The Giver by Lois Lowry
by Jenners • 10/10/2011 • 4 Stars, Classics, Dystopia, Fiction, G Titles, Gothic/Horror, L Authors, Young Adult • 61 Comments
The Giver by Lois LowryPublisher: Houghton Mifflin, 1993
Pages: 180
Genre: Fiction, YA, Dystopia
Where I Got It: Borrowed it from my brother
My Rating: 4 stars
This was the third book I read for the RIP VI Challenge. Because I don’t want to get too far behind writing these reviews, I’m reviewing all my RIP books by answering the 5Ws―Who, What, When, Where, Why. Plus I’ve included my patented Scare-O-Meter Rating system so you can decide if you can handle the level of fright induced by the book.
Scare-O-Meter Rating: 7 screams out of 10. The horror creeps up on you slowly … just like it does to our main character, Jonas. I would liken it to a Stepford Wives kind of thing. You think you’ve landed in a perfect little world and then you get a whiff of something not quite right … and then you find out just how not right things are.
WHAT is this book about?
Jonas is an 11-year-old boy who lives in a community that prides itself on order and following the rules. Everyone in the community knows their place, and they are expected to adhere to the rules at all times. If you are a newchild, you are expected to grow and develop under the care of Nurturers (like Jonas’s father)—meeting all your milestones and expected behaviors before you are assigned to a family at your first birthday. For soon-to-be Nines (like Jonas’s sister Lily), it is an especially exciting year as you’ll get your bicycle (the primary means of transportation in the community). For soon-to-be Twelves like Jonas, the Ceremony of Twelve is critical as it gives you an Assignment—your permanent role within the community. Jonas is anxious about the upcoming Ceremony, and expresses his concerns at his family’s daily Sharing of Feelings. His parents assure him that the Council of Elders take their job of assessing the Elevens and picking their Assignments seriously. So when the Ceremony arrives and Jonas discovers his Assignment, he is shocked to discover that it is a very prestigious position within the Community—one unlike any other. This new role puts Jonas in a unique position to learn more about his community … and what he discovers changes his view of the world forever.
WHO do we meet?
- Jonas is a young boy with special abilities that put him in a unique position to learn about his community. This knowledge throws Jonas into a quandary as he must keep what he learns to himself, but what he learns causes him to question everything he’s ever known about his family, friends, school, and community.
- The Giver is Jonas’s teacher and the one who opens his eyes to the realities of their community.
WHEN and WHERE does the book take place?
The book takes place in an unspecified time and place. However, I’m assuming it is set in the future, when life as we know it has been “modified” in order to maintain order and peace.
WHY should you read this book?
This is a masterful addition to the canon of YA dystopia, and I think it does what a good dystopian book should—send chills up your spine while presenting you with an alternative world that seems like it could actually come to pass. Like Jonas, the reader slowly begins to grasp the realities of this world and exactly what has been done in the name of order and control. I loved how Lowry created this seemingly utopian world (no sickness! respect for elders! lovely weather all the time!) and then slowly turns it over to reveal its rather sinister underbelly. I read the book in one sitting, and I immediately wished I had a young adult (13 or older) to discuss it with. This is what YA dystopia books SHOULD be like. And I’m not the only one to think so. The book won the 1994 Newbery Medal (which is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association, to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children).
By the way, this is the first book in a trilogy (the other books are Gathering Blue and The Messenger), and I plan on reading them as well.
What are other bloggers saying about this book? You can find out at the Book Blogs Search Engine.
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I adore this one too. It was the first dystopian novel I ever read and it just blew me away.
I’ve read this book a couple of times and each time I was blown away. This is a book that makes you think and you’ve gotta appreciate that
I’m curious to see what my son will think of it when he gets older and we can read it together. Glad to hear that you enjoyed it!
If I had read this book as a young person, it would have blown my mind. Heck, I read it as an adult and it blew my mind.
I don’t think I’ve ever really known what this one was about. I’m not big on the dystopias but this seems to be a classic already. I should probably give it a chance sometime.
It totally has a feel of a modern classic. I actually thought it was written back in the 1970s or something … not 1993!! It has a timeless feel to it.
