The Giver, by Lois Lowry, is a story about how society has made a community that is free from the pain and chaos the outside world faces and is also devoid of emotions and feelings. The society the characters live in are kept free from all negative actions and aspects of life. Although the society feels they are protected from the dangers and harms of the world, they are not exposed and don’t experience the positive and grand aspects of life. This novel is a science fiction and young adult read that provides the perspective of how Jonas, the main character, thinks and feels. In The Giver, one of the main takeaways that Lois Lowry wants the readers to understand is that it is important that human life has memory.
The society Jonas lives in is based on a utopian society, which is a world that has creators who envision and create a “perfect” world. The creators eliminated fear, pain, illness, and conflict to make sure their society doesn't fail as they continue to progress through the years. As the kids in the society reach the age of 12, they are assigned jobs that they will pursue for the rest of their lives. The kids train for their jobs so that they can take over the positions of the elders. Jonas is a special case though. He stands out from the rest because he is chosen to become a major role in society. As Jonas goes through training with the Giver, his new role, he learns that this society is not fair and that they should be allowed to have the freedom to choose what they want to do.
The Giver is one of the best books I have ever read. It captures the essence of growing up and coming to a new age. Every plot twist made me feel more obsessed and attached to each character. I really enjoyed the transition of Jonas's character from being a scared and timid boy to a risk-taker that would do anything for his community. Jonas's character change shows that path of maturing and growing up. This book is one of my favorites and I highly recommend reading it if you are up for a bit of adventure and science fiction.
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