Goodreads | The Giver

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Does anyone besides me not like this book?	13	1 day ago, 06:12AM
which book is your favorite newberry award winner?	9	24 days ago, 11:18AM
What are some of the main ideas of 'The Giver'?	5	4 days ago, 08:51AM

Kristine rated it:

07/14/07

Read in January, 1999

I've taught this book to my 6th graders nine years in a row. Once I realized that the book is actually a mystery, and not the bland sci-fi adventure it seemed at first skim, I loved it more and more each time. Nine years, two classes most years... 17 TIMES. I've come to see that the book isn't the story of a depressing utopia. It's the story of the relationship between the main characters the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name. And of course, the baby Gabe.

Every year, as we read t...more I've taught this book to my 6th graders nine years in a row. Once I realized that the book is actually a mystery, and not the bland sci-fi adventure it seemed at first skim, I loved it more and more each time. Nine years, two classes most years... 17 TIMES. I've come to see that the book isn't the story of a depressing utopia. It's the story of the relationship between the main characters the Giver, Jonas, and... I won't say her name. And of course, the baby Gabe.

Every year, as we read the book out loud together, I am amazed at details the students notice (things I've missed the previous 15 times), or questions they raise that lead to further insights for not just the class but ME. My God, the things they come up with, that I as an English major, or even me if I'd read this with a book club, could never have gone that far in depth.

As I began to more fully understand the book over the years, I was better able to guide their discussions, which helped them think more deeply about the book, and made me appreciate the book even more. And by "guide," I don't mean calm, controlled, teachery, "I already know the answer" talk.

My discussion techniques, simple:
--I'd stop the tape (books on tape are AWESOME- the narrator is always so much better than I could ever be) and say something like, "So, what do you think? Doesn't this seem a little WEIRD?" and off they'd go, bouncing ideas off each other until finally someone said something incredible, something no kid had thought of in the past nine years. Once I myself knew how to be interested in this book, I knew what might keep them hooked.
--Or, I myself would suddenly realize something new, and I'd stop reading and say, "OH MY GOD DID YOU GUYS GET WHAT THAT MEANT??? WHAT IT MIGHT MEAN????"
I feel free to participate myself, since I myself still have so many questions about the book. I'm not spoiling the ending when I bring up my own questions, because I know this book is a mystery in which things don't much get answered- they're left to linger, and that's part of the beauty and hopefulness in this book.

There are still lines, moments, in the book that give me chills. I wait for them greedily, just to hear the words spoken.

I feel lucky to have been forced to read this book a dozen times. There are other books I've read a lot with my students, and this is the one that most stands up over time, the only one that keeps my interest. I truly am on the edge of my seat to see what we will realize next. Because I've seen that, even if I think I have it all figured out, some kid is going to say something to rock my world.

I can't believe Lowry was able to make a book this clever; part of me thinks a work this good is impossible, and that we are just reading too much into it. But no, it's all there, all the pieces, and she put them there. I just don't see how could she have written such a tightly woven mystery- how could she have know all of the questions the book would raise? And you know what, she probably didn't. A book isn't like drawing a map. You make the world, and things happen. And in this case, she did make a perfect world. (I SO did not mean that as a UTOPIA PUN!!!!!!! I hate puns so much!!!!!! I mean, she so fully created that world where everything that happens is plausible.)

Just read the damn book, then call me.

Or, call me after like, Chapter 13, then after 18 and 19.

he book. Lines that almost make me cry-
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Jeane rated it:

09/13/07

bookshelves: yaliteraturejournal

Read in September, 2007

Lowry, Lois (1993). The Giver. NY: Bantam Doubleday Publishing Group, Inc. 180 pages.

Summary and Evaluation: In this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, the reader is introduced to Jonas, who lives in a utopian community without pain or fear; where all his needs are provided for – and all his decisions are made for him. During his twelfth year he is selected as the community’s Receiver to absorb and hold all the memories of humankind, both good and bad. His training will ex...more Lowry, Lois (1993). The Giver. NY: Bantam Doubleday Publishing Group, Inc. 180 pages.

