The Giver (1993)

The Giver is an amazing novel that lays out the details of a whole world in only 192 pages. It is so well crafted that every sentence and section work together not only to explain this strange world, but also to create an emotional impact upon the reader.

Jonas seems like any normal boy from our day and age, but the main difference lies in his surroundings. But not all is as it seems, and one by one the reader's assumptions of what is normal are stripped away as different aspects of the society are revealed.

At first those differences don't seem that strange. Things like yearly ceremonies where each age group advances to the next level of learning are similar enough to modern graduation ceremonies that they wouldn't raise an eyebrow. Other aspects (which I won't list here because I don't want to spoil it for anyone) are more surprising.

What I liked the most about this book was that it encompassed a whole world in such a short span of pages, and it made me feel deeply about the people of that world. I was hopeful for Jonas and his friends, and heartbroken over the lot of the Giver.

There were some aspects of the story that were not fully explained and so the reader is left to wonder how certain processes work (such as the transfer of memories). As long as you are able to accept that some things work a certain way without having an explanation of why they work that way, then it is no obstacle to enjoying the plot.

I highly recommend this book to everyone! It is going on my list of all time favorites. When I finished it I found myself thinking about it for days; pondering the ending and what it really meant. I found out that there are two sequels called Gathering Blue (which is a story with all different characters) and Messenger (which ties all of the books together) that clear up some of the ambiguity about the ending. I'm sure I will read them at some point, but right now I'm still mulling over and savoring the story of The Giver. ( )

read by a classmate, she has issues with how it ends. The ending is so subjective though, that I think that the reader can make it be what they need it to be.

There are countless books and films about Utopian/Dystopian societies in which everything is regulated by the "powers that be." However, many of these works--in my opinion--tend to over-focus on the powers in control rather than the main character. Lois Lowry's The Giver starts and ends with an intense focus on the feelings of main character, Jonas.

I have no doubt that I would use this book--without hesitation--in an high school classroom. The theme of the awakening of feelings and rebellious nature of Jonas parallels the inevitable experiences of adolescents. However, this book may be even more suitable for middle school students these days--especially due to its brevity, but I would caution teachers to make that judgment based on students' level of maturity.

Furthermore, I can easily see this book being used as a supplementary text to a larger text that deals with concepts such as freedom, identity, or power, and even with a similar "coming of age" text. Due to its current popularity, Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games may be an ideal choice for an anchor text that includes all of these concepts as well as a dystopian society.

Somehow, throughout all 17+ years of schooling, I have never been asked to read The Giver; and now, at the age of 25, I cannot express just how mind-opening this book has been for me. Despite being written in 1993, Lowry's book still stands the test of time and--I believe--will continue to do so for years to come. Profound, to say the least. ( )

I'm sure I realized this back in November when I bought this but I'm realizing it again now. This is a first edition. It's in absolutely perfect condition. The binding and paper are still stiff. I think it may have only been read once in it's 18 year life - and for less than $5. Yay Better World Books.


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In a society where there are no colors, true emotions (neither pleasure nor pain) and music, Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of all the memories of the past, a burden that the other citizens are spared from bearing. Once Jonas becomes aware of colors and injustice and dying, he decides he can no longer live in the safety of Sameness and leaves his town for Elsewhere. Rereading this book 10 years later has given me an entirely new perspective on teen literature today. Lowry was way ahead of the curve when it came to imagining strictly controlled futures where free will is taken from us. "Matched" is one novel that shares a surprising number of elements with "The Giver". ( )