The Giver, Book 1

Book review by Barbara Schultz, Common Sense Media
The Giver, Book 1 Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 11+

Riveting, expertly crafted novel shows utopia's flaws.

Lois Lowry Contemporary Fiction 1993
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 136 reviews

Kids say

age 11+

Based on 418 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Lois Lowry's The Giver is a thoughtful and original novel that examines a flawed utopian society. In the world of the book, a "Receiver" holds all of the community's memories connected with pain, love, and desire so that no other people experience those feelings. The Giver is the first of a four-volume series, and it won the 1994 Newbery Medal. Lowry adapted it for an excellent graphic novel in 2019, and it was made into a 2014 film. The novel has a few disturbing scenes, such as when Jonas experiences the suffering of a wounded soldier, and when he learns that his community euthanizes unwanted people. There are also mild references to sexual desire ("stirrings"). The Giver is an excellent and thought-provoking example of a dystopian novel, and it is often assigned in fifth grade or middle school English classes.

Community Reviews

Neal301
Neal301 Adult
February 20, 2022
age 11+

A book every Young teen should read

The irony of some or the parents comments is not lost on me. The whole idea of the Giver is to let people experience life and make their own judgements of right and wrong. The book does not encourage infanticide. Sorry to burst your bubble, but your 11 year old will be able to relate to wanting to take a bath with the opposite sex. These are important concepts, and this book was crucial developing my understanding of the world when I read it in middle school. Its so ironic that the very ideas the author presents that the society deems “dangerous” are the same ones parents today want banned from their child’s mind. I highly encourage parents to give this book to their kids at 11-12. I will be doing so to mine one day.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
GamsGal96
GamsGal96 Adult
January 7, 2022
age 11+

For Intellectuals and Free-Thinkers ONLY

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry at anyone being incensed and outraged by this book for a middle-school-aged kid. If you think it's promoting the horrors of this dystopian society, then you clearly missed the point! I'm all for exposing my child to literature that teaches him how people should not behave, as well as how they should. And he has a wonderful sense of right and wrong. This book is very obviously an example (I think a wonderful example), of how we should not behave. And I think it's a lesson in opening one's eyes and looking at what is going on around them, instead of just blindly buying into what is being pushed by others. That's an important lesson, especially at this age. Everyone should be taught that art has a deeper meaning than what is read or seen at face value. I mean, we grew up with Soylent Green, and I must say, I don't know anyone personally who watched that and started thinking it was okay to use people as food. We did, however, learn that deception can be a powerful weapon, and not everything is as it seems...

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
3 people found this helpful.
See all 136 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In Lois Lowry's THE GIVER, Jonas is part of a community where there is no pain, no crime, no greed, and no unhappiness. There is also no love, no desire, and no colors or music. At each birthday, every child in the community reaches a new milestone that's commemorated with a special ceremony. Ultimately, at age 12, each child receives a life assignment for which he or she will begin training. When Jonas receives his life assignment to be the Receiver of Memories, his mentor, The Giver, trains Jonas by transferring to him memories of a past that the others in the community can't even imagine, in which there was war, hunger, and disease, but also color, weather, and strong emotions. Gradually, Jonas comes to understand, and resent, the choices that were made to create his world, and the terrible secrets behind its perfection. Together, he and The Giver concoct a plan to change their world.

Is It Any Good?

This classic dystopian novel is not only entertaining but also a perfect book to discuss in a family or classroom setting. The Giver examines the trade-offs of a utopian society through the eyes of a sensitive 12-year-old boy. Author Lois Lowry invites readers to consider the pros and cons of Jonas' community and imagine a life without highs and lows. Is a life with no suffering worth living without music or color? Would you give up love if it meant never feeling pain? Jonas is a beautifully realized, big-hearted 12-year-old living a rich individual life in a colorless, faceless world, and his predicament is intensely compelling.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the utopian society depicted in The Giver. What do you like or dislike about this community?

  • The Giver is categorized as a dystopian novel. What are the elements of a dystopian novel? What other dystopian stories have you read? Which are your favorites?

  • Why do you think The Giver is considered a classic and is often assigned in school? What does it have to teach kids and teens?

Book Details

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