "Gathering Blue," but not on par with "The Giver."
The third in the series is set in yet another community in this post-apocalyptic world. Matty, the little boy who left the village towards the end of "Gathering Blue" is the protagonist, now living in a different village (called Village.) In Village, people get along, are good to each other, and welcome outsiders who manage to find their way through the forest (called Forest). But a mysterious man has begun to come to Village on occasion and hold a "Trade Mart" in which he asks people what they want, and what they have to trade. It is quickly evident that he is trading parts of their personality or souls. The town is becoming more selfish with each Trade Mart. Soon the borders will be closed, and Matty is sent on a mission to his previous home to bring back Kira, his friend from home, and the actual daughter of his adoptive father in Village. But Forest itself is also becoming hostile, and his once simple trek through the paths of the woods becomes fraught with danger.
The book is an allegory for the obsessive greed and consumerism of our modern world, especially in the United States. But while we understand the metaphorical purpose for the mysterious trader and for the forest suddenly becoming a hostile and willful force, from the practical literal story, these things are not explained in the least. I an appreciate the symbolism, but when the writer presents something that demands an explanation in the story, I expect to get an explanation by the end, and these two key plot elements are not explained.
So, not terrible... but not recommended either. ( )

Matty's death was so sad. I was not expecting how graphic and brutal their return would be. It must be said that the author doesn't hold back for her readers. ( )

Couldn't finish this one, either. I think I got about halfway through it before I gave up. ( )

I'm going to potentially forget Gathering Blue and Messenger the way I forget The Godfather Part III. Rather like Gathering Blue was how I found Messenger.

Messenger was Matt(y)'s story. I love the characters, flushing our The Seer and The Leader. (I was disappointed that Kira's village was better and we never learned how at all, or why she moved to the cottage, or what became of Thomas or Jo, or that society so well built in book two).

I love how important he becomes and how much we see through his eyes. I'm not sure the significance of the ending choice resonated with me. And I very, very, very deeply felt disappointed in where it ended. On that moment when the characters from book one and book two finally meet. Once again, right as the whole point of the journey is reached, the story ended.

I was sad. ( )

Good edition to The Giver series. I enjoyed reading about Matty's story and what he does for everyone. I'm interested to see what happens in the last book. ( )