The Giver
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Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas becomes the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives.
YRCA1996, nominee.
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Age
Add Age Suitabilityckg8888 thinks this title is suitable for 12 years and over
cberti thinks this title is suitable for 11 years and over
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abuffy90 thinks this title is suitable for All Ages
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gaversjo123 thinks this title is suitable for 11 years and over
Kathc4 thinks this title is suitable for 12 years and over
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Summaries
Add a SummaryThe Giver - Book Review The Giver is about Jonas, his family, The Giver, Asher, and Fiona. It’s about the community that they live in. The community is different from ours because it seems to be “perfect”, and it supports all the needs of everyone. Some themes that stand out are Memory Concept of Release Emotion Growing Up Responsibility Lois Lowry writes in a strange science-fiction style. In my opinion it seems like it is for 10-12 years of age. She uses a variety of complex words in her book;there are also statements and expressions for children/teens that are easily relatable. However, I found it difficult to relate to the characters in the book. Lois Lowry writes for people just around the middle age group between kids and adults, but leaning just a bit over to the kids’ side. I 100% DISagree with the idea of the whole community in The Giver. I feel it isn’t right to have changed the whole community this much! Taking away color, brightness, and basic human experience like joy and pain must be very difficult! But that’s not the way the world is supposed to be! On page 94, The Giver states, “Once, back in the time of the memories, everything had a shape and size, the way things still do, but they also had a quality called color” (Lowry, 94). I recommend this book to anyone wondering about how a brain works, or anyone who thinks a lot. The first time I picked up the book, the cover didn’t appeal to me. Someone had recommended it to me, but based on the cover it didn’t look very interesting.
In a so called Utopian society, young Jonas is chosen to be the Receiver of Memories of the real world. Bit by bit Jonas comes to realize the cost of living in a "perfect" world- the loss of humanity itself.
At his Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas is given the assignment of Receiver, and keeps the memories of his society's past. He has memories no one else has: color, feeling, sunshine... but also pain, sunburn, hunger. Then Jonas is able to see there was more to life than the utopian society life he'd been living in. And lastly, when little Gabriel is welcomed into his family for a while and then may be Released, he dares to do something he'd never thought of before, helped by the Giver. Deprssing book, with a cliffhanger ending. Slightly imaginative, but Lois Lowry could do better.
Characters: Plot: DARK and DEPRESSING ending.
" Given his lifetime assignment at the Ceremony of Twelve, Jonas became the receiver of memories shared by only one other in his community and discovers the terrible truth about the society in which he lives." (Novelist Review)
Notices
Add a NoticeViolence: This title contains Violence.
Violence: This title contains Violence.
Violence: This title contains Violence.
Quotes
Add a Quote"The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared."
"There’s nothing we can do. It’s always been this way. Before me, before you, before the ones who came before you. Back and back and back.”
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Comment
Add a CommentThis was an amazing book i picked it up in class in 7th grade i believe. The authors detail and story line are magnificent.
The story feels somewhat incomplete, but the society-- devoid of color, emotion, and history-- sketched out by the author is thought-provoking. Are the inhabitants better off this way? Safer? Truly alive?
If you are in middle school or older and haven't read this book, put down whatever you are reading and read The Giver!
I remember reading this book in the 5th or 6th grade on the recommendation of my librarian. I can't believe people hate it! SPOILER ALERT: Although, I have to admit - with the open ending, I think I had a much more optimistic view of what happened. I never read it as Jonah dying, but as him escaping this controlling, unfeeling society and at last entering into reality - I pictured him and the baby being welcomed into the warm home of the family celebrating Christmas, just as they were on the brink of death. Perhaps I was naive (heck, I was 10!), but this is how I choose to remember the story. :)
I remember reading this book in grade 8 and not liking the sudden "end" of the story, but the ending is really up to you. Its a wonderful creation of a future I hope no one has to live in.
This book is outstanding! I definitely recommend reading the companion books as well. Gathering Blue and Messenger are equally good. The whole series is a quick enthralling read!
This book is fantastic!! I love the ending...well sort of ending.... Anywho, I totally recommend this book to any reader of age!! Another great book Lois Lowry!
awesome book,i read it at school and loved it.
A very enjoyable read. Doctor-at-Bass T. A.
I read this back in 5th grade and initially found it boring and a bit confusing. I read it again in 6th grade and I understood the story better. The "controlled paradise," as someone else stated, is the setting of the book and the protagonist comes to realize that his society is no better, if not worse, than 'real' societies. I didn't like the ending though. It was unresolved and I didn't give me much hope that Jonas was successful. It's as if we're trapped in our own respective societies even if we don't seem them as "utopian" like. you'll notice though that some things we are told and other things are hidden from us. It's the innocence of the young and the naivety that spawns from it.