Kira sits next to her mother in the Field of Leaving. Wondering how she will survive, Kira thinks hard about what her lameness means for the future. Little does she know other people have very important plans for her. In the next few weeks and months, we join Kira as she meets the needs of those who appear hateful and helpful. Her exceptional, and even magical gift of weaving, and her own instincts of responsible goodness must guide her through a maze of events in this fear-ridden, brutish society that is controlled carefully by the ones who seek her talents, the Guardians.

Meet the neighbors: an impish friend and his dog, a young carver, a gifted older and younger Singer, the dyer, the Tenders, and the Guardians who weave in and out of this intriguing story. Discover more secrets than one would imagine a young child must unravel and use to shape her very own important path.

Lois Lowry is a notable writer famous for her anti-utopian (anti-perfect) novel, The Giver, as well as her other well-known and popular novels, Number the Stars and A Summer to Die. Winner of numerous awards, including the Newberry Medal for two of her works, Lois Lowry has again created a haunting story which will grip one's attention and imagination, as well as pose ideas about our own sense of hopefulness or hopelessness in the future. Prepare to be deeply moved and glad to share the wonderful story of this true "artist" who indeed makes our world a better and more beautiful place.

1. Respond to the following quote: "It was the way, the custom, and it was the merciful thing, to give an unnamed, imperfect infant back to the earth before its spirit had filled it and made it human." Connect its importance to the story and to our own society's beliefs and ways on the same issue(s).

2. In Chapter 1, Kira's life seems filled with alternating fear and strength. What are the origins of both as you proceed through this haunting story?

3. Why must a living person remain with a dead body in the Field of Leaving? Speculate on how this practice began and why it continues.

4. Vandara seems scarred and weak but covers this with a heavy overlay of vicious meanness. Why do so many other neighboring woman follow and obey her commands and suggestions?

5. What is the purpose of the law which says if a death results from a personal conflict that the one who causes the death must die? How related this is this to the death penalty that exists in some of our own states? How effective is this law in Kira's society and in ours?

6. Summarize the court case against Kira by Vandara? Is it unbiased or without prejudice? Has the decision been decided before the trial or after it? Why?

7. How well do the Guardians protect and help or block the development of Kira's powers (her ability to weave and the cloth she carries being the focus point of her powers)? Should education focus more on discovering and nurturing the special gifts/talents of students in our society? How would this be done?

8. Why has Kira's mother been unable to discover the secret of creating the color "blue"?

9. Why are children like Matt and his dog Branch allowed to roam the neighborhood in such filth and lack of supervision or education? Should children have more, less, or the same amount of freedom that Matt has? Why does the author include these characters in this story?

10. Describe what the Singer's robe contains in pictures (as you see it) to tell the story of humanity's history? If you are able to draw, you might want to try designing such a robe, showing the history in panels but being sure they weave into each other as in the actual Singer's robe.

11. Why is it important for the people to hear this history once a year? What difference does it make or not make to these people? Why do they bow before the "object" which they do not seem to understand? Who began this ritual practice and why?

12. Why is Kira the only person who understands the meaning of a "gift"? What would our society be like without gift-giving? What message is conveyed to the reader about this practice that needs to be remembered?

13. Various herbs are used to create colors in Kira's society? Research how colors are made today. Should students be taught the healing and productive value of herbs in school today? Why or why not?

14. Why is Thomas's job of carving a stick for the Singer so important in their society? With technology so important in production today, will the "arts" disappear or will there always be a place for this function? What is the importance of artists? Should they produce what is wanted by society, what creative urges they feel, or both? Why?

15. Explain your understanding of Thomas's statement, "…someone who is able to make something beautiful". Who decides what is "beautiful"?

16. Why will Annabella not answer Kira's question about there "being no beasts" in the forest? Why does she die?

17. Explain Jameson's different behavior to Kira, Thomas, and Jo (the future Singer).

18. Explain Jameson's statement, "There is nothing to fear if you don't stray."

19. Why does Kira wish for a brief time to return to her old life? If you were she, would you want the same?

20. Kira makes several discoveries during the course of the Singing ceremony during which she is announced as the mender of the Singer's robe. Describe the causes and effects of each one as Kira experiences them.

21. Describe why Kira makes her final decision and why there is acceptance of this decision to her close and loved ones.