Raised in a dystopian society, Jonas, on his twelfth birthday, is chosen to be the new Receiver of Memories, the sole member of the society that knows and understands about Elsewhere and what the world used to be or currently is outside of the society. He learns about color and war and love. Jonas has an incredible maturity and begins to understand just how twisted their society is and wants to do something about it.
The Giver is a book that, once read, hardly needs any introduction. A revolutionary novel in children’s literature, it introduces the idea of alternate societies and how they can become destructive beyond measure. Author Lois Lowry took bold steps, in my opinion, writing this novel and introducing these ideas to the children’s lit world. I have to say, though, that the precision she uses in her world-building is impeccable. The explanation of Jonas’ world does not bog down the reader, but provides enough information to truly understand the life that he lives. While not injecting too much emotion in the first quarter to half of the book, the reader is left with enough to begin comprehending the terrible nature of this society.
A classic in dystopian literature, The Giver will hopefully be cherished for decades to come and used by educators and parents alike in teaching their children to think critically about the world around them.
by Lois Lowry
Originally published in 1993