Giver by Lois Lowry

Year Published: 1993
Publisher: Dell Yearling
ISBN:0440237688
Pages: 179
Classification: Fiction
Genre: Fantasy, Science Fiction
Reading Level: 5
Personal Rating: 3 Stars
Interest Level: 5-9
Subject: Utopian society

Reader's Annotation: Do you want to be chosen as the beholder of all the knowledge? What is you learn about everything including events, people and even feelings that pleasant and unpleasant? How will you live your life after learning everything?

Summary: Twelve-year old Jonas receives his assignment as the next Giver. Jonas lives in a perfect society where there is no war, poverty, or family turmoil. In their perfect society, there is no and fear, no hardship, no everyday discontent, no long-term terror. It is protected from all the possible harm and everything is in order.
As Jonas trains from the Giver, he learns of many things that do not exist in their society. The Giver gives him all the memories, both good and bad, and Jonas feels the weight and responsibility of holding all the information and the truth. Jonas also learns about Elsewhere and the Release of the baby in his family. Jonas and the baby escape the perfect society in search for Elsewhere. They face many struggles and difficulties in their journey – starvation, hypothermia and near death experiences. The story ends without really telling whether they survived but they have reached Elsewhere.

Evaluation: An interesting science fiction book about Utopian society where the hero is a typical teenage boy. The book touches on controversial topics such as euthanasia and suicide. Jonas' quest for the world outside his known,perfect society brings a tragic ending.

Awards: ALA Best Book For Young Adults, ALA Notable Book For Children, Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, IRA Teacher's Choice Award, National Council For Social Studies Notable Children's Trade, Newbery Medal, NCTE Adventuring With Books, NCTE High Interest-Easy Reading, NCTE Your Reading, Voice of Youth Advocates, Wilson's Children's Catalog, Wilson's High School Catalog, Wilson's Junior High Catalog

Author website: www.loislowry.com