102 pages • 3 hours read
The Giver
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Book Brief
240
Novel • Fiction
1993
Middle grade
12+ years
Super Short Summary
The Giver by Lois Lowry is set in a future community characterized by safety and orderliness at the expense of individual choice and emotion. The protagonist, Jonas, a perceptive boy about to turn 12, is chosen to be the community's next Receiver of Memory. Training with the Giver, he learns about the world's hidden truths and grows disillusioned with his society's suppression of emotions and experiences, ultimately seeking a deeper understanding of freedom and love. This book involves themes of dystopia, emotional pain, and euthanasia.
Contemplative
Mysterious
Bittersweet
Emotional
Dark
Reviews & Readership
2,611,052 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Giver by Lois Lowry is widely praised for its thought-provoking narrative and unique dystopian setting. Readers appreciate its exploration of complex themes such as memory, freedom, and the human experience. However, some critics find the ending unsatisfactory and feel the character development could be deeper. Overall, it remains a compelling read for both young adults and older audiences.
Who Should Read The Giver?
Readers who would enjoy The Giver by Lois Lowry are typically teens or young adults who appreciate thought-provoking dystopian novels. Fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth will be captivated by The Giver's exploration of controlled societies, individuality, and ethical dilemmas.
2,611,052 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Rosemary: The Giver’s daughter who trained as the Receiver about 10 years before Jonas. She shared similar qualities important to the Receiver role.
Rosemary: The Giver’s daughter who trained as the Receiver about 10 years before Jonas. She shared similar qualities important to the Receiver role.
Jonas’s Mother and Father: Heads of Jonas’s family unit; his mother works for the Department of Justice, and his father works at the Nurturing Center.
Lily: Jonas’s younger sister, about to turn 8, known for her blunt assessments and observations that sometimes highlight the community’s flaws.
Lily: Jonas’s younger sister, about to turn 8, known for her blunt assessments and observations that sometimes highlight the community’s flaws.
Gabriel: A baby boy cared for by Jonas’s father at the Nurturing Center, brought home by Jonas’s family for additional care due to developmental delays.
Fiona: Jonas’s friend and classmate, a caring girl who is assigned to work at the House of the Old during the Ceremony of Twelve.
Fiona: Jonas’s friend and classmate, a caring girl who is assigned to work at the House of the Old during the Ceremony of Twelve.
Asher: Jonas’s cheerful friend and classmate, known for his imprecise use of language, assigned to lead recreation activities.
The Chief Elder and Committee of Elders: Leaders of the community, responsible for making rules, deciding on job assignments, and running ceremonies and rituals.
The Chief Elder and Committee of Elders: Leaders of the community, responsible for making rules, deciding on job assignments, and running ceremonies and rituals.
The Speaker: A community member who enforces rules and issues reminders over loudspeakers throughout the community.
240
Novel • Fiction
1993
Middle grade
12+ years
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