The Giver

Title: The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

ISBN: 978-0547424774

Publisher:  Bantam Books

Copyright: 1993

 Plot Summary: This book focuses on a utopian society where Jonas, who lives with his parents and his sister, Lily. Jonas is about to get his life assignment at a ceremony because he is turning 12, at the ceremony he is told that due to his special abilities, the ability to see color and hear music, he will become the next receiver of the memory. He is given the information telepathically from The Giver, and Jonas can now feel what sadness is as well as true happiness, and love. He decides, with The Giver, to escape, releasing the memories back into the community.

Critical Evaluation:  Lowry paints an amazing picture in this word where everyone is just existing. No bad things happen, but nothing extraordinary happens either. Lowry leads the reader into this world and then starts to point to the cracks in it. The writing is beautifully done and leads the reader to question, would I really be willing to give up happiness in order to be rid of sadness?

Reader's Annotation: Jonas is about to receive the memories of his community, which exists without bad things, what will he do with his new knowledge?

Genre: Science Fiction, Young Adult

 Author Information:  Lois Lowry did not write her first young adult book until she was 40. Lowry has written numerous other young adult books including Number the Stars and A Summer to Die. For more information about Lois Lowry and her work go to www.loislowry.com.

Book talks: Utopian society, emotions, death

Reading Level/Interest Age: Middle School/High School. 12-18.

Challenge: This book mentions things like supressing sexual awakening with a pill, artificially inseminating birth mothers, and being "released" which is a lethal injection and being dumped down a garbage chute. This ideas while controversial, are necessary to this book. This book is a science fiction book where the norm is different. It is meant to make the readers think about certain issues. It is not too graphic for young adults to read.

Why was this book chosen?: This is one of my favorite books so I decided to include it in the database.