The Giver

The title of this book is “The Giver” by Lois Lowery. Lois Lowery is the author of over twenty books for young adults and has received countless honors for her books. The book the giver is the most popular book in the quartet series. “The Giver” is written from the point of view of an eleven year old boy named Jonas living in a society that has eliminated all feelings and color from the people. In the society people cannot choose anything. There are certain things that people gain in their younger ages. At age 12 the boy/girl receives a task. When they receive this task they go through training in order to be the holder of the job. There are a couple different themes in the Giver, the main ones being death, and coming of age. Death is a big role in the community because the elderly are the most important people. When they released or in other words pass away, an event is held to honor that person. Coming of age is an important theme because nothing is very important until you are 12 years old. When you turn 12, you receive a task which you will have until you are unable to work. Coming to the age of 12 is the most important thing that will happen to you in your life.

“The giver” is about a boy named Jonas who is an eleven. Jonas is nervous about becoming a twelve because he doesn’t have any idea of what task he will be assigned. When the day comes where he will be given his task, his name isn’t called. Every other twelve has been assigned a task besides him. After all the twelve’s are given their tasks, Jonas’s name is called and he walks to the stage. The task he is given is the “receiver of memory” an honorable task. He is to receive memories and feelings from the past years and when his time comes he shall pass these memories on to another receiver. Jonas receives feelings like pain and love. Along with this Jonas begins to see color, which nobody else in the community is able to see besides the previous receiver which now is losing that ability. Jonas learns many things that he never knew before including things about his community which frighten and anger him. Jonas doesn’t understand many things and would like to see them change. “The bright orange of pumpkins being trucked in from the agricultural fields beyond the community boundary-seen in an instant, the flash of brilliant color, but gone again returning to their flat and hueless shade”. This quote intrigues me because it is when Jonas can start to see color. He can’t hold the color there but I think the fact that he has gained this ability is fascinating. Jonas never really understood what being “released” meant but when he finds out that it means that the person will die, he feels like he has been lied to. There is a child Gabe who is to be released. Jonas thinks that meant that Gabe will be transferred to another community but after he found out what being released really meant, he is determined to save Gabe but the task awaits where he is to be tested.

I love this book and I look forward to reading the sequels. This book is very interesting and it makes me want to keep reading. The different way of living that these people go through without realizing that there is more than what the eye can see, fascinates me. Everyone should read this book because it’s a book that shows a different way of living and it is a very adventurous and daring book in my opinion.

Book Review by John S.