I’ve always wondered about this book and had no idea that it was the start of a trilogy. I hope to read it someday. Maybe with Gage
From what I’m hearing, the next two books aren’t so good. But this one is really really good!
This one sounds like it’s right up my alley! Thanks for reviewing.
It is sooooo good. And a quick read — perfect for busy moms.
This is one of my favourite books! I completely agree with you that this is exactly how YA books should be. I like that even though this book can be considered light reading it has plenty depth with its subtle messages.
Exactly! Your description captures perfectly why it is so good. It is an easy read but with deep dark themes.
Lol, I’m such a loser. When I saw RIP I thought you had given up on the book and since I just bought it the other day that wasn’t going over to well for me. Duh, I know about this challenge. My excuse is it’s still early here. Anyhow I just wanted to check out the number of stars and screams and I’m glad to see this was a good read for you. Hopefully I’ll get to it someday soon.
Don’t worry … I know the feeling of early morning cotton head! This is a good one!! Be sure to make time for it.
This is one of my all time favourite books, I’m so glad you were scared 7 out of 10 screams.
It was the scariest book I’ve read for the RIP Challenge yet!
I love, love, love this book. I enjoyed teaching it to 8th graders (that’s the only thing I enjoyed about teaching 8th grade). I didn’t like the sequels nearly as much.
So I have to know… what did YOU think happened at the end?
So you teach it to 8th graders? That sounds about right. Any earlier and I imagine it might be too heavy duty. And everyone seems to echo what you said about the sequels. I’m on the fence about whether to read them or just let this book be.
The end did confuse me. I’m thinking that Jonas was hallucinating from hunger and cold at the end and that was it. What do YOU think? I’m sure you have several theories since you teach the book! Please share!
Thank goodness I don’t teach 8th grade anymore! But I have, yes.
I think Jonas and Gabe die, but even Lois Lowry doesn’t agree with me about that. I think they have hypothermia. It’s bleak, but if you think about it, it makes Jonas into a sort of Christ figure. Of course, I guess he doesn’t have to DIE to achieve that, but still. That’s what I think. We always used to talk about what the kids thought happened, and they were more in line with you and thought I was crazy dark for going that route.
I’m pretty sure I read this ages ago, but alas, no memory. I think I may re-read this for the Readathon!
I would be surprised if you didn’t remember it … it packs quite a punch!
Also among the most ‘challenged’ books in American schools, the religious types don’t like it much. Read it many years ago but was totally unaware there were more in the series, may have to revisit as my daughter is very interested in dystopian type novels and am always looking for things to suggest to her.
This would be a real find for your daughter, I would imagine. I could see why it would be challenged, but that is EXACTLY why it should be read! I’ve been hearing the rest of the series isn’t as great as this book but I’m curious enough to try them out I think.
I bought that book a long time ago, but I hadn’t picked it up yet. I honestly didn’t even know what it was about, just that it won an award. I so appreciate your summary. Now I want to read it. I’m gonna go grab it right now for my nightstand. Thanks!
Isn’t it great that you already have it? Go grab it and start reading. I bet you won’t be able to put it down until you are done.
This book sounds great and totally creepy! I’m kind of surprised I never read it but I haven’t and I’m going to soon. I didn’t realize that it fit into the RIP challenge but it makes sense since this sounds like what I expect a good dystopian story to be. I might try to read this by Halloween. This review style is terrific, too…just enough info!
So far, it is my scariest RIP read. And you can read it quickly … but it will stay with you. Definitely check it out.
Jenners, I read this book a few years ago. I’m glad you enjoyed it. It’s a book that makes you think about the freedom we have to make our own choices.
It does make you think. I bet it would be great for a group read … for kids or adults.
I think my son read this one, but I never have! I’m going to go look through his shelves and see if we have it.
I hope you find it on his shelves! I totally missed this when it was released, so I’m glad I finally read it.
I have always wanted to read this book and have heard that it’s not only wonderful but also very sad as well. It sounds like Lowry really gets her dystopian world and characters right, and I am pleased that you had such a great reaction to this one. I do have it here, and my daughter agrees with your sentiments on this one, so I probably shouldn’t let it linger! Great review, Jenners!
