Genre:Science Fiction/Speculative
What if it was possible to create a utopian society where
everything unpleasant has been eliminated? You wouldn’t have to feel pain, take
risks, or make difficult decisions. The weather is continually optimal. Your
career is chosen for you. Would eliminating fear and pain from life make it
better? Those are the questions addressed in The Giver by Lois Lowry.
As the book begins, Jonas is anticipating the “ceremony of
twelves” when he will learn what his career assignment will be. Every aspect of
a person’s life is chosen for them, their job, mate, one boy child, and one
girl child. During adolescence when the “stirrings” first begin humans take
pills to stop these urges that give them dreams. When Jonas has a dream about
Fiona that he describes as pleasant, he is told that it is time to take his
pills. He feels conflicted about taking the pills, but is excited to join his
friends who are already taking theirs.
At the ceremony of twelves, Jonas is given the special
assignment of “Receiver”. He is chosen
to receive memories from “The Giver.” They have sessions where The Giver
transfers memories to Jonas from the Ever World. Through these memories, Jonas gets
to experience real life. He discovers that in order to feel love, a person will
also feel pain. He learns about what really happens to those, such as the
elderly and children who don’t are challenging, when they are released. Eventually Jonas and The Giver devise a plan
to share the memories and return to the Ever World.
The Giver is an
excellent book to use with students to discuss and contemplate the ups and
downs of life. In order for us to experience joy and love, we must also experience
pain and sorrow. I have enjoyed sharing the book Number the Stars, also by Lois Lowry, with my fifth graders for
years. At the beginning of The Giver, I
was excited to share The Giver as
well. At the end of the book, I thought it was a bit disturbing when Jonas finds
out that when people were being “released”, that means they are being
euthanized. He realizes that people who have never really experienced love,
also aren’t emotionally attached to anyone either.
Such a great read! One of few novels that I read in my earlier education that I always remember reading and enjoying. Great choice.
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