READING RESPONSE: THE GIVER BY LOIS LOWRY

My group has finished 'The Giver' by Lois Lowry, and it was an excellent book. It is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a perfect world where everything is the same. No one has a distinctive personality, people are given children by applying for them, and most importantly, no one can make their own decisions as everything is chosen for them by the committee of elders. Children go through stages in this prefect world, from year one, where they are named, to year twelve, where they are given an assignment. Jonas is the eldest child in his family unit of four. He is 12 and is about to be given a job in the ceremony of 12. Surprisingly, he is given the most prestigious yet dangerous job of receiver of memory. He is trained by a man named the giver who holds all the memories of the past, which he must transfer onto Jonas. Jonas goes through the adventure of receiving these memories. From simple memories about riding a sled, to traumatizing memories of hunger in Africa. The memories change him and the way he sees the world completely. He becomes wise and knowledgeable, just like the giver. Jonas soon comes to realize that it is unfair for the people of the community to be deprived of memories and making choices. He decides that the community must change. With the help of the giver, Jonas chooses to leave the community and go to elsewhere, a place beyond the community where rebellious citizens had been banished. When Jonas leaves all his memories will be let loose and the citizens will become aware of what they had been missing. Jonas departs on the long and difficult journey, facing some of the memories the giver had told him about. Eventually he reaches Elsewhere, and his mission to change his community is successful.

My earlier prediction, that Jonas would become close with the giver came true. Although some of the memories were harsh and depressing, it only made Jonas connect with the giver on a deeper level. This book was amazing, and I highly recommend it.