Son Book Review

Book Title: Son

Author: Lois Lowry

Publish Date: 2012
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

Series: The Giver Quartet #4

Son by Lois Lowry

Suggested Grade: 7th, 8th, High School

Suggested Format: Independent Reading

Synopsis: 
The surprising ending to the Giver Quartet, the reader begins the tale in the mind of Claire, a Vessel in a town that seems familiar to the reader. Claire is unfit to be a Vessel, however, and is transferred to another position within her Community. During a strange time of unknown panic and disruption within her Community, Claire finds herself taking refuge on a boat, but a storm soon washes her overboard and into the strangest village she has ever seen. The only problem-she does not remember who she is, or where she is from. This story is the emotional and moving story of her rediscovery of who she is, and her rebuilding of her future, with the son she never knew.

Teacher's Notes: 
This is the most stark and moving story in The Giver Quartet. Lowry has definitely grown her stories along with her audience. I do not keep this book on my 5th grade shelves, as I feel very few students would be ready for the themes within this story. As a read for High School or adults, I would recommend this book for those who could not get enough with the first three books of this Quartet. For readers who were not enthralled by the tales from the first three books, this is probably a pass, as it will not hold their interest.


Overall: 8/10

How I Got the Book: Gift

Suggested Interests: Dystopia, Fiction, Fantasy