I actually came across The Giver through my daughter when she was in elementary school. I don’t remember if she brought it home in Grade 4 or 5, but she raved about it and I thought I would read it as well. I don’t generally read these types of books, but I did love the Hunger Games series and The Giver series may be considered somewhat similar. Here is the synopsis from Amazon:
Jonas’s world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear of pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the community. When Jonas turns 12 he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now, it is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
Lois Lowry creates a society that at first seems to be almost perfect and unblemished, but as the story and ensuing sequels unravel, this utopia is eventually exposed to be something far more sinister. If you would like to read a more extensive review of the book, visit The Wire. I really enjoyed The Giver, (even as an adult) and would highly recommend reading it before seeing it on the big screen. The movie is to be released later this month, so you want to try to get your hands on a copy as soon as possible.
I read the book a year or two ago, when my daughter brought it home from school, but if the truth be told, it wasn’t until I read the second and third books this summer that truly loved the story! The books are really well written and I just couldn’t put them down. If you haven’t read The Giver yet, do so. It is a great read. If you’ve already read it, for goodness sake, don’t stop there! This series is definitely worth the read. I absolutely loved Gathering Blue and The Messenger and can’t wait to read the final book of the series, Son.
