My daughter needed a book for a school project, and the teacher suggested "Gathering Blue." It's about a girl named Kira who lives in a pretty bleak future society. Kira has a twisted leg, and in their village, that usually means being left to die. But she's really talented at weaving, and that talent saves her. She gets chosen to be the weaver for the Council of Guardians, which sounds important, but it quickly becomes clear things aren't what they seem. If your kid likes stories about secrets and societies that aren't what they appear to be, this might be a good one.
She read it pretty quickly, which is always a win. She said the beginning was a little slow, setting the scene, but once Kira starts her weaving job, it gets more interesting. There aren't any pictures, so it's all description, which can be tough for some kids. She did get a little confused about some of the characters at first, but she said it all made sense by the end. She really liked the idea of using weaving as a way to preserve history and stories. It definitely sparked some questions about how societies work and who gets to decide what's right and wrong.
The AR level is 5.0 with 7.0 points, which meant it was a comfortable read for my fifth grader. The word count is just under 48,000 words, which is a decent length, not too overwhelming. It felt just right to keep her attention without being a huge commitment.
I think this is a good fit for kids who enjoy dystopian stories and strong female characters. If your kid liked "The Giver" (also by Lois Lowry) or enjoys books with a bit of mystery and a deeper message about society, then they will probably get into "Gathering Blue." Maybe not the best choice for kids who need constant action, since it's more about character development and uncovering secrets. But it did get her thinking, which is always a plus.