Good morning everyone! We have a slight change in plans. Jill Williamson’s book Captives was on the schedule to be reviewed today, but, as you can tell from the title, I’m breaking away from the schedule. My dear sister-friend, Melody, recently asked me if I planned to review her favorite dystopian novel, The Giver. It had totally slipped my mind when I planned the schedule. When I asked Melody if she would be willing to review The Giver she graciously agreed. So, here you are. Enjoy. (P.S. The quote should sound familiar. If you know what I mean, you can take credit for it. ;))
“The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It’s the loneliness of it. Memories need to be shared.”
Jonas’ world is perfect. From birth until the day of their Release, every member of his Community moves through life following the same patterns of progression and change that have been in place for generations before them; patterns which keep them safe and contented. But when Jonas is selected to be the new Receiver of Memory, he steps into an entirely new world – one full of experiences and realities he never knew existed. As he receives the memories that have been passed down through generations of Receivers, Jonas must learn how to handle the experiences of the world, and he must decide what affect they will have on his life…as well as on the lives of the Community around him.
When I first found The Giver sitting inconspicuously dwarfed by two other Newbery Award-winning books on my schoolroom shelf, I never imagined for a moment what an incredible book I was in for. The Giver draws you in from the very first sentence, and continues to surprise and please all through to the end. The story is intriguing and entertaining – partially because of the dystopian society presented, but partially
because of the characters’ lovable personalities. You will identify with and root for Jonas all the way through! The book is a fairly easy read, although once you reach the end you will be very glad to know that there are three sequels! Overall, The Giver is a classic that is worth re-reading over and over again – which is why I was thrilled a few years back when Leah gave me a copy signed by the author herself. It remains one of my all-time favorite books!
Author: Lowis Lowry
Audience: Tweens–Young Adult
Genre: Dystopian
Pages: 192
By the way, I just realized that I completely missed announcing the winner of the book giveaway yesterday. Sorry about that! I’ll do it tomorrow.
Leah E. Good 
I enjoyed The Giver and the following books. They make you think and consider things that might not otherwise come to mind,
Hm, sounds interesting 🙂