Giver Quartet Books in Order
Giver Quartet is a 4-book series by Lois Lowry for ages 9+, at a grades 4–6 reading level, with moderate content (HootRated intensity 3/5).
- Books
- 4
- By publication date
- Content intensity
- Moderate
- HootRated 3/5
Giver Quartet Reading Order
Series numbers aren't available for most Giver Quartet books, so they're listed by publication date (oldest first).
| # | Title | Reading Level | Ages | Content |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Giver 1993 | Level 5-6 | 9-12 | Moderate |
| 2 | Gathering blue 2000 | Level 5 | 11+ | Moderate |
| 3 | Messenger 2004 | Level 4-5 | 11+ | Moderate |
| 4 | Son 2012 | Level 5 | 11+ | Moderate |
Content Intensity Across the Series
ConsistentContent stays at a steady intensity level throughout the series.
Series books grow with readers — but that's also the trap. Most series start at one reading level and one content intensity and drift upward over the course of the run. Giver Quartet (4 books by Lois Lowry) lands at a grades 4–6 reading level, with average content intensity 3/5. Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.
The reading-order table above lists every book with per-volume reading level, age and intensity ratings so you can spot any escalation before it catches your reader off guard. For a deeper dive into how we score text difficulty vs. emotional weight separately — and why series readers especially benefit from that split — see our methodology page.
All Giver Quartet Books
The Giver
Lois Lowry
The Giver
Lois Lowry
Gathering blue
Lois Lowry
Gathering blue
Lois Lowry
Messenger
Lois Lowry
Messenger
Lois Lowry
Son
Lois Lowry
Son
Lois Lowry
Series Like Giver Quartet: What to Read Next
Similar reading level, content intensity and themes.
- Warriors: The Broken Code by Erin Hunter 6 books · Grades 4–6 · mild to moderate content
- Animorphs by Katherine Applegate 6 books · Grades 3–5 · mild to moderate content
- Warriors: A Vision of Shadows by Erin Hunter 5 books · Grades 4–6 · mild to moderate content
- Wings of Fire by Tui T. Sutherland 15 books · Grades 5–7 · gentle to moderate content
- Left Behind: The Kids by Jerry B. Jenkins 37 books · Grades 3–5 · mild to intense content
- Left Behind by Tim F. LaHaye 14 books · Grades 5–7 · moderate to very intense content
Questions about the Giver Quartet series
- What reading level is the Giver Quartet series?
- Giver Quartet books are at a grades 4–6 reading level (average grade level 5.2), and HootRated recommends the series for ages 9+. There are 4 books in the series.
- What order should I read the Giver Quartet books?
- Series numbers aren't available for most Giver Quartet books, so HootRated lists them by publication date: The Giver (1993); Gathering blue (2000); Messenger (2004); Son (2012).
- What age is the Giver Quartet series appropriate for?
- HootRated recommends Giver Quartet for ages 9+. Content is moderate (HootRated intensity 3/5). Intensity stays consistent across the series, so a reader who can handle the first book can generally handle the rest.