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The Giver by Lois Lowry is a dystopian novel that focuses on a boy named Jonas, who lives in a society that has eliminated choices; that is, citizens do not have the ability to choose their own job, their spouse, etc. The society has also eliminated differences among its people by converting everything to “sameness,” along with getting rid of abnormal terrain, weather, or any other natural differences in the world. Scientists are working hard to study human genes and find a way to reduce genetic differences among citizens. A council of elders observes citizens of the society and any events that occur, and they use that knowledge to determine a person’s ideal occupation, spouse, children, and more. At the age of 12, each child in the society is assigned a job that they will fulfill for the rest of their lives.

At Jonas’s Ceremony of 12, he is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory, who holds the memories of previous generations and uses that knowledge to advise others. The previous Receiver of Memory, who became known as the Giver when Jonas was chosen, bestows his memories on Jonas and teaches him how to use the memories to advise others. Jonas, who has been tasked with experiencing all of the memories of previous generations, the good and the bad, struggles with learning about the new emotions, things, and experiences that accompany the memories. As Jonas continues receiving memories and learning about life outside of the society, he begins to question the decisions of the elders and the lifestyle that he has always known. is unable to discuss his thoughts with anybody but the Giver, as he is forbidden to speak about the memories and the history of the world with anybody else in the society. However, he is unable to discuss his thoughts with anybody but the Giver, as he is forbidden to speak about the memories and the history of the world with anybody else in the society. In the past, when everyone had access to the memories, topics like pain and war disturbed the population. So, a Receiver of Memory was chosen to bear the burden of history.

Without giving too much away, the story contains thought-provoking ideas and messages, including themes like balancing security with personal freedom, and I believe that both children and teens can benefit from reading it. For me, it was a fascinating book, and I found myself eagerly flipping through the pages as I became caught up in the story. The vocabulary and the style of writing is not particularly difficult to understand, and I don’t think that the dystopian setting would confuse young readers. However, it is not a challenging read for teenagers, and I wouldn’t recommend it for those who are trying to expand their vocabulary or experiment with different writing styles.

I would give The Giver a 10/10. The story is well-written, engaging, and contains fascinating themes that would be beneficial for all readers. If you’re looking for a quick read, The Giver is an excellent choice.

Check out The Giver from the Newport Beach Public Library.