THE GIVER tells the story of Jonas, a boy who lives in a well-ordered community where there is no suffering, everyone is respected, feelings are shared openly, everyone's needs are provided for, and no-one has to choose their profession because each person's role in society is carefully chosen for them by the leaders. Each year, there is a ceremony in which each child receives age-appropriate privileges and responsibilities, culminating in their twelfth year when they are given their job designations. From that point on, their education includes job training. When Jonas's turn comes, all his peers joyfully receive occupations that fit their abilities. But Jonas is passed over for a very special job, one that fills him with excitement--and fear.

Jonas's world seems, at first, to by idyllic. Is this really a dystopian novel? But as we progress with Jonas through his twelfth year, we get the impression that things are not as rosy as they seem. And the more we learn, the more we discover how harsh and terrible the truth is.

This is a powerful story for a relatively short book. The voice is third person, but told in a voice that could easily be Jonas's. Lowry gives us the impression of a fully-realized world without lots of detail. This might frustrate some, since we aren't told how the world became the way it is--only that there was a time when things were different. We don't know much about the leadership structure, how much the leaders understand about their world, and a whole slew of background details that some might feel they need to know. But such details really aren't necessary to the story Lowry tells. She gives us sufficient information, and focuses on Jonas, his family, and the situation into which he is placed.

I would say this book sits somewhere between MG and YA. Older MG kids could read it, but some of the concepts might be a little dark, and veering more into YA territory. There are no language or sex issues with this book, aside from a dream Jonas has where he asks a girl of his age to bathe naked (she refuses). This, along with the mention of him starting to get "stirrings" is as sexually explicit as it gets.

I highly recommend THE GIVER. It's exceptionally well-written, and very thought-provoking. And this review doesn't do it justice, because a more full discussion would require spoilers.