The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver
by Lois Lowry

Young Adult | Dystopian | Classic
208 Pages
Released April 1993

Rating: ★★★★★
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I can’t remember the first time I read this book, but I find myself coming back to it every couple years. I keep meaning to read the whole quartet but haven’t managed it yet. Maybe in 2025? We’ll see!

This book follows Jonas, a boy born to a seemingly utopian-esque society. Everyone has their place and a role to fill, each important in it’s own way. At the ceremony meant to determine Jonas and his fellow classmate’s future careers, he is shocked to learn he is to become the community’s new keeper of memories. As Jonas begins his training under the current keeper of memories, he soon begins to realize that the community he grew up in may not be as perfect as they appear.

Though this book is considered middle grade/young adult, it is extremely well written and powerful. What I particularly appreciate about this story is how it unfolds. Because we see the community through Jonas’s eyes, we also get to experience it’s flaws as Jonas learns them.

I love the relationship between Jonas and the receiver, and it really puts into perspective how difficult it is to put the human experience into words, especially when you haven’t experienced it yourself. It’s beautiful and poignant and I never grow tired of it, even after re-reading it so many times.

Finally, I really appreciate this books accessibility. It’s easily digestible at a young age and while some concepts may not be fully understood at first, I always glean something new in re-reading this book at different ages.

This is one of those books you can’t go wrong with and I highly recommend it to both children and adults.