Summary and Evaluation: In this 1994 Newbery Medal winner, the reader is introduced to Jonas, who lives in a utopian community without pain or fear; where all his needs are provided for – and all his decisions are made for him. During his twelfth year he is selected as the community’s Receiver to absorb and hold all the memories of humankind, both good and bad. His training will expose truths about the world and his community causing him to embark on a journey where he must make the biggest choice of his life.

My interest in this book was piqued last year when I read an excerpt of it in my Children’s Literature class. I know when I really enjoy a book because I find myself thinking about it for days after I’ve finished reading it. That's how I was with The Giver. This novel has elements of both mystery and science fiction (vaguely reminiscent of my fav, Frank Herbert’s Dune) that kept me engrossed to the end. Lowry keeps the narrative suspenseful by slowly uncovering details of community life allowing the reader to piece together the alien (not literally) yet fascinating community of these characters. I found this novel really refreshing after reading the relationship dramas of Forever and Seventeenth Summer. On the surface The Giver does not seem as based in ‘reality’ as Forever and Seventeenth Summer, but on deeper consideration it does deal with topics that many young adults are beginning to ponder at their age. This story delves into important societal questions such as: ‘Would the world be a better place if there were rules and punishments to guide every person’s actions?’, ‘Could a person be truly happy if they faced no challenges or did not have to make decisions in life?’, ‘Would you be willing to forgo the wonders of life if it meant you would never have to experience anything bad?’ Although somewhat exaggerated in a Twilight-Zone sort of way, this story includes the typical coming-of-age themes in young adult literature including the inevitability of growing up and learning hard truths about life, of seeking independence from family and community units, and developing ideas and beliefs separate from those you grew up with. The only thing that frustrated me with The Giver was the open-ended conclusion. While some readers might enjoy imagining what happens after the story ends, I personally wanted more of my questions answered! Without giving the ending away, I was left wondering whether the decision Jonas made turned out to be the best choice of action and the effect it had on those around him.

Booktalk Hook: This novel probably does not need much of a push due to its renown, but in any case I would begin by introducing the novel with a short summary similar to the one written above. I would then set up the passage I was going to read (pg. 47 beginning with "Break for midday meal." through end of chapter) by explaining that the scene involves Jonas, the main character, having a conversation with his best friend, Asher, about the Assignments they were to receive shortly at the ceremony celebrating their twelfth year.
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Fenixbird rated it:

01/01/08

bookshelves: currently-reading, newberry-award-honors, science-fiction

recommends it for: Students Youth Philosophical

Recommended on this site (by Lisa, Sarah, Matt & Keely) Nobel prize winner...Found it at our local used bookstore/media store (Bookman's)! Bought it both on tape AND paperback!...PLOT THEMES (FROM WIKIPEDIA..)The critical reception of Lowry's work has been polarized. On the one hand, one finds critics like Anita Silvey, whose 100 Best Books for Children calls The Giver one of the 1990s' greatest science fiction novels for children and young adults.[2][3] A review in the Christian Science Mo...more Recommended on this site (by Lisa, Sarah, Matt & Keely) Nobel prize winner...Found it at our local used bookstore/media store (Bookman's)! Bought it both on tape AND paperback!...PLOT THEMES (FROM WIKIPEDIA..)The critical reception of Lowry's work has been polarized. On the one hand, one finds critics like Anita Silvey, whose 100 Best Books for Children calls The Giver one of the 1990s' greatest science fiction novels for children and young adults.[2][3] A review in the Christian Science Monitor says, "Lowry's powerful book, simply and directly written, offers an inspiring defense of freedom. Both adventurous and skillfully plotted, this book is recommended for young readers 8 and up."[4]

