Review Detail

Reader reviewed by Jinxie

I have been avoiding reading this book ever since my kids had it assigned in school.  And now, I am sorry that I have.  It was an excellent and engaging book about a 12 year old boy, Jonas, who lives in a future society.  He is quite content with his life and family until he is assigned the role of  "Receiver of Memory".  Then he meets the Giver.  The Giver holds the memories of the past world where Jonas resides.  The boy and other members of the community have a life of no color, no real emotions, no real relationships, and no feelings.  The Giver transmits to Jonas past times when life was full of color, warmth, as well as pain and war.  Is it better for people to experience pain and joy, love and loss, or to remain shades of gray where society is protected from these experiences?  Someone obviously decided that was the better way.  But is it?   Highly recommended for middle schoolers.