Son

I love Son by Lois Lowry. Son is the last book by Lois Lowry in the series which started with The Giver. The unique setting is same as in The Giver. I will only describe a bit of the ‘community’. There is a normal place. The people in the ‘community’ think of. This place is called ‘Elsewhere’. People in the community think ‘Elsewhere’ is a strange place. Actually their ‘community’ is really strange, but you will have no difficulty understanding it if you've read The Giver. I have also written a review about The Giver on this blog. You can check it out if you want.

Anyways, the community is the one without feelings. Oh yes, they do know anger, hate, like and all, but the feelings aren’t really so deep and they barely feel them. Also, there are no colors, same as The Giver. I really think one should read The Giver first, because it will be easier to realize the settings and all.

Clarie is the main character in SON. Clarie is ‘assigned’ a job of ‘birthmother’. After the first birth she gave, she and the workers who take the ‘newchild’ out of her tummy, realize she cannot do birth anymore and that she should (must) be assigned a different job. Her product, number 36 was taken to the nurturing center. Clarie is sent to work at the Hatchery and she goes to visit number 36 almost every day.

One day Jonas runs away to Elsewhere and takes 36 with him. I felt really sorry for Clarie that her baby was stolen.

Then Clarie accidentally boards a ship there and is shipped off to Elsewhere. She is determined to find her son. I admire her determination and courage, in spite of all odds. After a while, there is a storm and she is flung overboard. The ship is wrecked. She is kind of rescued and brought to an old woman named Alys’s cottage. She spends one year there, without knowledge of her past. Her memory is damaged by the sea and I wanted to tell her all about her past. I felt sorry for her. Clarie is now called ‘Water Clarie’. After one year, her memories come back in for the while she watches the birth of her friend’s sister.

Now she is again determined to climb out the cliff which surrounds the village on one side. Einar, a young man who had climbed out before, helped her train for the treacherous climb. Five years, and she was ready. Six years, she spent in the village. Everyone is sad to hear that she is going. She starts in the middle of the night.

Clarie reaches the top and the ‘Trademaster’ comes up. Read the book if you want to know more about this. Trademaster makes a trade with Clarie that he will take her to her son in return of her youth. I was really puzzled. Why would he want her youth? What did he even mean?

She turns old, finds her son and he, when she is dying, finds out about his mum. Her son, Gabe, finally found her! I felt sad, but also happy at the same time. Gabe goes out to find Trademaster to defeat him and get her youth back.

Will he be able to defeat the Trademaster? Read the book if you are curious!

I love Lois Lowry’s style of writing. The setting is so innovative. I love the way she unravels the plot and setting. It is kind of mysterious and full of suspense.