The Giver by Lois
Lowry
The Giver is a fantasy story of a twelve-year old boy
named Jonas that lives in the world of Sameness. He lives with his mother,
father, and younger sister in a house similar to every other house and just
like every other family in their little world. When people break the rule, or
do not meet the standards of the town, they are “released,” or killed. The town
has many rules to live by, and no changes in weather or schedule. Each person
in the world of Sameness is chosen to work different jobs at the age of twelve
at the Ceremony of Twelves. One of the
jobs, the Receiver of Memory, is a job that holds all memories, good and bad,
so the town does not have to endure them. Then Jonas starts training for his
new job at the age of twelve, with a man named the Giver, he is given many
memories, and soon realizes that the world he has grown up in has many
imperfections. He has to do something very courageous to save his town, but he
can never back.
The style of this
book is very simplistic. The sentences flow and are an easy read. The setting is in a small district that is
called Sameness, and seems to be in a future setting due to some of the
advancements in technology. The point of
view is third person-sympathetic, meaning it gives the story from an
outsider’s perspective, but also gives the thoughts of Jonas, the main
character. The major conflict is man
vs. nature, but also has a little bit of man vs. man involved as well.
This book can be used in many different contents, and in
many different ways. In social studies, it can be compared to the rules of
society, and capitol punishment. In history, it can teach the importance of
memories and history. Government is also a good subject to read this book. Once
a person is chosen to do a certain job, they have the chance to appeal if they
are unhappy. It can also teach the
freedom of choice, since in the book, at the age of twelve, their destinies are
chosen for them. The big question could involve memories: What is the importance of keeping the
memories? Or what could happen to our world if we had no memory of the past?
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