Lowry returns to the metaphorical future world of her Newbery-winning The Giver. . . . Plenty of material for thought and discussion here, plus a touch of magic and a tantalizing hint about the previous book's famously ambiguous ending. (6/15/00) — Kirkus Reviews with Pointers
Lowry is a master at creating worlds, both real and imagined, and this incarnation of our civilization some time in the future is one of her strongest creations. —Booklist, starred review (6/1/00) Booklist, ALA, Starred Review