The Giver

written by Lois Lowry

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 1993

Genre: Children/Young Adult Science fiction; fantasy

Reading Level: Ages 11+

178 pages

Honestly this book is very hard to explain completely, so i hope you get the idea. At the beginning of the book Jonas, the main character, is upset about the upcoming December ceremony. He decides that it is a different fear than he has felt in the past and that it is mixed with eagerness, and decides he is really apprehensive. Later that night Jonas and his family share their feelings, as is tradition, and everyone has to be completely honest, according to the rules of the town. Lily, Jonas' sister talks about her anger at another group of children. Jonas' father shares that he is worried about a newchild (a baby) at his work who may be "released". He explains that he must bring the newchild home to care for it. Lily gets excited and says they should keep it but is reminded that each family is only allowed two children, one male and one female. Jonas' mother shares that she is scared of having to punish a man for the third time, she works at the Department of Justice, and that he will have to be "released". Jonas goes lasts and talks about the fear he had felt earlier that day. After sharing his fears Lily is sent to bed and Jonas' parents try and ease his concerns and remind him that the ceremony is a time of celebration for the transition from his childhood to his training to be adult. The next day, Jonas' father brings home the newchild, Gabriel and they all have to adjust. Jonas later goes with his friends to do some of his volunteer hours in the house of the old. They talk to an older person about a celebration of release of a friend in the Releasing Room. However, when Jonas asks her what happens in the Releasing Room she doesn't know. The next morning as the family shares their dreams, Jonas talks about having a dream about his friend, Fiona and the weird "stirrings" he had. His mother gives him a pill and tells him that they will make the feelings go away. Finally the ceremony that Jonas has been dreading arrives. Each child (11 year old) is given their job/training assignment, like a laborer, a birthmother, judge, doctor, etc. Jonas was initially skipped over and as he is freaking out the Chief Elder, the leader, announces that Jonas is called to be a Receiver. The community celebrates and honors him. Jonas is very nervous and doesn't really understand but his parents explain that it is the most important position in the community. However he hears that someone had been called as a receiver before but had failed, though no one knew more than that. Jonas the next day meets with the current Receiver of Memory and the old man explains that his training basically involves giving Jonas all his memories. As Jonas lies on a bed in the old man's office he is given memories, from snow to a sled, to the sun, and many others. The reader learns that Jonas' hometown has a state of sameness where weather doesn't exist and everything and everyone is the same. Jonas now calls his trainer the Giver. Jonas isn't able to tell anyone about his training but strange things start happening. He starts to see colors for example, he can see through the sameness. The Giver explains that without Sameness people would be forced to make choices, and they might make wrong ones. The Giver also explains that Jonas' job is to have his life become his memories and that he will be called upon to give advice to the Elders. He explains the story of the failed receiver who's memories were "re-assimulated" and people had some of the memories and it was chaos. Soon after the Giver starts giving Jonas some of his painful memories. Along with the painful memories, occasionally Jonas gets good memories and learns bout love and wishes he had it in his life. Jonas learns more about the failed receiver, and apparently she asked to be released and that's what released the memories into the people's minds. The Giver and Jonas talked about what would happen if Jonas were to be released, and the Giver says that he could probably help the community cope with the memories, and explain them. One day the Giver has Jonas watch a recording of his father releasing one newchild from a set of identical twins. Jonas watches horrified as his father kills the newchild by injection and puts it down a chute. The realization hits Jonas really hard, now seeing his father as a murderer. Jonas very distraught comes up with a plan with the Giver to leave the community and thus release all of his memories, and the Giver will stay and help the Community cope. However the careful planning falls apart when Jonas father one night announces that Gabriel is to be released the next morning. jonas knows he has to save him. So Jonas enacts the plan immediately. He takes Gabriel, some food, and a bike and leaves the community. After escaping sameness Jonas finds himself in a wilderness, and dwindling food supplies. Jonas no longer cares about himself, but is worried for Gabriel's life. As Jonas feels he's getting closer to a destination snow starts falling and he finds the sled from his memories. Jonas and Gabriel get on and start sledding. Jonas sees lights from somewhere and starts to hear music. And the book ends.

I would recommend this book to an older child interested in civilizations different from their own.

I think there are several controversies that could come from reading this book dealing with the issues of socialism, murder, euthanasia, and several others.

I really enjoyed this book, it was well written and very descriptive. It was a unique idea with an intriguing plot, and intriguing characters.

My rating: 5 out of 5