Meryl Blomseth: The Giver by Lowis Lowry

 

This is a dystopian novel, that tells the story of Jonas. He is lives in a place where life happens in a very predictable pattern. Each age has a certain skill learned and privilege allowed. The book starts with the ceremony of twelve. This ceremony marks the training time of young adults in the community to be assigned to "shadow" and learn their future career. While all of his peers are given jobs, Jonas waits for his assignment. After all of the "twelves" are assigned, he is the only one left on the stage. The Elders have specially chosen the job of "receiver of memories".

He meets "the giver" and learns about the absence of color, creativity, and emotions through transmissions of vivid memories "the giver" shares. All of the qualities that make us uniquely human were stripped away from his community and Jonas is in upheaval as he is burdened with this knowledge only privy to him. He breaks away and does something unthinkable in the eyes of the community. Jonas is called to action by the information that he absorbed. In a community where sameness is revered, Jonas goes with his gut and boldly takes a risk. The injustice he felt and new frame of reference he operates from, shapes his actions and thoughts.

This book takes the reader on an emotional journey while Jonas figures out the true meaning of life. Lois vividly draws parallels to today's society, the underlying idea of censorship. What do "they", the information givers, want us to see and hear? What information is not being shared? What are the people privy to new information doing with it? How is it shared? The Giver is a novel that touches on many important civic issues, while engaging the reader in a wild tale.