The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
ISBN: 978-0-547-42477-4
Published: 2011, originally 1993
Price: 19.99
Pages: 208
Genre: fiction, dystopia
Other books in the series: Gathering Blue, Messenger, Sons
Awards: Newbery Award
Reading Level: 6th grade
Interest Level: 6-9th grade
Plot Summary: Jonas lives in a society with very strict rules of conduct and behavior. At a certain age they are allowed certain privileges. Jonas has reached the age that he will be given his assignment. Each child when they reach a certain age are give their job assignments after careful observation. Jonas has been assigned a job that few are given, one with great stature and pride. Jonas is to be a recorder. The last recorder, who now no one is to speak of was released. People are released, or so they are told into another world. What Jonas doesn't know is that being released is not what he told, instead is something quite horrific. Jonas is to be trained by a very old man, the current recorder. Jonas doesn't really know what a recorder does, he just knows he is responsible for holding memories and information. But what Jonas learns may change the way he sees his society and their way of life. Will Jonas be able to live in this world after he learns all the secrets?
Review: This classic is a great dystopian novel for younger readers. There are some disturbing scenes in the story, especially the scene in which Jonas' father kills the newborn baby. But that scene really shows just how disturbing the society in which Jonas lives has become. The story poses a lot of questions on human nature, suffering, emotions and choice. You also see Jonas grow from an innocent child to an adolescent that sees the faults and horrors of his society. He is forced to make very difficult choices and leave his family behind in order to save baby Gabriel. The story examines what it is that makes us human and how important emotions, even the hard ones, are important. The society in the story live without emotions and color and really have no choice. They do this to protect people from pain but as Jonas learns pain is a part of life.
Reader's Annotation: Jonas lives without hunger, without pain and without fear. When he is assigned the job of recorder Jonas doesn't know what to expect. What he finds is the dark secrets his society tries to hide.
Main Themes: emotions, dystopian, death, family
Bibliotheraputic Usefulness: The story shows how a society without emotions and things that can cause pain is not a full life. Jonas deals with learning of what his society has kept from him and how their quest to have a perfect society is not right or okay. Jonas struggles to go against what he was grown up believing. Readers will connect with Jonas as he fights against his oppressive society.
Issues: The society in which Jonas lives is very controlling and oppressive. They send people off to be released but actually they are being killed. There is a scene in which Jonas witnesses his father killing a newborn baby because the society only takes the stronger of a set of twins.
Book Talk Ideas: The story focuses on memories so the book talk could start by having teens focus on their favorite memory, then their least favorite memory. Then you could ask teens if they would be willing to erase their least favorite memory in exchange for never experiencing their favorite memory. This will give insight into what is going on with Jonas and his society.

Read-alikes: Among the Hidden by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Author Website: www.loislowry.com
Professional Reviews: Kirkus Reviews
Publisher's Weekly
Why this book was chosen: The Giver is a classic and has created controversy for it's content. Many people think the material is too mature for the age group. But the story has some important thoughts and ideas on memories, emotions and what makes us human.