The Giver has become something of a canonical work among educators who believe that young adult audiences respond best to contemporary literature. These teachers postulate that "teenagers need a separate body of literature written to speak directly to the adolescent experience [...] and plots that revolve around realistic, contemporary topics". (Of course, Lowry's futuristic setting means that this particular young adult book can only address "contemporary topics" in an allegorical fashion, a point which raises questions of its own.) In this view, a "classics-only" curriculum can stunt a developing reader's appetite for words; there are naturally teachers who argue the opposite side of the argument, and press to keep older works on the reading lists.[5]

Lowry's most celebrated and controversial novel has also found a home in "City Reads" programs, library-sponsored reading clubs on city-wide or larger scales. Waukesha County, Wisconsin and Milwaukee County, Wisconsin chose to read The Giver, for example, as did Middletown, Connecticut; Bloomington, Illinois; Valparaiso, Indiana; Rochester, Minnesota; Central Valley, New York; Centre County, Pennsylvania; Montgomery County, Maryland and others.[6][7]

Some adult reviewers writing for adults have commented that the story is not likely to stand up to the sort of probing literary criticism used in "serious" circles. For instance, 50 children are born each year by the group of "birthmothers" who each have 3 children — therefore 17 new "birthmothers" are required each year, even though this profession is looked down upon in the book. Karen Ray, writing in the New York Times, detects "occasional logical lapses", but quickly adds that the book "is sure to keep older children reading. And thinking".[8] In a similar vein, Natalie Babbitt of the Washington Post calls Lowry's work "a warning in narrative form", saying:

The story has been told before in a variety of forms—Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 comes to mind—but not, to my knowledge, for children. It's well worth telling, especially by a writer of Lowry's great skill. If it is exceedingly fragile—if, in other words, some situations don't survive that well-known suspension of disbelief—well, so be it. The Giver has things to say that can't be said too often, and I hope there will be many, many young people who will be willing to listen.[9]

Another recurrent theme was the very fragile balance between utopia and dystopia. At the beginning of the book Jonas has entire trust in his community. But then a change provoked by his new-come knowledge made him see how very deprived the Community and its members were of all "real" life. Throughout the book the reader is led to wondering whether an actual utopia exists....
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Keely rated it:

08/09/07

bookshelves: childhood, contemporary-fiction, novel, sci-fi

This book is a general failure, and I find it rather sad that we feel a need to feed such didactic and poorly-constructed work to our children (not to mention the legions of adult fans). I have always believed that work should challenge and inform children, not give them simplistic answers. When we treat children as if they are incapable of processing the complex, we fail to give them the tools they need to process our own complex world.

The problem with modern Disney films is that they seem ...more

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Sera rated it:

07/15/08

bookshelves: science-fiction

Read in July, 2008

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Tori rated it:

02/08/08

bookshelves: favorites

recommended to Tori by: THE Lois Lowry herself!!!!!!!
recommends it for: 5th grade and up

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

Wow. I'm speechless. Definitely in my top 5 favorite books.

Lois Lowry visited my school in the 4th grade, thus inspiring me to read one of her books, and I'm so glad I did! I almost quit in the beginning, because I didn't understand most of it, but I'm glad I pushed through. After a few chapters, it makes more since.

Lois Lowry sets up the community to where everyone has a purpose, a certain job to help out. Parents do not get their own children, but every year the doctors watch over the...more Wow. I'm speechless. Definitely in my top 5 favorite books.

Lois Lowry visited my school in the 4th grade, thus inspiring me to read one of her books, and I'm so glad I did! I almost quit in the beginning, because I didn't understand most of it, but I'm glad I pushed through. After a few chapters, it makes more since.

