The Giver by Lois Lowry

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publisher: Laurel-Leaf; Later printing edition (September 10, 2002)
Genre: Dystopian Fiction, Young Adult, Science Fiction
Year of Publication: 2002
Date of Publication: September 10, 2002
Pages: 179
ISBN-10: 0440237688
ISBN-13: 978-0440237686

Summary of The Giver by Lois Lowry

Main Plot & Characters

The Giver is set in a controlled, utopian society where pain, suffering, and true emotions are eliminated. The story follows Jonas, a 12-year-old boy, who is selected to become the next “Receiver of Memory.”

Jonas grows up in his family unit called the community. Within the community, many aspects of life are tightly controlled. People living in the community have limited choices about their future. They are assigned children to look after and prohibited from sexual intimacy and are incapable of filling love. Human emotion is tightly controlled and dampened by medication.

As Jonas begins his training with The Giver, the current Receiver, he learns about the real world outside his community. In Jonas’s training, readers learn that The Giver passes on the memories he has onto the new receiver. Each memory has an emotion—one filled with love, joy, pain, excitement, horror, grief, and sorrow.

Gradually, Jonas discovers the dark truth behind his seemingly perfect world. Eventually, he must make a difficult decision: to remain in the safety of his community or escape to experience true freedom.

Key Themes

• Conformity and Control: The society in The Giver is based on strict control, where individuality and freedom are sacrificed for stability.
• Memory and Emotion: Through Jonas’s training, Lowry highlights the importance of memory and emotions in shaping identity and human experience.
• Free Will vs. Security: The novel explores the tension between safety and freedom. Jonas must decide if a controlled life is worth the cost of true emotions.
• The Importance of Choice: Jonas’s journey underscores the power of choice and how it defines humanity. In the end, his desire for choice pushes him toward freedom.

Writing Style

Lowry’s writing is simple and makes it easy for young readers to understand complex themes.

The author uses third-person narration to allow readers experience the world through Jonas’s eyes.

As the story progresses, Lowry gradually reveals the dystopian nature of the society, creating suspense.

Impact of The Giver

The Giver explores themes about individuality, freedom, and the human condition.

The novel has won numerous awards, including the Newbery Medal in 1994.

Over time, The Giver has sparked discussions about censorship, free will, and the role of memory in shaping society.

Its influence endures, with adaptations into film and theater.

What are your thoughts on this book? Have you had a chance to read it? Let us know in the comments!