Emily asked Lois Lowry:

Has the 'meaning' or the 'message' (the 'core', I'm trying to find the right words without spoiler) of The Giver change over time? Rereading it after sixteen years, I grasped The Giver differently now then I did before, this is because I've changed but I wondered, have you reread The Giver recently (given if you read your own work...) and if it's changed on you or YOU changed on it?

Lois Lowry I think its meaning (I hate the word message) is different for individual readers and is affected by the age, the gender, the circumstances of the person reading it. It's true that it changes over the years as the reader changes.

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I loved the Giver and as a 6th grade teacher recommend it every time one of my students says they can't find a book. They always end up loving it and reading the rest if the series. I am wondering why did you wait so long to write Son?

Julia asked Lois Lowry:

After the end of "The Giver" series do you image the characters continuing their lives after the end of "son" like any other reader or do you just stop the story? If so what happens next in your imagination? for example do you image Jonas getting old, Gabe growing up, how they continued to live...

Maggie Baird asked Lois Lowry:

How do you feel about your book being taught in schools, especially when you said in your Newbury Award acceptance speech that the ending is ultimately up to the reader, and most teachers try to dictate the meaning of the books they teach?

All answers from Lois Lowry…

Lois Lowry

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I loved the Giver and as a 6th grade teacher recommend it every time one of my students says they can't find a book. They always end up loving it and reading the rest if the series. I am wondering why did you wait so long to write Son?

After the end of "The Giver" series do you image the characters continuing their lives after the end of "son" like any other reader or do you just stop the story? If so what happens next in your imagination? for example do you image Jonas getting old, Gabe growing up, how they continued to live...

How do you feel about your book being taught in schools, especially when you said in your Newbury Award acceptance speech that the ending is ultimately up to the reader, and most teachers try to dictate the meaning of the books they teach?

About Goodreads Q&A