In Gathering Blue, how does the main character Kira change throughout the story?

At the beginning of the story, Kira is unsure of herself and is focused on day-to-day survival. She also thinks a lot about the past, especially her recently-deceased mother and her father who she never knew. After she moves into the Council Edifice and her basic needs are provided for, she begins thinking more deeply about life and other people. She takes a special interest in Matt. With Thomas's help, she prevents him from taking...

At the beginning of the story, Kira is unsure of herself and is focused on day-to-day survival. She also thinks a lot about the past, especially her recently-deceased mother and her father who she never knew. After she moves into the Council Edifice and her basic needs are provided for, she begins thinking more deeply about life and other people. She takes a special interest in Matt. With Thomas's help, she prevents him from taking part in the hunt, which she feels he is too young to join. When he disappears, she journeys to the Fen to find out whether he needs help. Similarly, she befriends Jo, the little singer who is miserably held captive in the Council Edifice. All these actions show she is becoming more assertive as she focuses on others more than herself.

Kira thinks about the days before the Ruin, and she tries to figure out what Annabella meant by saying, "There be no beasts." She also becomes more aware of her skills as an artist and her intuition. As she matures, all these thoughts and feelings come together to form a conviction of her destiny that she never had before. She starts to realize that as an artist, she may have it in her power to make the future different. Ultimately, she chooses to stay in the community rather than return with her father to his community because she feels committed to use her creativity as an artist to "create the future," a better future not just for herself, but for others and her society.

As the novel unfolds, Kira matures by becoming more focused on others, understanding her artistic talent, and embracing the unique role she can play in improving her society.