The Giver by Lois Lowry

About the Book:


The Giver was published in 1993. It won several awards, including the Regina Medal, ALA Best Book for young adults, School Library Journal Best Book of the Year, and the 1994 Newberry Medal.



The Main Characters

Jonas- A twelve year old boy who is selected to be the next Receiver of Memory. It is a job which involves bearing other’s pain and joy so that there is peace in the community.

The Giver-The old ‘Receiver of Memories’. Now that he is old, he must pass his memories on to Jonas.

Jonas’s mother

Jonas’s father

Lily-Jonas’s sister

Asher and Fiona-Jonas’s friends

Gabriel- A small newchild (baby) who comes to stay with Jonas’s family.



Summary:

Jonas’ world is completely under control. Everyone is obedience. There is no joy or sorrow. Everyone experiences only the most shallow of feelings. There is no rain, sunshine, love, hate, music or colors.



Then, Jonas is selected to receive training from the Giver, the man who bears joys and sorrows for the whole community. Now Jonas is learning the truth about his seemingly peaceful community. He and the Giver must make things change before it is too late.



The Positives and Negatives of the book:

This book is very emotional. It leaves you thinking, trying to decide which is better: - Our world or Jonas’s. Also, the author starts by building up more and more suspense until a huge amount of action when Jonas runs away. The story is very tightly plotted and gripping.This makes the book very interesting.