The Giver
by Lois Lowry
Bantam Books
New York
1993
ISBN: 0395645662
Plot Summary:
Jonas lives a happy childhood with his sister and parents in an unnamed community. The weather never changes, the sun doesn't beam, and the snow never comes. But the community lives sustainably and peacefully, devoid of lack or regret. At the age of twelve, each child is assigned to his or her designated position, a role each will be trained for, grow into, and never desert. Jonas is assigned the role of "Receiver of Memory," and he begins a mentorship with the very old man currently in the position. He is the Giver, and what he gives Jonas will change him forever.
Critical Evaluation:
A complicated dystopia that plunges the reader immediately into its world, neither explaining its strangeness too excessively, nor too coyly. Lowry relentlessly writes of a universalized society holding abstract ideals while clutching onto a violent sameness in a focused style that allows no way out until its conclusion.
Reader's Annotation:
Can you know what you're missing if you don't know it? Can loss only exist through the absence of what was once present? As Jonas begins receiving collective memories his mind is flooded with these questions, as well as those much more personal and painful. Can Jonas attain a balance between the world he knows and the world he "receives"?
Genre:
Science-fiction/YA Novel
Author Info:
Lois Lowry has written more than thirty books for children and young adults. The Giver and Number the Stars were both awarded the Newbery Medal.
Reader Level/Interest Age:
Considered "soft" science-fiction, The Giver is aimed at young adult readers, but should be enjoyed by science-fiction readers of all ages.
Booktalking Ideas:
*Does Jonas know what he's missing?
*Why do people get "released"?
*Who is controlling this society?
*Why can't the inhabitants see color?
*Is the community policy of task assignment reminiscent of the Smurfs?
Challenge Issues:
Story's bleakness and general violent conformity make it a subversive read, therefore likely challenged. Its inclusion on the ALA's "Best Books for Young Adults" and its possession of a Newbery Medal provide reasonable justification for its place on any young adult reading shelf.
Why Include?:
A recommendation by a local young adult librarian, in addition to the novel's numerous awards and infamous reputation, make it a must-read.
