The Giver

Title: The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

Genre: Sci-Fi

Awards: Newbery Medal

Age Group: 8th-12th

I read The Giver by Lois Lowry. This book follows Jonas, a 12-year-old who is assigned to be the Receiver of Memories in the dystopian society they live in. This society is very strict, with very specific rules and protocols, and the citizens do not have any choice in what they do, as they are assigned a job when they turn 12. Those who run the society have essentially brainwashed the people and altered their minds by removing things such as pain and hatred. He lives with his parents and younger sister, Lily, as well as a newchild, Gabriel, who is cared for by his father (a Nurturer). He begins to experience strange occurrences before his assignment, but after meeting with the Giver and receiving many of his memories, his eyes are fully opened to many of the disturbing injustices of their society. The Giver holds all of society's memories so that the people do not have to (they basically lack reasoning and understanding). Jonas begins to experience color and learns about different elements of weather. Oppositely, he also experiences pain, loneliness, and fear. As he gains these memories, they fade from the Giver. Together they devise a plan in which Jonas will escape to Elsewhere. Once this happens, he will no longer carry all the memories; they will be scattered among society. They decide that this is for the best and the only way that society can better itself. In a turn of events, to avoid Gabriel being released (killed), Jonas makes his getaway earlier than he and the Giver had planned, and they suffer through an excruciating journey to Elsewhere. In the end, they make it up a hill, where they are met with a sled. This reflects the very first memory that Jonas received from the Giver. He and Gabriel slide down the hill, and Jonas is filled with hope as they see signs of life and music ahead.

Wow, what a harrowing read. I am not typically a fan of dystopian books, as they are usually quite intense, but I could appreciate the message that this one conveyed, and it had a very powerful story and ended with a sense of hop. I do not think I would use this in the classroom, though, as it is above the level that my students will be at, since I will be in the elementary setting. 

I would definitely recommend The Giver for those teaching upper middle school or high school, even though I won't personally have much use for this book at the level I will be teaching at. It does have more mature content in the sense that it deals with a very controlling government that brainwashes its citizens. It is a difficult thing to read, but I also think it's important for students to be exposed to this idea, especially those starting to vote. It begs the question: how much power do we want our government to have?

As for lesson ideas to go along with The Giver, I think there are a lot of meaningful discussions and writing prompts that could go along with the book.

Doesn't it seem amazing to live in a world with no pain, no war, no hatred? It isn't everything it seems in this book, and in this society, one person bears that weight. It is an interesting parallel to Christianity, where Jesus bears the weight of all our sin, conquering it forever, and in heaven we will experience no sorrow or sin. Other things to consider when discussing and writing are...

• The customs and limitations of Jonas' society.
• The meaning of the ending (the sled and Elsewhere).
• The relationship between the Giver and Jonas (how did this change things for Jonas?).
• Gabriel's presence in the book (how did he impact Jonas?).
• The concept of release.