Kristine's review
The Giver
by Lois Lowry
I also teach 6th grade, but opted for A Wrinkle in Time last year...I decided that I am for sure going to do The Giver instead this coming year. I think it is a much better constructed novel and I am super excited after reading your review:)
I read the Giver after reading the reviews, especially yours. I agree that it is an excellent book that everyone should read. However, I question whether or not it is too much for 6th graders to read. I was totally crying and disturbed after I finished reading it today. I just think the scene with the twin being "released", and the ending where Gabe and Jonas die in the snow are too much for children to read about. But maybe I am underestimating their maturity level -- how do your students usually react? I do think this book is very important for everyone to read, however, but maybe not quite so young.
I know what you mean about the age group. There's a big difference between 10, 11, and 12, and I think 11 is the youngest age I think they can understand the concepts in the book AND appreciate the characters. To make it a great book, I think they need both. I feel OK teaching the book to my 11 year olds. We do it near the end of the year. They've changed a lot from Sept and in SocStu they've learned the "eye for an eye" policy, and the fact that the Spartans left weaker babies out to die.
I'm lucky to have them for 90 minutes a day. I know them very, very well by May. By chapter 19, we've spent a lot of time with the book; some of them already suspect what release is. I often warn them that something sad is going to happen in the chapters, and then we sit and listen together. What usually happens is that one of reacts strongly: That is awful! or, That is so sad! I'll agree sympathetically and other kids add on. I think I said in my review that I regret the years I had them read the book alone at home, without the group experience.
I don't discuss with them too long at the end of 19 bc J's reaction in 20 says it all. Jonas screams and cries; the kids know that THAT is the normal reaction. They KNOW they've seen something terrible, so don't feel alone in their fear. The book picks up quickly after Ch 19- Jonas and the Giver hatch their plan so the kids don't have too much time to dwell on the sadness. It turns pretty quickly to Jonas' love for Gabe, so they feel something wonderful pretty soon, and I think they know that Jonas is correcting his father's wrong.
And, this is weird; I think adults feel more of the devastation of the baby's death. Now that I have nephews, the sight of a child suffering is too much for me. I don't think Ch 19 affected me back when I was 23 or 25 as it does now at age 32.
We discuss at the end if Jonas and Gabe die or not. They were freezing, but Jonas feels he's coming closer to Elsewhere. Does that mean death, or does it mean a different place that he only knows by the name of Elsewhere? When the moment of joy surges through him, is he hallucinating? I love that the end is so ambiguous. “But perhaps it was only an echo.” Usually one of them wonders, is that his town getting the memories of music? And is the Giver dead? Did Jonas get the hint of music as the Giver died and his memory left?
Most of them believe the boys lived. I thought for a long time that they died. How could that normal town have been so close and not know about Jonas' community? But, and I'm kind of irritated at this, in an interview, Lois Lowry said, "I'm disappointed that people think Jonas and Gabe die." Meaning, she thinks they live. I still think the kids should interpret the end, bc they haven’t read that interview. But I’M disappointed that she said that. I still wonder if Jonas and Gabe are brothers. I think they are.
Thank you for your comment to my comment. After reading it, I have come to agree that teaching it to the older children is a good thing. I think it is an excellent book with a very important message, and the fact that you all read it together so that you can discuss it is very important and helpful to anyone that may be upset by it.
I also agree that I am probably more affected by the baby's death because I am older. Before I had my son, I was not as sensitive to issues regarding babies.
I am very happy to hear that the author intended Jonas and Gabe to live. It is a relief actually. I just thought that Elsewhere was a code word for death because they seemed to use that word when talking about Release...didn't they? I might be wrong on that because I have only read it once. Plus I thought since Jonas was hallucinating about the sled at the very end, that meant he died because I thought hallucination was a final result of hypothermia just before death. I even read the ending twice to see if I had missed anything. But I am very happy to know that Jonas and Gabe lived, at least in the author's mind.
Thanks again for your comments!
You're right- the sled is one of the biggest hints that he's hallucinating. For some reason last year's kids didn't hook into that as much; maybe bc so many of them wanted to believe the boys lived. They were an optimistic bunch, one of my favorite classes ever. And, I think she uses the word Elsewhere bc that's the only way J knows how to describe it... Yeah I'm happy to know they lived. Wouldn't it be awful if they died? I mean, THAT would be a depressing ending for kids. To know that you tried so hard to change that dystopia, and you did, but you had to die trying. It's so much happier to think that the ppl in the town save them.
There's a book written by a Mom who was po'd that all the books the books her kids were reading were all depressing, and she questioned the school's motives and judgment. I cannot remember the name of the book- I suppose if I googled it maybe those keywords could help me find it. It looked good- but I only read a little of it. It seems like it's something you might be interested in.
(For goodness sake, the theme of our 8th graders is the HOLOCAUST. An important thing to learn about of course, but man that's heavy. Even 9th grade might be a better audience. Who knows!)
Kristine,
I'm a 7th grade teacher and will be teaching the Giver this year for the 1st time. Do you have any advice or activities that you do with the book that were really effective?
