Theme 2

   This is the final step in my evaluation of Gathering Blue.

   -The second theme is: Always accept people for who they are.
In Kira's world, the imperfect are cast away. They are left in a field to die because they are less capable of working than others. This makes them less deserving of food, water, and even life. Kira's mother, Katrina, combats this unfair and unjust perception by insisting upon keeping Kira even though she is crippled.

This is probably what Kira's leg looks like. This is a condition known as "clubfoot". Image courtesy of google.com

   This is an underlying theme throughout the story because this is the reason she was even brought to a trial in front of the Council of Guardians. Vandara and the other village women wanted her cott space to build a pen for their tykes. They figured that she was undeserving of that land because she could not work as much as the rest of them.

   Kira worked hard to be accepted by her fellow citizens, but was turned away by most, simply because of her disability. She could not even marry because, as Vandara so bluntly pointed it out, "Nobody wants a cripple". Thomas and Matt accepted her because they really got to know her, and realized that she had a wonderful, kind, giving personality, and had unwavering loyalty for those she could call friends Kira had a hard life, being plagued by ache and pain constantly. But she always looked for that light at the end of the tunnel, and she never gave up hope that someday, maybe someday soon, she would be accepted by her society.

Theme 1

  - The first theme is: Always stay strong.
Kira goes through really rough times in her life, but is constantly reminded to stay strong by her mother, Katrina. "'Take pride in your pain,' her mother had always told her. 'You are stronger than those who have none.'" These were her mother's words of wisdom. Kira was taught as a young girl to always be strong, and to never give up. Katrina was a very wise woman, and a loving mother. It's no wonder Kira always took her advice, and remembered little tidbits of important messages she was taught. Her mother was telling her that, though she was physically disabled, she was still strong willed, strong minded, and strong hearted.

This is an accurate description of Kira through her hard times. Image courtesy of google.com and quotehd.com

   Kira has a hard life after the death of her mother, but she still held fast and never gave up. She was determined to stay in the village, and her determination and skill kept her alive. She always stayed strong.

Change the Setting

   If the setting in Gathering Blue were to be changed to a desert instead of a forested area, much would change. The Field of Leaving would no longer be a field, Kira's father would most likely have died of thirst before he could be saved, and "the Ruin" song would have a different history.
   The Field of Leaving plays a key role in Gathering Blue. It is where Kira grieves for her mother in the beginning, where Annabella is taken after her suspicious death, and where Christopher, Kira's father, is left to die. If we changed the setting to a desert, the Field of Leaving would just be a dirt patch covered with dead, rotting bodies turned putrid by the heat.

This would be the new setting of Gathering Blue. Image courtesy of google.com

   There would be no river for Kira to have bathed in, and fewer plants to make dyes with. Woad, which creates a blue dye, doesn't grow well, if at all, in sandy soil, so the title might not have been realistic at all, had the setting been in a desert. 

   If "the Ruin" song were to accurately describe the history of their village in the desert, there might not have been any buildings that could fall and burn during, what I imagine, was an uprising or revolution. The history that was stitched on the robe and etched into the softened wood would be inaccurate, due to the completely  opposite climate that the new story would take place in. The change in weather and atmosphere would cause fewer plants to grow, water to evaporate at a faster pace, and buildings to shift and crumble in the unsteady dirt or sand.

   All these concepts put together spell tragedy for a desert village in Kira's world. The lack of food and water, combined with the hot climate, and lack of proper burial grounds spells out horrid smells, a lower life expectancy, and more deaths.

Relate to Character

   In this book, I can't really relate to one specific character. I relate to bits and pieces of each character.One character didn't really jump out at me. It was a combination of many different traits from several characters that truly related to me the best.

   From Kira, I feel like I can relate to her shy, kindhearted nature. She is very reserved, befriending very few who will tolerate her. I am the same way. I am very shy before you get to know me, but once you get to know me, you will barely tolerate how annoying and repetitive I am.

This is an example of relating to a character. Actors and actresses get the best opportunities to relate to characters because they get to literally be the character. Image courtesy of google.com and izquotes.com

   From Jamison, I relate to his secrecy. He kept a great many things from Kira, all for his own personal benefit (see Chapters 12-14 for examples). I keep secrets too, but mostly just for the good of other people. I'm not saying I won't keep a secret to hide something I did wrong, but most of the secrets I keep are the ones told to me by friends who trust me. And I will never break that trust.