Lois Lowry sets up the community to where everyone has a purpose, a certain job to help out. Parents do not get their own children, but every year the doctors watch over the babies and it's almost like there are auctions where all of the childless parents come and pick a baby, but names are already assigned. Each couple can have up to two children, but no more. (Correct me if I'm wrong I think you can have a boy and a girl, but not two boys or two girls)

Throughout your childhood until you turn twelve you are given gifts, for instance, one year you'll get a coat with buttons on the back signifying for you to learn to depend on others, and then the next year you'll get a coat with buttons on the front so you can learn to do things yourself. You're watched by teachers until you turn 12 to see what your talents are, and then every year at the ceremony when the younger children get their gifts, the 12 year olds will be assigned their jobs in the community.

For instance, I remember one of the jobs were the women who produce the babies, but they only have two. After that they are laborers, or slaves, for the rest of their life. Our main character, Jonas, is given the job as The Giver, which only one person can be at a time. The Giver is the person in the community that takes everyone else's bad memories and nightmares and keeps them so that no one else will have to deal with them, thus the Giver giving happiness, I suppose.

Jonas's father, as we find, who is a doctor, grows attached to one of the babies he looks over, and even though he has Jonas and Jonas's little sister (whose name I forgot) He keeps it and watches over it. I actually cried when he injected it with the poison, or whatever it was, though, killing it. And then Jonas saw it in his father's memories.

Jonas is taught how to do his job by the former Giver, and learns all of the secrets of his past, like The Givers daughter being planned to be the next Giver, but committing suicide because she couldn't handle all of the sadness, and that's why it's such a tough job, taking everyone else's burdens and carrying them on your shoulders.

In conclusion, this is an amazing book with an enthralling plot, and there's so much more to dig into when you read it, and so much more to understand and imply. As I said, definitely one of my top 5 favorite books, and I've read many other Lois Lowry works, too, she's a VERY talented writer....less

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Danielle rated it:

02/13/08

bookshelves: fiction

Read in February, 2005

The beauty of this book is that it's written for older children/teens, yet is engaging and instructive for adults as well. That's not easy to do.
To be brief, here's a list of what I loved about this book:
1. The whole concept. It's fascinating to think about living in a world like the one Jonas lives in, and the pros and cons are so skillfully weighed in the story.
2. The well-written pre-teens. When I read this book for the first time in 6th grade, I totally related to Jonas and his friend...more The beauty of this book is that it's written for older children/teens, yet is engaging and instructive for adults as well. That's not easy to do.
To be brief, here's a list of what I loved about this book:
1. The whole concept. It's fascinating to think about living in a world like the one Jonas lives in, and the pros and cons are so skillfully weighed in the story.
2. The well-written pre-teens. When I read this book for the first time in 6th grade, I totally related to Jonas and his friends. Reading it as an adult, I again felt how accurately the thoughts and concerns of that age group were rendered.
3. The tightly-woven hypothetical. One of my biggest pet peeves about fantasy or other novels that hinge on a big "If" is the plot holes they so often bring up without resolving. I thought Lowry did an excellent job of making her alternate world believable, without really bringing up and making us wonder about the things that didn't so much make sense.
4. The unbiased storytelling. Okay, she did have a sort-of agenda, but I thought on the whole, the book wasn't saying, "This way of life is clearly wrong, while ours is clearly right." there were a lot of good things about that society, and I liked that even though in a way it was "the system" that was the antagonist of the story, she didn't demonize it. The people were perhaps misguided (killing babies? Is that not okay?) but they were good people. And even Jonas's decision to leave could be read as just one possible solution.
5. The memory sharing was fun to read about.
6. The ending. I just thought it was so well done. The first time I read it I was a little paranoid at the end that maybe he did die and it was just me wishing that he had actually found a home that made me read it that way. But then I read an author interview with Lowry where she said she wrote it that way precisely so people could form their own conclusions. There was no right or wrong interpertation. That made me feel better.

