Discuss the target audience for Gathering Blue by Lois Lowry.

I would think that the middle school years would be the
most appropriate for this particular work by Lowry.  Much of her writing is aimed at
this group, but I think that the issues brought up in this work make it more appropriate
for children in grades 6-8.  The issue of child abuse is one where some level of
maturation in the reader is needed.  At the same time, Lowry's playing with the
"insider/ outsider" dynamic is highly relevant to the middle school child, who
struggles, for the most part, with this dynamic on an almost daily basis.  The mere
definition of "normal" and the practices of exclusion based on this designation is
something that seems to be quite appropriate for the middle school aged child,
psychologically and cognitively becoming more aware of differences within individuals
and within themselves.  I think that these issues make the book something that can be
read and appreciated by children in grades 6-8.