   From Thomas I get protectiveness. He is very protective of Matt and Kira. He is not overprotective, but he cares for them like siblings. I'm the same way with my sisters, but don't tell them I said that. I care for them very much, and will hurt anyone who tries to harm them. I try my best to keep them out of dangerous situations, and do everything I to my ability to get them out of those situations as well.

   Like i said before, there is not one character I relate to individually. I am a patchwork quilt of character traits. But, of course, that simply makes me human.

Event 5

   The fifth and final event that stood out to me was when Kira, sensing danger, reached for her cloth. "She touched the fabric and felt tension, danger, and a warning from it." This was the moment when Matt went to join the hunting group that was soon to leave to hunt the beasts in the forest.

I would imagine these to be the types of weapons the hunters used, and the ones Matt tried to use. Image courtesy of google.com

   Kira was worried for Matt's safety, especially after her father was supposedly killed by beasts on a hunt. This was another moment that stood out to me only because it was again displaying the prophesying powers of her little scrap of cloth. In a moment of desperation, she reached for the cloth, and found a warning. Kira immediately enlisted Thomas's help in retrieving Matt. They rushed out to the gathered hunters and found Matt, plastered with swamp grass, among them, wielding a spear and boasting to his friends. Kira immediately brought him in, scolded him for being so ignorant, then gave him a bath to remove the smelly swamp grass.

   This moment was not one of importance, but showed us, as readers, again how important that little stitched cloth is to Kira, and the safety of people she knows.

   (Chapter 9-10)

Event 4

   The fourth event that really stood out to me was when Kira noticed the bloody, shackled ankles of the Singer. She listened in horror to the dragging metal sound of the shackles on the floor, and watched with horror as the Singer walked away, leaving behind him trails of blood.

These are probably similar to those that were worn by the Singer. Image courtesy of google.com

   Kira was disturbed by the reality of the shackles. The Singer had probably once been held captive, like Jo, locked in a room and forced to learn "the Ruin" song. Kira realized that she would probably soon end up the same way. Shackled at the ankles while the crowd acknowledged her presence unsuspectingly. Locked in her room for fear she would try to leave.

   This reality struck Kira in an instant, and left her with horrid images in her head of what her life could be like, should she choose to submit. She and Thomas talked about this tragedy, each remarking how horrible it truly was to do that to an innocent person. They spoke of the lies told by the Council of Guardians, how mindlessly the villagers believed it, and how willingly they submitted themselves to anything that was required. Kira was shocked by how cruel the Council was, and selfishly they took what they desired. 

   (Chapter 20-21)

Event 3

   The third event that stood out to me was when Kira was talking to Annabella about the beasts in the woods. She repeatedly told the dyer that she heard a beast growling as it followed her,and Annabella repeatedly told her that there were no beasts.

This is probably what Kira has been taught her whole life, minus the monobrow part. Image courtesy of google.com 

   Each time Kira brings up the beast that followed her in the woods, Annabella laughs and tells her that there are no beasts. This made Kira confused. Should she believe what she had been taught her whole life? Or should she believe this four syllable woman?(Four syllables are revered for their knowledge)

   When Kira mentioned what Annabella said, he became very firm and forceful, telling her that Annabella was just old and had a wandering mind. The next day, Annabella was "found" dead in her cott. I put quotations around found because even Kira became suspicious when Jamison told her that she died of natural causes.

   She and I began to wonder how they knew to look for Annabella when she lives alone and so far outside the village. I also began to wonder if it was coincidence that Annabella died the day after she told Kira the opposite of Kira had always been taught by the Guardians and her elders.

   To me this was one of the turning points of the story. Kira has been gaining more and more knowledge of the things the Council has been hiding. This comment caused Kira to question how her father died, if not at the hands of beasts.

   This series of events really got my brain fired up, putting things together, breaking things down, making educated guesses. It was at this moment that I really began to enjoy the story, and began to relate to the characters.

   (Chapter 11-12)