The Giver (The Giver Quartet #1)

Reader reviewed by Christy

"The Giver," by Lois Lowry is a terrific book.  The novel is about a boy growing up in a utopian society.  This novel has won several awards and after reading it, you'll understand why.  The story is riveting and the author uses language that will help develop a young adult's expanding vocabulary.  "The Giver" is a book that I use in my middle school Language Arts class.  It's a book that the students enjoy reading, so much so that I have trouble keeping them from reading ahead!  But, it's also a great novel for adults and I never tire of reading it every year with my students.  "The Giver" is part of a loose trilogy with the companion novels "Gathering Blue" and "The Messenger."  All three are tremendous novels, but I would recommend reading "The Giver" first.

Reader reviewed by Amanda Martin

This book is basically the best read for the young and the old, no matter of what race or belief. It explains the balance of life, for example if you eliminate anything, you also eliminate the good along with the bad. You take away the emotion of hate, which takes away love. This world that the book creates makes you think and wonder. Scares you into seeing the world in true black and white. This book shall make you greatful that we have the bad and the good, without it, life would be boring.

Reader reviewed by Rachel

The Giver

                The Giver, written by Lois Lowery really got me thinking.  The book is set in the future in a place that has a thing called Sameness.  Virtually everyone is alike and the lives that each person lives are almost exactly like everyone else.  Except for Jonas.  Jonas is chosen to be the next Receiver of memories.  He is nervous at the prospect of this because it will make him apart from the rest of the community and can cause him pain.  Jonas, not knowing what to expect, goes into his first day of work.  He meets a man named The Giver.  The Giver is going to train Jonas and give him all the memories from the past.  The community needs The Giver so that there is someone to go to when a problem arises.  The Giver looks into his memories and offers them council on what they should do.  Jonas gets to experience snow and sledding at his first day of work.  These things are all new to him because his community doesnt have snow or even hills.  It was discerned long ago that such things could potentially be dangerous so they should be discarded.  Jonas is also introduced to feelings.  Real feelings and emotions, which is something that these people dont have.  Jonas sees why he is going to be isolated from everyone else.  He and The Giver are the only people who actually feel.  Sure, parents have affection for their children but its not real love.  Sure, people get hurt but only physically and never emotionally.  The physical pain can be cured in an instant too.  This is what got me thinking.  These people live in a place that doesnt have seasons or geography.  They dont have love.  It is physically impossible for them to feel that way because of all the things they are sheltered from.  It makes Jonas upset because he loves his family and there is no way for them to return it or for him to show them how much he loves them.  The only one who understands him is The Giver.  Because of all this they decide that they should do something.  It is risky and the possibility stands that if they fail the consequences would be dire.  But, if it works everything would be better. 

Reader reviewed by Kim

Lois Lowry's story is an amazing look at an apparent utopian society, where everything falls under sameness. Color has been eliminated from the world, giving no racial categories. All people turn a year older at the same time, giving no one in any age group an age advantage. This is the life Jonas has lived his whole life, until his 12th birthday when it is time for him to be assigned to a job. He is assigned the highest spot, that of the reciever. In his training Jonas learns what life was like before sameness, and learns that his society isn't as perfect as it looks. Extremely well written, and gives a great look at what life would be like if everyone were the same.

Reader reviewed by Dice

The giver. Jonas lives in a perfect world where there is no crime no emotions and you are assigned a mate and 2 children. When you turn 12 you are given your assignment until you retire and go to the house of the old. An assignment is kind of like your job. Jonas is cornered out to receive the assignment of being the receiver of memory. That means Jonas has the memories of all the pain and joy of live before sameness, How does Jonas deal with this read to find out.Enjoy

Reader reviewed by Kyle

Reading The Giver by Lois Lowry right after reading 1984 by George Orwell made the book extremely interesting as the characters  both have very similarly structured lives.  The only difference would be that the people in The Giver are happy with their lives.  I loved the book and only wished that it had gone into more detail and was longer so that key ideas in the book could have been further elaborated on.  It is definitely a book I would consider reading again.  I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in reading about alternate realities or societies different than what they currently live in.  It is a great book.

Reader reviewed by Emily

The Giver

By Luis Lowry

 

 The Giver takes place sometime in the future. We learn that color and weather do not exist, and sameness is critical. Jonas is a boy who is in the eleven group, and he is anxious about the upcoming ceremony. Once he is a twelve, he will get his assignment; the assignment will decide where he will work for his adult life. "What's important is the preparation for adult life, and the training you'll receive in your Assignment."

 At the ceremony, Jonas is stunned to receive one of the highest honors of all. He goes to his training the next day and realizes that what he is going to do will cause pain and it will be difficult. As the receiver of memories, Jonas learns of many new concepts, including pain, love and weather. The giver is always teaching him of new ideas that confuse Jonas greatly.

 The giver and Jonas soon realize that something must be done, the community lives in a world with no love, choices, or freedom. Actions are taken because of convenience, and many dont know a world with real pain. Drastic measures are taken to ensure the changes that Jonas is about to make are secure.

 I enjoyed the book The Giver because of many reasons. I found Jonass community very interesting, and I found myself thinking, Could that possibly happen in the future? The Giver made me think because I often found myself wondering, What would I do in this situation. I could relate with Jonas, because after being exposed to all of the memories, I would want everyone to feel and understand them too. I truly enjoyed this book, and recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good read!

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.

Reader reviewed by WilowRaven

This story really moved me. Set in the possible future, the concept of
Sameness is brought to extreme levels. Members of society barely think
for themselves. Everyone has a position, with set tasks and actions to
preform everyday without question of why. The one exception is The
Giver. He is the holder of memories. Memories that include love and
family but also pain and war. When Jonas is picked to be the next
Giver, time has finally come for change. The ending is purposely
ambiguous. Lowry leaves her readers to make their own conclusions.
1994 Newbery Winner. Highly recommended - 5 stars

Reader reviewed by KJ

Jonas lives in a perfect world. There is no war, no one feels pain, everything is under control, everyone has a job in the Community. At age twelve each child is given a job to do, tending to the elderly, caring for the young... Jonas's assignment is different. He is chosen to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver holds all the memories- the memories of war and hate, the memories of love and family. Since the Giver is growing old Jonas must now take on all the memories. As Jonas receives more and more memories, he learns some horrible things about the Community and about how the world once was, Jonas knows he must do something...and soon.

This book is a classic. Well written, with strong characters, and a unique plot. Lois Lowry is an excellent author. I've read the other novels in the series, but none can compete with The Giver. Everyone should definitely read this book at least once.