While I was thrilled to see “The Son” by Lois Lowry, the final book in the “Giver” series available through Vine, I also felt guilty, having rated “The Messenger” more harshly than it perhaps deserved, having believed all along that the series was a trilogy, not a quartet. It didn’t really explain what happened to Gabe, whose fate was left ambiguous in the first book. So that was one question I thought would remain a mystery. “The Son” starts with the birth of a “Product” to a fourteen-year-old girl named Claire, who has been chosen as Birthmother in the same community where Jonas originally lived. Something goes drastically wrong, and although the child survives, Claire is left sterile, and relegated to a dull job at the Fish Hatchery. She’s also left in the dark as to what has happened, having been blindfolded throughout the procedure. None of her fellow community members can offer any enlightenment and do not share Claire’s maternal yearnings (or any type of passion). (Fans of “The Giver” will easily figure out why Claire is different.) As a result, she is somewhat alienated but very determined to see her son again. From the hatchery, Claire gets a chance to view the incoming ships and a taste of what a different community might be like. She also begins volunteering at the center where the “newchildren” are and becomes friendly with Jonas’ father, who works as a nurturer there. As she figures out that Gabe (or the fractious young “Number Thirty-Six”) is indeed her son, the series reader is on familiar territory and knows ahead of time what’s going to happen. Eventually, Claire sets off in search of Gabe, which brings her to a community which tolerates far more individuality in its members, although the people there are puzzled at the gaps in her knowledge of things such as colors and music.