All that said, this isn't a perfect book, but it's a really good book, and I love the way it makes you think. I think it shows in a compelling way the maybe not-so-pleasant side of various social programs that would fix all of society's ills. Sure, our current system isn't perfect, but it might be preferable.
Everyone should read this because it's quick, entertaining, and philosophical on an easy to deal with level.
Incidentally, I read "Gathering Blue" by Lowry and expressly disliked it. I can't say definitively, but based on just those two books, she struck gold with "the Giver." I just wasn't impressed with her writing or storytelling in "Gathering Blue."...less

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Katie P. added it

06/05/08

Read in April, 2008

recommends it for: Children, Teens, Adults

Jonas lives in a colorless world lacking technology and modern day traditions. In a conformist place that chooses ones fate, the elders of the community decide the job one is assigned at the ceremony of twelve’s, whom one will marry, and when and why one will be released. Although it seems odd and mechanic-like, the community lives without war, pain, hatred, prejudice, and hunger. The lives of the community members are meant to be as enjoyable as possible. (Some might call it the perfec...more
Jonas lives in a colorless world lacking technology and modern day traditions. In a conformist place that chooses ones fate, the elders of the community decide the job one is assigned at the ceremony of twelve’s, whom one will marry, and when and why one will be released. Although it seems odd and mechanic-like, the community lives without war, pain, hatred, prejudice, and hunger. The lives of the community members are meant to be as enjoyable as possible. (Some might call it the perfect society, but I wouldn’t want to be told what to do for my entire life.)
As the ceremony of twelve’s was fast approaching, Jonas was apprehensive about the job that he would be assigned. He feels that he is different from most of the people in the community because he is able to see color at times and looks through rare pale eyes. Because of this abnormality, Jonas is assigned the job, “Receiver of Memory.” This job is considered the most honored and respected position that one can obtain.
Since Jonas is the Receiver of Memory, he will acquire memories from the past that will be given to him by the current Receiver of Memory, otherwise know as “The Giver”. These memories contain feelings of pain, hunger, and other strange things that Jonas has never been exposed to. The Receiver of Memory is such a high profile job that Jonas is no longer able to participate in community activities or spend time with his friends. This is a difficult thing to ask of Jonas, as he would like to share the memories of love, happiness, and good times with his friends.
Throughout his experiences as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas begins to realize that life with feelings and emotions is better than the conformist, bland society in which he currently resides. Jonas and The Giver plan a way for Jonas to escape along with a baby named Gabe, who was to be released (or in this case, euthanized) because he was a twin. As he escapes from the community that he has known his entire life, memories paint a picture of a snow scene with a sled as Gabe and Jonas slide down a hill. At this point, the novel ends, leaving the reader to decide what ultimately happens to Jonas and Gabe.
This was one of the most interesting books that I have ever read. It kept the reader interested due to the strange community and happenings. I thought that it was very well written and the plot was extremely well thought out. I would recommend this book to anyone with a great imagination.
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Anyea12 rated it:

05/01/08

recommended to Anyea12 by: my 8th grade english teacher ms. merideth mcglinchey
recommends it for: any one with taste

imagine a a society where you are seperated from all technology. ( most of you are probably scared to death right now aren't you? LOL) but seriously... no t.v, no phone, no computers nada! and every one is grouped according to age and you have certain things or enjoy certain luxuries until you reach a certain age. A society where child birth is shameful, if you have twins they kill the one who weighs the lesser amount. A society where they inject you with stuff to keep your h...more

imagine a a society where you are seperated from all technology. ( most of you are probably scared to death right now aren't you? LOL) but seriously... no t.v, no phone, no computers nada! and every one is grouped according to age and you have certain things or enjoy certain luxuries until you reach a certain age. A society where child birth is shameful, if you have twins they kill the one who weighs the lesser amount. A society where they inject you with stuff to keep your hormones from bouncing off the wall. everyone wheres the same thing (O.M.G!) or even a society where the world is all black and white! no the town isn't all monochromatic, but every one is colorblind. you scared yet..........?

