Messenger
Lois Lowry (2004)
“A boy with the power to heal must decide what he is willing to lose when the community that once welcomed everyone begins to close its doors.”
Short Summary
Matty, a young orphan with a mysterious healing gift, lives in Village with the blind man Seer. Village was once a refuge for outcasts, but its citizens are voting to close the borders and turn newcomers away. The Forest surrounding Village has become a sentient, hostile force that mirrors the community's moral decay. When Matty undertakes a dangerous journey through the Forest to bring Seer's daughter Kira to Village before the borders close, he discovers that his gift demands the ultimate price. He sacrifices his life to heal both the Forest and the corrupted souls of Village, restoring the community's original spirit of welcome.
Detailed Summary
Matty is a teenage boy who once lived as a feral, dishonest child in the ruined community described in Gathering Blue. He was rescued and brought to Village, a utopian settlement led by Leader, a young man with piercing blue eyes who can see beyond ordinary perception. Village has always been a plac...