This was one of the most surprising books of the year. After Messenger, which was written in 2004, I thought that the Giver series was finished, but apparently not. Out of the blue, she publishes Son, which was a great conclusion to the series. 
 We end up going back to the place where Jonas lived and Gabe was born. We meet Claire, a fourteen year old girl who's task is Birthmother. We follow her as the child she bears is taken away to the Nurturing Center, and she is moved to her next task. We continue reading as crazy things happen and as, somehow, this book begins to tie in all the rest. 
 Claire is a great main character. I liked her instantly and then as the book progressed, my feelings only became fonder. The other characters were also quite likeable. I loved the village by the sea, though I question how old it felt. If the world is this world in the future, then wouldn't things be more... advanced? The village that was by the sea felt like an old village from way, way back when. If the place Claire originally came from was so advanced, then why would this place be so behind? 
 I wish that I had reread Gathering Blue and Messenger before reading this book. While I still understood what as going on, I realized that to truly understand everything, I needed to remember Matty and his tragic end, as well as Kira's story. Maybe I'll read them now, though.