I read this in one day. It is a fast read but it packs a punch. And you can talk about it with your daughter, which would be so cool!!! Go and get it now!! : )
Many middle schools in our area read this book, but not ours of course. I keep saying I’m going to pick this one up for Nick, he is 13 and in 8th grade. Thanks for the thoughtful review.
That is a shame that your middle school doesn’t read the book. It would be one that would excite kids about reading … and get them talking. You should get it for your son (and then read it yourself!).
There are some follow-up books set in the same world, for readers with reactions like Amanda’s. And my kids read and loved this one in 4th grade, so it won’t be long before your son can read it.
Fourth grade, huh? I’m not a great judge of when kids are ready for books like this. I imagine it depends on the kids! I’m definitely planning on “forgetting” to return this to my brother so I can read it with my son in a few years.
Read this one when it was assigned to son in grade school. I loved it more than him!
I think it would be a great book to assign in grade school! You could get some really serious discussions going.
I loved this book, but I haven’t read the others in the series because I’ve heard they’re not as good, and I really don’t want to spoil how magical this book was for me.
I keep hearing that the other books weren’t as good. I imagine it would be hard to top this one. It was so powerful. Perhaps I will leave the other books be.
Hurray – another book to buy on my Kindle!
And it might be a good one to share with your daughter too! She might be old enough to discuss it with.
I loved this but I heard the next two were put out as sops to the fans, and aren’t as good, so I haven’t read them.
That is what everyone keeps saying! I think I’ll try for them at the library instead of buying them or swapping for them.
I have to read this one, I’m a fan of this genre. Thanks for the review. It’s going on my wish list.
If you like this genre, this is a definite must read!
My kids and I listened to this one (as well as The Messenger) on audio. I read the third one out loud to them. They absolutely LOVED it. They were in the back seat gasping and exclaiming as we began to learn more and more about this strange world. I actually thought this was a Middle reader, but whatever it is, it is wonderful because it doesn’t dumb down anything just because it is for kids. I love that in a book.
I’m not sure what age would be appropriate for this. There is some heavy duty stuff in this so I erred on the side of older. I could see that it would be easy enough to read for a middle reader but the content is pretty heavy duty. How great you got to read it with your kids. Would you recommend the follow-up books? Everyone seems to be saying they aren’t that good!
Sounds like a very structured world from what you’ve shared here. You make me want to know about its darker side, though!
You’ve got to read it!!! It is really well done and just gets you.
I read this one over and over and over as a kid. It is just one of those books that is so masterful. I haven’t read it in a decade probably, so I think I need to dig out my copy.
If I had read this as a kid, it would have blown my mind!!! I so wish I had read it. Too bad I was an “adult” by the time it came out. I missed it completely until recently. So glad I finally read it.
I’ve been wanting this book for so long. I was hoping to win it during the Read Banned Book Giveaway, but didn’t.
But I will read it before the year is over. I’ve heard it is really good and insightful and one of the best YA dystopian novels around.
Great review. I want it more now than ever.
I wish I could send you my copy but I have to return it to my brother. It is worth getting — that is for sure! I think it is one of the best dystopian novels around … YA or non-YA!
A Stepford Wives kind of thing – scary but in a kind of understated way. I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for this one Jenners, thanks for the recommendation.
It is really good. It is short but it packs a punch.
I really loved this one, except the end was a little too abrupt for me. This is the only book I can ever remember really surprising me on such a gutteral level that I actually shivered. There is one line – when the Giver is explaining to Jonas why the apple and that hair have been shimmering for him (trying not to give away spoilers here) – and at that line, my brain had a complete meltdown. I didn’t realize what was happening before then and it broke my reality for just a moment. It was perfect. Like I said, I wish the ending had been less abrupt and had more closure (you never really get any in the companion books either), but otherwise, brilliant book!
I had the same reaction to the section you are talking about. That never even occurred to me!! I had no clue what was happening. I agree with you about the ending. I thought maybe things would be tied up in the subsequent books but it doesn’t sound like it. Harumph. Still, it was an awesome book!
I LOVED this book – and the subsequent books are always checked out at the library, so you’ll probably read them before I will.
Glad I am not a breeder, nor the one doing the releasing.
Oh that releasing scene was horrific!! Gah! And from what I’ve been hearing, the other two books aren’t that good so maybe you aren’t missing anything.