Messanger by Lois Lowry

Messenger takes place in a future that has apparently seen its share of troubles.  It is also a world where the unbelievable can happen.  A young boy, Matty, is getting ready to be given his true name when he discovers that he has a special gift:  the power to heal.  It is also during this time that he begins to notice changes in the people of Village.  Once a welcoming and loving place it has since become hostile and the people changing from their pleasant demeanors to more brash and hateful ones.  There is soon a decision to close Village to outsiders.  When Matty must travel to spread the word and also to find Seer's daughter in the next village over, he finds that forest, the place he once loved has now, like the people grown hostile.  On his journey, Matty discovers that his healing ability not only applies to small things, but one of the biggest things of all: the world.

Messenger actually turned out better than I thought.  I was not completely happy with the ending, but it was a satisfying one.  I thought it was very interesting how in the story Forest actually reflected on the emotional state of the people.  When the people became cruel and hostile, so did Forest, attacking all those who entered.  It was also extremely sad to see how people would trade characteristics of value for "things."  Such as trading your own children's health for a Gaming Machine or your compassion and kindness so that you'll look better.  It was the fact that people would give anything for stuff.  The end of the book while very sad, but is a fairly good ending.  Matty's healing ability takes a lot out of him.  After going through Forest and being completely beaten, he takes all the energy left in him to heal the world around him.  People revert back to their old selves, sick are healed and Forest once again becomes a tranquil place.  But all of this comes at the cost of Matty's life.  He gave up his life in order to bring peace and order back to Forest and Village.  So while things went back to the way they were suppose to be, Matty had died in the process.  The message behind the book, which is giving up who you are for material things is not worth it in the end, can be applicable to anyone.  This is the third installment in the Giver trilogy.  And in actuality, the books link together in some way or form, but they do not tell the same story.  The characters maybe mentioned in another story, but they are not the focus until their own story is told.