Gathering Blue is a book written by Lois Lowry and published in 2000. The book is mainly centered around the character called Kira who has a disability by way of a deformed leg. She is an orphan as both her parents are dead so she now has to adapt to a society which disregards the weak and ill and leaves them to die on the fields (where 'Beasts' kill people). Kira must convince the Council of Edifice to keep her and not to kill her. The Council keep her alive as she has a talent for embroidery and soon she learns the art of dyeing thread different colors, except for the color blue which no one in her village knows how to create. Kira comes to learn of many secrets in her village and also later goes on to discover the truth about her family.
The book was written by the author to delve into an alternate society to the one we live in, to portray humans as beings who do not accept weakness and punish it. The author also goes on to signify how something as small as embroidery can help a character/person discover their true selves and their potential.
The book received praise from critics and fans and came in ninth position on the Children's Books version of The New York Times Best seller list on October 8, 2000.
