1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lowry, Lois. The Giver. Dell Laurel Leaf Books, 1993. ISBN 0440237688.
2. SUMMARY
This book is the story of young boy named Jonas that is a part of a perfect world. There is no pain, no war and no choices. Every person is assigned a task in his world. When Jonas reaches the grand age of twelve he is chosen to receive a special honor from the Giver. The Giver is the only person that holds gift of life's memories, good and bad. When Jonas receives the gift he uses it to help lead a newborn to a better life.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lets take a trip into the future. A future without pain, fear and war. Everything is planned and organized. A world such as this would be great except to live without choices can be devastating. Lois Lowry does just this in The Giver. It is written from the point of view of a young boy named Jonas. He is a member of a futuristic society that is run the same for everyone. All sadness, fear, hatred and war has been removed. The characters in this book seem normal except they are programmed. The plot does offer events that are true to life. For example the idea of birth and death is true to life although the decision to be "released" is decided by someone else. Society has eliminated choice and at the age of twelve each citizen is "assigned" a job based on his or her abilities and interests. Jonas is bestowed the gift of memories by the Giver. It is this very gift that makes Jonas' idea of life richer and more meaningful. A richness he longs to share with others. Although Lowry creates a great picture of how life should be you are immediately saddened at the beginning when you find out that a problem child that Jonas' father has been caring for is going to be "released." It is through this situation that the story develops and you understand through Jonas' hasty actions how this young boy tries to make a difference. Jonas takes Gabriel and very little supplies on a journey, a journey to a new life. The places in which they travel are believable places. This book leaves the reader with a revelation that you have the ability to change whatever state you are in and share that change with someone else in need. "He pressed his hands into Gabriel's back and tried to remember sunshine. For a moment it seemed that nothing came to him, that his power was completely gone. Then it flickered suddenly, and he felt tiny tongues of heat begin to creep across and into his frozen feet and legs." "For a fleeting second he felt he wanted to keep it for himself, to let himself bathe in sunlight, unburdened by anything or anyone else. But the moment passed and was followed by an urge... a passionate yearning to share the warmth with the one person left for him to love. Aching for the effort, he forced the memory of warmth into the thin, shivering body in his arms." It is at this moment that the author illuminates Jonas' love for someone else. It confirms the longing in him to be a part of a world that is full of passion. Lowry's theme is made very obvious. People have an internal desire to live, love and learn through experiences. Without experiences good or bad we have not lived. This book gives readers the overall impression that there is hope regardless of circumstances. The ending, although unexpected, gives readers the opportunity to fill in their own beliefs and dreams. It gives you the chance to write your own conclusion to this story. This book is a must read.
4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"Lowry is once again in top form.....a tale fit for the most adventurous readers."
------Publisher's Weekly, Starred
"The final flight for survival is as riveting as it is inevitable. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with its readers for a long time."
-----School Library Journal, Starred
5. CONNECTIONS
A teacher's guide to The Giver
www.randomhouse.com/teachers/guides/give.html
Series by Lois Lowry
The Anatasia Series
The Sam Krupnik Series
Books about the Tates
The Gooney Bird Books
A Few stand alone books by Lois Lowry
A Summer to Die
Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye
Stay! Keeper's Story
Number the Stars
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