this book is sad, weird, crazy, and twisted all wrapped into one. jonas the main character is in this society where every child is grouped with other children of the same age and every year they have to leave their friends and go with new children the age they are now. every child is adopted. the girls have to stop wearing hair-ribbons at a certain age. they have to be a certain age to ride a bike. and child birth is kind of a thing to be ashamed of.

for instance they have jobs and one of the jobs is to be a child bearer and your job is to have children basically. you are pampered for your stay there and given everything you want but after you have about 3 kids you're cut off and basically left on your own. any who... jonas isn't like the other people there. you see every one there is colorblind and jonas is slowly given the gift of seeing in color. so he goes to the giver and he transfers memories to jonas so that he can become the new giver. and slowly he sees a new color and to him he is fascinated. but just as every eleven year old boy nearing teen hood you start to have eyes for the opposite sex and as soon as he tells his parents about this dream he has where he's bathing his lady friend they freak out and give jonas pills to prevent the boy from lusting.

and like every little town they have a outcast. a guy who tried to elude the craziness and they exiled him. and ever since then everyone in the town is banned from even speaking his name. yes the giver is one of those novels that will kinda grab you, get you wrapped in it's words, tangled in it's story hold you for a minute and just when you get into it slowly let you go and leave your mind boggling and begging for more. ...less

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Robert rated it:

01/23/08

bookshelves: finished, owned-and-still-own

Read in July, 2002

Lois Lowry, The Giver (Laurel-Leaf, 1993)

There are a few books released every year that gain both wide-ranging critical acclaim and deep popular support. They are few and far between, and fewer still when the book in questions stirs up as much controversy as has The Giver. Personally, I don't see what all the controversy is about; everything in here that could possibly be seen as questionable is an echo of a canonized piece of science fiction (the two books that most come to mind are Logan's R...more Lois Lowry, The Giver (Laurel-Leaf, 1993)

There are a few books released every year that gain both wide-ranging critical acclaim and deep popular support. They are few and far between, and fewer still when the book in questions stirs up as much controversy as has The Giver. Personally, I don't see what all the controversy is about; everything in here that could possibly be seen as questionable is an echo of a canonized piece of science fiction (the two books that most come to mind are Logan's Run and Brave New World). Yet, as soon as you try to boil down Nolan or Huxley for the kidlit crowd, hackles get raised. I just don't get it.

A distillation this may be, but it is in the same way that Things Fall Apart is a distillation of Greek tragedy; there's enough there for the author to have worn her heart on her sleeve, but the themes are places within a different framework of characters well-enough drawn that no one's ever going to be accusing Lois Lowry of plagiarism (one hopes). The story centers on Jonas, on the brink of turning twelve at the beginning of the novel, in a utopian society where there's no crime, no poverty, etc. Jonas is chosen to be the new Receiver of Memory for the colony; he's something of an uber-consultant, the person to whom the ruling council turns when they come across something they have no way to understand. For Jonas, and those Receivers before him, store the collective memories of those things which their society has managed to forget over the time they've been apart from the rest of the world (never actually stated, but by the way the characters talk about the world previously, it's been hundreds, if not thousands, of years). Lowry sets things up exceptionally, and there's a wonderful revelation about halfway through the book that alone is worth the price of admission (when Jonas figures out what seeing-beyond really is-Lowry has managed throughout the beginning of the book to lull the reader into such a state that the reader hasn't even realized what it is that's missing). While that's the only real surprise here, the predictability of much of what comes after is forgivable enough. Lowry sets up a number of easy endings, none of which she takes, and the predictable pieces to the puzzle are all part of that setup. Just because the end result could have been done better doesn't mean it's not good as it stands. Highly recommended. **** ...less

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Karisha rated it:

11/06/07

recommends it for: people.

The Giver, by Louis Lowry is byfar one of the best books i have read. Since we are all entitled to our own opinions which is highly understandable, we may have different perspectives. The Giver was one of the many books that caught my attention, especially since the community isn't like ours and the fact that they have very odd ceremonies. But the only part that threw it off was the ending. This story is about the longing of feelings, and the dreams of a young boy.

