Series: Book 1 in the The Giver series
Rating: ****
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic, Fantasy, Social Issues, Science Fiction, Coming of Age, Classics, Young Adult, Ethics, Euthanasia, Childrens, Social Control, Unknown, Control (Psychology), Dystopias, Audiobooks, Memory, Values & Virtues, Lang:en
Summary
Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There
is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person
is assigned a role in the community. Jonas lives in a seemingly
ideal world.
When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special
training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of
the true pain and pleasure of life. Not until he is given his
life assignment as the Receiver does Jonas begin to understand
the dark secrets behind this fragile community. Now, it is time
for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back. In a world with no poverty, no crime, no sickness and no
unemployment, and where every family is happy, 12-year-old
Jonas is chosen to be the community's Receiver of Memories.
Under the tutelage of the Elders and an old man known as the
Giver, he discovers the disturbing truth about his utopian
world and struggles against the weight of its hypocrisy. With
echoes of
Brave New World, in this 1994 Newbery Medal winner,
Lowry examines the idea that people might freely choose to give
up their humanity in order to create a more stable society.
Gradually Jonas learns just how costly this ordered and
pain-free society can be, and boldly decides he cannot pay the
price. 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.
Amazon.com Review
From Publishers Weekly
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.