Building 903 by Lois Lowry
Building 903
by Lois Lowry
Middle Grade | Dystopia
240 Pages
Released September 2026
Rating: ★★★ 1/2
Goodreads
Content Warnings
Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books | Clarion Books for a copy of this ARC. It was both a joy and a nostalgia hit to dive into another Lois Lowry dystopian book!
The Giver by Lois Lowry is one of my favorite books so when I came across a new book by Lowry coming out in September, I was excited to pick it up!
This book follows Tessa, a fourteen year old girl in the aftermath of her twin brother Theo’s disappearance. For the last 50+ years, the United States has been ruled by Korziris, who has refused to step down from power while forcing many new laws that changed the social landscape (and not for the better). But when Tessa’s elderly neighbor leaves her a mysterious and illegal gift, Tessa and her family realize where Theo might have disappeared to.
This book felt like a giant dose of nostalgia. The world of Building 903, while distinctly different from The Giver still feels like it’s in a similar dystopian vein (although, this one feels more ominous, given our current political climate). The story is simple and straightforward. The characters equally so, and while that may come across as bland or unfinished to some, I thought it was refreshing.
Building 903 reminds me of a story that could have been written in the 90s. It’s true to Lowry’s style and she does a great job of worldbuilding over a short period of time. The book itself appears to take place over approximately two days (with some flashbacks). As a middle grade, this story was thought-provoking and intriguing but as an adult, I found myself picking at plot holes which were a bit distracting. That said it is a short book, the kind that you have to take at face value instead of reading into the nuances to enjoy. I think part of me would have enjoyed it even more if there was more world building leading up to the “action” part of the story.
Overall I really enjoyed this story and I flew through it in two days. While I didn’t find it quite as impactful as The Giver, I think it’s the perfect type of story to get young children thinking about the world around them and the impacts certain types of social changes could have on the world. I highly recommend this to young and old readers alike!
Building 903 by Lois Lowry is available for Purchase on September 29th, 2026.