THE GIVER

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Read by Ron Rifkin. New York: Random House Audio Publishing Group ISBN: 0-8072-8609-5 Reading level: age 10 to up

PLOT SUMMARY

To Jonas, where he lives seems very calm and safe, an ideal world. There is no poverty, divorce, injustice, or inequality. People in the community can’t decide everything on their own, even their families are chose by the committee in a ceremony. The community is ruled by some extraordinary rules such as the “Ceremony in December”, when children become Twelves and are assigned their roles in the community, and the “Ritual of Telling Dreams”: each morning, every member of the family shares their dreams of the previous night. Each family has one girl and one boy, and each year, fifty infants are born to birthmothers. ‘New children’ are raised in the Nurturer at the Nurturing Center until they become Ones. Recently, Jonas has been wondered about what profession he would be assigned. At the Ceremony in December, Jonas is selected as a Receiver of Memories who is the most honored and respected Assignment in the community. Role of a Receiver of Memories is to keep all the memories of the past until new Receiver was selected to pass his memories. Unlike other community members, he would feel fear, grief, sorrow, rage, and pain that the memories bring, and ‘The Giver’ is responsible to train Jonas. As he experiences new memories and feelings, Jonas comes to realize that it is not right that the freedom of the community members to decide their feelings is not permitted and he talks this to The Giver. When Jonas hears that Gabriel, who is being taken care of by Jonas’ family, is in danger of being released, Jonas decides to take Gabriel somewhere. Gabriel has not grown well and slept well, and The Giver says that ‘release’ from the community means ‘death.’ With Jonas’ escape, all the memories release and the community members can feel all the feelings they didn’t experienced before. What about Jonas and Gabriel? The last paragraph of the book left that to the reader’s imagination; “Downward, downward, faster and faster. Suddenly he was aware with certainty and joy that below, ahead, they were waiting for him; and they were waiting, too, for the baby. For the first time, he heard something that he knew to be music. He heard people singing.”

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

As a representative modern fantasy novel for young adults, The Giver won the 1994 Newbery medal and includes elements of the “impossible,” yet probable, as mentioned in Dr. Vardell’s lecture material. These elements stimulate young adults’ imagination. If the book had been narrated by a boy the same age of the young protagonist, Jonas, it would have acquired more sympathy from young adults. This audio book has four CDs and plays for 4 hours and 48 minutes. The CD jacket includes a detailed summary about the author and audio book reader. The book was read by Ron Rifkin who has been appeared on various films and drama series such as ER. His various experiences help him voice male and female characters. The voice of The Giver is very realistic and sounds like he is a real old man. The background music provides dramatic effects, especially the scene when Jonas experiences his father’s memory, and he is about to escape from the community. Compared to reading the book, I felt the audio version is better to appeal young adult reader’s attention. Although the author Lois Lowry is mentioned as one of most challenged authors, The Giver is worthy to read by young adults.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist (September 15, 1998)

Gr. 7^-9. Lowry's simple, powerful prose creates an anti-utopian world where the lack of hardship, war, and poverty only covers the citizens' deeper lack of freedom. A Booklist Editors' Choice and Newbery Medal Winner.

Publishers Weekly (August 8, 1994)

Winner of the 1994 Newbery Medal, this thought-provoking novel centers on a 12-year-old boy's gradual disillusionment with an outwardly utopian futuristic society; in a starred review, PW said, ``Lowry is once again in top form... unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers.'' Ages 10-up. (Sept.)Horn Book Guide (September 1, 1993)Fiction: O In a departure from her well-known and favorably regarded realistic works, Lowry has written a fascinating, thoughtful science-fiction novel. The story takes place in a nameless, utopian community, at an unidentified future time. Although life seems perfect -- there is no hunger, no disease, no pollution, no fear -- the reader becomes uneasily aware that all is not well. The story is skillfully written; the air of disquiet is delicately insinuated; and the theme of balancing the values of freedom and security is beautifully presented. Horn Rating: Outstanding, noteworthy in style, content, and/or illustration. Reviewed by: aaf

CONNECTIONS

*About the Lois Lowry http://books.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/authorstudies/authorhome.jsp?authorID=55&collateralID=5219&displayName=Biography

*Book Quiz
http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/giver/quiz.html
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/reading17/giver.htm

*Discussion Lists
List the extraordinary rules of the community.
What is the role of The Giver and a Receiver of Memories?
Why Jonas is different from other children?
What happen if Jonas escapes from the community?
What profession do you consider to have in the future? Why?
Make your own story after Jonas leaves the community.
What is different between our world and the community where Jonas lives?