Review: THE GIVER, Genre 6, Fiction, Fantasy, and YA

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY Lowry, Lois. 1993. THE GIVER. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. ISBN 0395645662 2. PLOT SUMMARY This modern fantasy novel is about a young boy named Jonas. Jonas lives in a seemingly perfect world. Everyone is happy and well cared for. They are trained for the perfect job and matched to the perfect mate and two child family. At the age of twelve Jonas begins training for the profession which was chosen for him, the keeper of records. It is at this point when Jonas begins to question the society in which he lives. 3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS Characterization The main character in this book is Jonas, a young boy who is about to turn twelve. He is introduced through the narration of the story. He seems mature for a twelve year old boy but the society in which he lives is very structured. This structure has helped to mold his personality. His is serious about his responsibilities. He follows the rules and procedures of his community. “Jonas rode at a leisurely pace, glancing at the bikeports beside the buildings to see if he could spot Asher’s. He didn’t often do his volunteer hours with his friend because Asher frequently fooled around and made serious work a little difficult.” Jonas is a serious boy and follows the rules most all of the time. He is not perfect; he did mess up at least once. “It had happened during the recreation period, when he had been playing with Asher. Jonas had casually picked up an apple from the basket where the snacks were kept…he had taken the apple home…he remembered with humiliation, that the announcement ATTENTION. THIS IS A REMINDER TO MALE ELEVENS THAT OBJECTS ARE NOT TO BE REMOVED FROM THE RECREATION AREA AND THAT SNACKS ARE TO BE EATEN, NOT HOARDED had been specifically directed at him…no one had mentioned it, not even his parents, because the public announcement had been sufficient to produce the appropriate remorse. He had, of course, disposed of the apple and made his apology to the Recreation Director the next morning, before school.” Jonas evolves through the story from a boy who follows directions without question to a person who thinks and acts for himself. Through his training to become the next “Receiver” he begins to question his “perfect society” and to act on his new beliefs. Plot This is the story of Jonas who lives in a “perfect” society. There is no poverty or crime and every one and thing is cared for by the community. Children are born, given into a family at the age of one. Each family is matched to be with each other and includes a mother, father, and two children. Each year children move up a step and are given a new item such as “the identifying jacket that she would wear this year, this one with smaller buttons and, for the first time, pockets, indicating that she was mature enough to keep track of her own small belongings. At the age of nine children are given their bicycles which will be their only mode of transportation into their adult lives. At the age of 12 they begin their training for their adult responsibility, their job, which has been chosen for them by the elders. “This is the time when we acknowledge differences. You Elevens have spent all your years till now learning to fit in, to standardize your behavior, to curb any impulse that might set you apart from the group. But today we honor your differences. They have determined your futures.” Jonas is selected to be trained as the next Receiver of Memory. This is a unique and highly respected assignment. There is only one Receiver. Jonas was chosen because he possessed the required traits, intelligence, integrity, and courage. The fourth quality, which is wisdom, will be acquired through the training. Jonas does acquire wisdom. As he proceeds with his training he begins to see that his utopian society is not so perfect and that something must be done to call attention to this fact. Setting The main setting for this story is confining. The characters stay in their community. Their movements and experiences are restricted. In the beginning a plane flies over the community and “Then all of the citizens had been ordered to go into the nearest building and stay there. IMMEDIATELY, the rasping voice through the speakers had said. LEAVE YOUR BICYCLES WHERE THEY ARE.” They are not allowed to have the experience of seeing a plane fly and their only mode of transportation is a bicycle. The community is beautiful. It is meticulously cared for by its members. Every member has his assignment and they carry it out to perfection. There are no choices. Every member has his place and each knows what specifically to do in all aspects of life. Theme The theme in this story is that life should not be predictable. People need to be free to have their individual experiences. They need to experience life, to find joy in their accomplishments and learn from their own mistakes. This theme is relevant to young adults. It will help them to look at their own lives, to make them more appreciative and see the good in their lives. Style The book begins in a very upbeat manner but soon it becomes apparent that all is not fine. Things seem just a little bit strange. One example is when citizens are “released”. A releasing begins with “the telling of his life. That is always first. Then the toast. We all raised our glasses and cheered. We chanted the anthem. He made a lovely good-by speech. And several of us made little speeches wishing him well. I didn’t though. I’ve never been fond of public speaking. He was thrilled. You should have seen the look on his face when they let him go.’ Jonas slowed the strokes of his hand on her back thoughtfully. ‘Larissa’, he asked, ‘what happens when they make the actual release? Where exactly did Roberto go?’ She lifted her bare wet shoulders in a small shrug. ‘I don’t know. I don’t think anybody does, except the committee. He just bowed to all of us and then walked, like they all do, through the special door in the Releasing Room.” Readers will want to press on to find the secrets of the community. The ending, in which Jonas escapes his society with young Gabriel, to find an unknown but hopefully better life, is especially exciting but it is up to the reader to imagine how the story truely ends. 4. REVIEW EXCERPTS AND AWARDS 1994 Newbery Medal winner School Library Journal – “The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time.” Kirkus Reviews – “A richly provocative novel” The New York Times - "A powerful and provocative novel.” Publishers Weekly - Lowry is once again in top form--raising many questions while answering few, and unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers. 5. CONNECTIONS *Another Newbery Medal award winning book by Lois Lowry: NUMBER THE STARS, ISBN 0440227534 *Other popular books by Lois Lowry include the Anastasia Krupnik series books; they begin with ANASTASIS KRUPNIK, ISBN 0395286298 and THE MESSINGER, ISBN # 0440239125.