The plot is full of action, twists and turns. The characters are memorable and endearing. The writing is exquisite. Loved this book!

This is such an excellent book! I devoured it! The writing is so good that it transports you to another world. The story is wonderful, and the characters are endearing. I loved it!

Oh man, this is the perfect ending to this trilogy! I was completely blown away, and read the book all in one sitting. When you don't need a bookmark, that's a sign of a good book.

The futuristic setting was very interesting, with the holograms and traffic grids for cars and computerized contact lenses. Very cool, and the perfect backdrop for more crazy missions and adventures with the Montauk Project.

The stakes are really high in this last book. Everything is on the line; Lydia's family, her relationship with Wes, the evil reach of the Montauk Project, and the future of the entire world... it all hangs on Lydia's decisions, and every little action she takes could mean the end. The suspense is horrible/wonderful!

There are a couple of death scenes that made me cry my eyes out, and my heart got all broken up in pieces, then slowly stitched back together again through the story. Gah! I can't handle it. I'm still mourning over those beloved people. I'm literally tearing up as I write this. Musn't. Cry. Over. Fictional. Characters. Nope, too late. Waaaaahh!!!

Lydia goes through some major changes in this book, and comes close to losing part of herself. I was right there with her the entire time, feeling what she was feeling, going through those difficult situations with her! I just adore her character development through the whole series. Brilliant writing!

Wes is finally coming together as a person. That mystery that has shrouded him from the beginning, and made him such an interesting character, begins to be resolved, and his true personality begins to shine out. What a beautiful character! I love him to death.

Tim is my new favorite! I loved his relaxed personality, so much in contrast with all the tension and suspense going on in the story. He's a smart, sweet guy, and isn't afraid to risk putting his true self out there to connect with people. He's an incredibly important addition to the story, and changes the whole dynamic of things. I just want to give him a big hug!

There was a lot of tension with several supporting characters, both from the Project and from the Rebellion sides. Do we trust them? What are their real motivations? Can they be persuaded to join the good guys, or will they betray us at the first opportunity? Such good story-telling. Really kept me guessing right up to the end.

I really hope this author is working on something new, because I could read her stuff all day long!

I loved this book almost as much as the Giver! I'm falling in love with Lowry's books one by one! Kira's connection to her embroidery art is touching and mysterious. It really sparked my interest from the beginning. I loved seeing her growing into her art, and discovering what it means to be an artist. The responsibility of art can be a heavy burden or a joy, and Kira has to make decisions, hard choices, about how to live with that and make it her own. She meets every new circumstance with a quiet strength and calm demeanor, no matter how her insides might be rolling panic. I really admired that about her.

I loved Kira's friendships with Matt and Thomas. Those three are quite the trio, and they each bring some different aspect to the story and to the dynamic of the friendship. Matt with his laughter and compassion, and serious Thomas with his brain puzzling through everything; they are all described so delightfully that they feel like real people!

The poor village setting is not at all what I expected after reading The Giver. But this world of hard knocks has its own charm, its own dangers and adventures, and its own mysteries to be discovered. In my head, I'm trying to fathom how this village connects with the cities in The Giver.

I'm beginning to expect Lois Lowry to write an unsatisfactory ending with all kinds of loose ends hanging out. There aren't any happily ever afters. It just ends, with some resolution, yes, but not nearly enough for me. I need everything tied up in a neat little bow at the end, and Lowry does not write that way. I can appreciate the artistic side of it though. It makes an impact, that's for sure!

As always, Lowry's writing style is impeccable. It's easy to read, but addresses deep themes that require careful thought from the reader. The writing is forceful, but never preachy. The pacing is perfect, with each chapter... each idea flowing into the next. Details are drawn out, but the descriptions stay concise. No words are wasted.

I can't wait to read the rest of this beautiful quartet!

I really liked this book! I was hooked from the first page, and the suspense pulled me in. I love time-travel stories, and this one is fantastic.
Lydia is a great character, full of curiosity and spunk, but also sensitive, delicate, and sweet. She's a perfect blend of bravery and doubt. I love the romantic tension between her and Wes. Wes is such a mystery, and she just has to solve that puzzle.

The historical details of 1944 are delightful! The USO dances, the rations, Victory gardens, and the war effort posters are all beautifully described for a perfect setting. I love all the spying and sneaking around the military base too. Plenty of great action in this plot!

It was especially interesting to see Lydia meeting and interacting with people in 1944. Her relationships and friendships with the people she meets were realistically depicted. I really connected with some of these characters! There's some excellent dialogue and jokes in there that kept me laughing and engaged.

I don't really have any criticism to make of this book. It's well-written, and an easy, enjoyable read. I was certainly entertained! I will definitely be reading the rest of this trilogy soon.

I loved this book! The writing is wonderful, the characters are simple yet powerful, and the whole setting is so unique and interesting. The only thing I didn't like was the ambiguous ending.

Seeing Jonas discovering the truth about his community was heartbreaking, that loss of innocence that we all experience as we learn about the world growing up. Even the perfect world that Jonas lives in has a dark underside.
I loved how the importance of language was woven into the story- using exactly the correct word for the right thing- and then how it factored into Jonas' realizations about the people around him and the world he thought he knew.
The philosophy about individuality and the freedom to choose were really deep concepts for a children's book, but that is exactly the age when young people begin to fight for their own individuality apart from their parents, and they start to experiment with the responsibility of being able to choose. Wonderfully handled, and a powerfully good message!

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I was especially struck with the scene where Jonas realizes that his father has killed the baby. The horror of that moment for him. Someone he trusted to be kind has done a terrible thing. There's no word for that kind of shock and terror. And obviously, it was wrong to kill the baby. Jonas later gives up everything to save another baby. So why is it that our society looks the other way while thousands of babies are killed every day through abortion? Is our society any better than the one in the book, where they suppress their feelings and kill helpless children? I say no. We ARE living in that society, happily, stupidly following the herd, and doing nothing while babies die. If only there were more like Jonas, who refuse to turn a blind eye, maybe things could change.

Agh! I hate you so much. Why do you make me love you?! Why do you have to be so brilliant, and then make me cry? You hurt.