Thanks
Kristine's review
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Kristine's review
rating:
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 a...more
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 a...more
I also teach 6th grade, but opted for A Wrinkle in Time last year...I decided that I am for sure going to do The Giver instead this coming year. I think it is a much better constructed novel and I am super excited after reading your review:)
I read the Giver after reading the reviews, especially yours. I agree that it is an excellent book that everyone should read. However, I question whether or not it is too much for 6th graders to read. I was totally crying and disturbed after I finished reading it today. I just think the scene with the twin being "released", and the ending where Gabe and Jonas die in the snow are too much for children to read about. But maybe I am underestimating their maturity level -- how do your students usually react? I do think this book is very important for everyone to read, however, but maybe not quite so young.
I know what you mean about the age group. There's a big difference between 10, 11, and 12, and I think 11 is the youngest age I think they can understand the concepts in the book AND appreciate the characters. To make it a great book, I think they need both. I feel OK teaching the book to my 11 year olds. We do it near the end of the year. They've changed a lot from Sept and in SocStu they've learned the "eye for an eye" policy, and the fact that the Spartans left weaker babies out to die.I'm lucky to have them for 90 minutes a day. I know them very, very well by May. By chapter 19, we've spent a lot of time with the book; some of them already suspect what release is. I often warn them that something sad is going to happen in the chapters, and then we sit and listen together. What usually happens is that one of reacts strongly: That is awful! or, That is so sad! I'll agree sympathetically and other kids add on. I think I said in my review that I regret the years I had them read the book alone at home, without the group experience.
I don't discuss with them too long at the end of 19 bc J's reaction in 20 says it all. Jonas screams and cries; the kids know that THAT is the normal reaction. They KNOW they've seen something terrible, so don't feel alone in their fear. The book picks up quickly after Ch 19- Jonas and the Giver hatch their plan so the kids don't have too much time to dwell on the sadness. It turns pretty quickly to Jonas' love for Gabe, so they feel something wonderful pretty soon, and I think they know that Jonas is correcting his father's wrong.
And, this is weird; I think adults feel more of the devastation of the baby's death. Now that I have nephews, the sight of a child suffering is too much for me. I don't think Ch 19 affected me back when I was 23 or 25 as it does now at age 32.
We discuss at the end if Jonas and Gabe die or not. They were freezing, but Jonas feels he's coming closer to Elsewhere. Does that mean death, or does it mean a different place that he only knows by the name of Elsewhere? When the moment of joy surges through him, is he hallucinating? I love that the end is so ambiguous. “But perhaps it was only an echo.” Usually one of them wonders, is that his town getting the memories of music? And is the Giver dead? Did Jonas get the hint of music as the Giver died and his memory left?
Most of them believe the boys lived. I thought for a long time that they died. How could that normal town have been so close and not know about Jonas' community? But, and I'm kind of irritated at this, in an interview, Lois Lowry said, "I'm disappointed that people think Jonas and Gabe die." Meaning, she thinks they live. I still think the kids should interpret the end, bc they haven’t read that interview. But I’M disappointed that she said that. I still wonder if Jonas and Gabe are brothers. I think they are.
Thank you for your comment to my comment. After reading it, I have come to agree that teaching it to the older children is a good thing. I think it is an excellent book with a very important message, and the fact that you all read it together so that you can discuss it is very important and helpful to anyone that may be upset by it.
I also agree that I am probably more affected by the baby's death because I am older. Before I had my son, I was not as sensitive to issues regarding babies.
I am very happy to hear that the author intended Jonas and Gabe to live. It is a relief actually. I just thought that Elsewhere was a code word for death because they seemed to use that word when talking about Release...didn't they? I might be wrong on that because I have only read it once. Plus I thought since Jonas was hallucinating about the sled at the very end, that meant he died because I thought hallucination was a final result of hypothermia just before death. I even read the ending twice to see if I had missed anything. But I am very happy to know that Jonas and Gabe lived, at least in the author's mind.
Thanks again for your comments!
You're right- the sled is one of the biggest hints that he's hallucinating. For some reason last year's kids didn't hook into that as much; maybe bc so many of them wanted to believe the boys lived. They were an optimistic bunch, one of my favorite classes ever. And, I think she uses the word Elsewhere bc that's the only way J knows how to describe it... Yeah I'm happy to know they lived. Wouldn't it be awful if they died? I mean, THAT would be a depressing ending for kids. To know that you tried so hard to change that dystopia, and you did, but you had to die trying. It's so much happier to think that the ppl in the town save them. There's a book written by a Mom who was po'd that all the books the books her kids were reading were all depressing, and she questioned the school's motives and judgment. I cannot remember the name of the book- I suppose if I googled it maybe those keywords could help me find it. It looked good- but I only read a little of it. It seems like it's something you might be interested in.
(For goodness sake, the theme of our 8th graders is the HOLOCAUST. An important thing to learn about of course, but man that's heavy. Even 9th grade might be a better audience. Who knows!)
Kristine,I'm a 7th grade teacher and will be teaching the Giver this year for the 1st time. Do you have any advice or activities that you do with the book that were really effective?
Thanks