Jonas, (the protoganist)com...more The Giver, by Louis Lowry is byfar one of the best books i have read. Since we are all entitled to our own opinions which is highly understandable, we may have different perspectives. The Giver was one of the many books that caught my attention, especially since the community isn't like ours and the fact that they have very odd ceremonies. But the only part that threw it off was the ending. This story is about the longing of feelings, and the dreams of a young boy.

Jonas, (the protoganist)community has their own set of rules, in which they all follow. In their community everything is the same. There is no difference between people. There are certain ceremonies that they have which celebrates certain ages and birthdays. There is also the ceremony of the old, and the one where they assign names to newcoming babies. In the book you get caught up finding out that when the adults tell the people that people are dismissed from the community that they go off to supposidly a new paradise somwhere else when they really give the person a shot which takes the life from them. This happens to babies too. Like babies who don't fit in, for example: they don't want twins in the community, so then they take the life of one that wouldn't fit in.

Later in the book after Jonas is assigned to be the Receiver of memory you end up finding out that in their world, there was no color. Nobody knew in the community except the elders and the years of receivers. Also, they have no emotions in their community, which tells why Jonas was so astonished to finally feel the emotions, but then he is not able to share those feelings with other people, not even their family.

The ending was pretty lame, since it didn't make much sense in most cases, because it doesn't explain where they reached and what happens. It got me excited when Jonas ends up bringing Gabe (the baby whom was about to be taken the life out of) along with him as he escaped the community in which they were imprisoned in.

In conclusion, i would highly recommend this to people who love mysteries. It's a touching story, which makes you think. This story shows how we are lucky to have feelings, color, and unigue traits in the world. So if you haven't read this novel then i think that you should take a look at this book. Enjoy !...less

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Jordan B rated it:

01/16/08

Read in January, 2008

recommended to Jordan B by: I got this book from my Lit teacher, Mrs. Whitehead.
recommends it for: Anyone who likes Lois Lowry, or anyone that likes fictional books.

Online Book Review
The Giver
Jordan Blanzy

The book “The Giver”, by Lois Lowry is an excellent
book, espicially if you like fictional stories. The
Giver is fiction and is mainly told in third person. Its theme is that its not always good to live in a perfect world. Also, its plot is about a young teenager named Johnas who cant wait for his ceremony of Twelve. In this ceremony
the city gives each twelve a assignment, or job to do
in the community. Johnas was unexpectedly given th...more

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Julie rated it:

03/05/08

Read in March, 2008

I think I'm missing something. Everyone loves this book and I liked it too, but it wasn't amazing or anything.

The Giver felt like a very sparse story to me. First, there isn't much characterization, so I didn't form an emotional connection with any of the characters -- not even with Jonas or the Giver (two central characters). Asher and Fiona (particularly Fiona) are introduced such that you assume they will play greater roles in the book than they do. I don't feel l...more

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Heather rated it:

04/10/08

Read in April, 2008

recommended to Heather by: Carly
recommends it for: 12 and up

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I have to catch up on all the things that fell by the wayside yesterday because I couldn't put this book down. It was a very quick read and very clever, in my opinion. I would never have picked this book without several recommendations because it's in the SCI FI section of the young adults section in the library. I almost think it's a mystery, which is why I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of loose ends, but not in a bad way. They encourage discussion and make you think about how you ...more I have to catch up on all the things that fell by the wayside yesterday because I couldn't put this book down. It was a very quick read and very clever, in my opinion. I would never have picked this book without several recommendations because it's in the SCI FI section of the young adults section in the library. I almost think it's a mystery, which is why I couldn't put it down. There are a lot of loose ends, but not in a bad way. They encourage discussion and make you think about how you look at adversity.

