The Giver

The Giver

by Lois Lowry

Young Adult Fiction

5/5

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I instantly fell in love with this adventurous story! I finished all 179 pages in less then a day. Everything about it kept me turning pages one after the other and I did not want to put it down. Lois Lowry has quickly become one of my favorite young adult authors. This tightly written story takes me to a place where everything is perfect. No pain, No fear, no hunger and no war. Everything is under control and governed by the committee of Elders. All is in the sameness as everyone else. There is no color, no love, no choices and no one knows any different. Progression is placed in age and age only matters once you have progressed to twelve years. This would be the beginning of your adulthood. In your adulthood you are assigned a job given to you in a ceremony before the community. As Jonas sat with his group of twelve year olds waiting for his assignment, great embarrassment came across him as his number (19) was skipped over during the ceremony. Soon after the closing of the ceremony He was asked to step forward. Unsure and filled with anxiety, Jonas walked forward. He was reassured that he was not skipped intentionally by not being assigned but he was "selected" to be trained as one of the most honorable positions in his community. The Receiver. As Jonas starts his training with the Giver, he discovers all the true pain and pleasures of life that he must bare so that all of his community can live with security and order. He experiences the horror of war, pain, suffering and starvation from the passing of the Giver. As well as life pleasures, love, feeling, and happiness all which has been denied his entire life. Lois takes us through a fantastic journey of Interdependence in humanity and ends with Jonas discovering the true motivations behind the community of Elders. Jonas has to make a choice. Something he had never been able to do before. To leave his community and face the unknown and perhaps starvation outside his community or stay within the blindness and security of his community and starve in other ways. He would have to live a life hungry for love, color and feelings. My fingers gripped to the pages as I discovered Jonas's choice and you will too!