The Giver (The Giver, #1)

by Lois Lowry

“Jonas has not been assigned,” she informed the crowd, and his heart sank. Then she went on. “Jonas has been selected.”

“Sir?” Jonas said shyly. “Yes? Do you have a question?” “It’s just that I don’t know your name. I thought you were The Receiver, but you say that now I’m The Receiver. So I don’t know what to call you.” The man had sat back down in the comfortable upholstered chair. He moved his shoulders around as if to ease away an aching sensation. He seemed terribly weary. “Call me The Giver,” he told Jonas.

“I will take care of that, sir. Thank you for your instructions,” the voice said. “I will take care of that, sir. I will take care of that, sir,” Jonas mimicked in a cruel, sarcastic voice. “I will do whatever you like, sir. I will kill people, sir. Old people? Small newborn people? I’d be happy to kill them, sir. Thank you for your instructions, sir. How may I help y—” He couldn’t seem to stop. The Giver grasped his shoulders firmly. Jonas fell silent and stared at him. “Listen to me, Jonas. They can’t help it. They know nothing.”

The Giver hugged him. “I love you, Jonas,” he said. “But I have another place to go. When my work here is finished, I want to be with my daughter.” Jonas had been staring glumly at the floor. Now he looked up, startled. “I didn’t know you had a daughter, Giver! You told me that you’d had a spouse. But I never knew about your daughter.” The Giver smiled, and nodded. For the first time in their long months together, Jonas saw him look truly happy. “Her name was Rosemary,” The Giver said.