As I first started reading, I thought it sounded like a fabulous place to live. Speaking so precisely, and the order really appealed to me. Then I realized, it was similar to the "hell" of the Garden of Eden. A lot of people have commented on the lack of choice in the community, but the community don't know they don't have choices. They don't know what they are missing, which to me is the more important idea here. Adam and Eve didn't realize what they were missing until they got out. By not experiencing pain, they also can't experience pleasure, etc. etc.

Things I still want to know: where does the father half of the DNA come from for these babies? How did the Giver have a daughter? Is there a job of "Donor"? What process kept the people from being able to see or hear the things they couldn't? It wasn't taken out genetically or Jonas wouldn't have been able to develop the ability. The only thing that really bugged me was the abrupt ending. I wanted to know if he had made the right choice. Since it's not in the book, I decided it was happily ever after, but you have to decide that on your own since the author didn't spell it out. I actually hate liars in real life, but it was intriguing to me to find out there is some ambiguity (lying) allowed to certain people in the group. I think one of the best ideas is the one of the Food Collectors. So many parts of this community sound good on the surface so I can understand why there would be little resistance to change something that has gone unchanged for generations and seemed to be so perfect....less

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Shark rated it:

07/07/08

Read in July, 2008

recommended to Shark by: Jared
recommends it for: anyone

Here's the dealio: I went into this book thinking, for some reason, that it was allegorical of the Atonement. Although there is clearly at least one messianic figure in the story atoning for the "sins" of the community, it's more a post-apocalyptic tale and "what if" study of human nature.

The negative before the positive:
This story's been done before, and I found it somewhat predictable. There's one aspect of the story (which I won't spoil) that leads to a "shock...more Here's the dealio: I went into this book thinking, for some reason, that it was allegorical of the Atonement. Although there is clearly at least one messianic figure in the story atoning for the "sins" of the community, it's more a post-apocalyptic tale and "what if" study of human nature.

The negative before the positive:
This story's been done before, and I found it somewhat predictable. There's one aspect of the story (which I won't spoil) that leads to a "shocking reveal," but I saw it coming from the moment it was first mentioned, so the emotional impact it was supposed to have fell short of the author's expectations, I think.

Granted, I think this story was told before the other post-apocalyptic tales I'm thinking of (i.e. "Equilibrium" (2002), among others), so I can't blame the author entirely for my yawning boredom at the subject matter.

I also wish the story would have had more action in it. I get tired quickly of stories that exist merely to describe a hypothetical world to the reader -- I want something to HAPPEN, and this doesn't really occur until the story's end, and even then I felt that there weren't enough obstacles to overcome.

That being said, the positives are as follows:
-It was often hard to put the book down. Despite the "descriptive" nature of the story, the author does a good job of putting me in the protagonist's shoes and empathizing with him.

-Despite my foresight of the major twist, there were smaller twists that I enjoyed along the way, and though they weren't surprising (I picked up on a couple things at the beginning of the book that made me suspicious) they were nonetheless delightful.

-It's a short novel that most people could easily read in one sitting (I did it in about four or five half-hour readings), so even if you don't love it you won't feel cheated, plus I feel like a sign of good writing is when an author can tell a lot with less words.

In the end, I feel that the book is overrated by all the rave reviews I've heard from friends, but still worthwhile. I'd give it 3.5 stars if that were an option....less

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Angela rated it:

01/16/08

bookshelves: children--youngadult

Read in November, 2004

recommended to Angela by: friend in San Antonio and Lucy Drake

The Giver improves upon a second reading. The first time I read it (a few years ago) was not long after I had read Ayn Rand's Anthem, and so I felt like Lowry ripped off the idea. She probably hadn't even read that book before, but it had that same element of a very controlled society that was designed with good intentions yet produced devastating results. Rand wrote more persuasively about the value of the individual and the importance of capitalism for society to flourish. But this time I real...more

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Megan rated it:

The Giver

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