Son

This is the fourth and final book in “The Giver Series.” It seeks to wrap up and bring a conclusion to the threads explored in the prior books.

First, it starts with a story not revealed before. The story is that of Claire, a birthmother from Jonas’ original community, three years older than Jonas. She was the mother of Gabe, the child that Jonas left the community early, without completing his preparation, to prevent from being killed.

This book reveals that Jonas was not the only malcontent in his community. Jonas became unhappy as memories were transferred to him by Giver, in Jonas’ capacity as the new Receiver. Claire on the other hand was required to be off the pills in order to mature and become a birthmother. After giving birth to Gabe, and not taking the pills, she found she did not fit in. What is interesting about this is the implication that anyone from Jonas’ community could have felt emotions had they also stopped taking their pills.

Another reveal was that some of the humans who serviced the community, particularly the boat crew, were of a completely different society. In other words, even though there were other communities known to Jonas and the others, it was not well known that there was interaction with other, people that came from place without sameness. I like the added depth “Son” adds to “The Giver.”

After that we follow Claire through hurt and many trials, of building strength, and a great act of self-affirmation.

Which brings us to Trademaster, a hinted at evil in “Messenger.” We leave off there and instead explore the story of Gabe, no longer a baby, but now an adolescent with budding powers all his own.

This section of the book was all right, though I do not like the end. In the end evil was “vanquished.” But the way it is put it rings with finality. The problem with is the struggle was relatively weak. Perhaps evil was severely weakened, or at least severely weakened in that particular locale, but “vanquished” in a series (“The Giver Series”) that emphasizes precision of language and generally does a very good job of not breaking the suspension of disbelief. And yet, at the end of the series, it topples; and for me it topples due to overly broad language, a lack of narrowing the action.

This does not ruing the book or the series. After the ambiguity at the end of “The Giver,” the desire to learn what becomes of Kira and her village at the end of “Gathering Blue,” and the arguably selfless sacrifice of Matty at the end of “Messenger” (that in a dark twist serves Jonas’ arguably selfish desire), after all of these, the ending of “Son” falls flat in comparison.

For me at least the conclusion is too neat and too tidy.