Parents' Guide to

The Giver: The Graphic Novel

By Michael Berry, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 12+

Dazzling graphic adaptation captures power of original.

Book Lois Lowry Graphic Novel 2019
The Giver: The Graphic Novel Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 14+

Based on 4 parent reviews

watershedschool
watershedschool Parent of 13-year-old
February 23, 2021
age 12+

You’re in the future where citizens are given a job and partner. This is the premise of The Giver.

The Giver by Lois Lowry and is part of a 4 way book series. is a book about a boy named Jonas who lives in the future with his sister lily and his parents, his father is a Nurturer and his mother works in the Department of Justice.and the city wants to make the citizens feel equal and safe. The giver gives memories to Jonas to help him escape. The elders are a small group like the government that wants everyone to be the same and not see color. I liked the plot and action in this book. I also like the characters optimism and ability to think through problems. I don't like how it was kind of slow at the start. It also left some questions. I recommend this book to 6th-10th grade readers who like sci-fi and fiction.
Krudanny
Krudanny Adult
September 29, 2020
age 14+

An interesting introduction to dystopian literature

I first read that this book was banned, and, as a class teacher, had some reservations about introducing this to my class. However, after reading the book myself first, I felt if handled appropriately, as there are sensitive themes contained within, it would be fine for my class. Each week 2 chapters were covered with analysis questions that connected with the books major themes. This helped Ss to digest the information and synthesis them with greater ease. Reading this alongside Commnlit.com made a huge difference to each class.

This title has:

Educational value
Great messages
Great role models
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

As THE GIVER opens, 12-year-old Jonas lives in a community where everyone avoids anything unpleasant and color has been stripped from their sight. Jonas looks forward to the day when he will be assigned to the job he'll hold for the rest of his life. But when he's selected to be a Receiver of Memory, he meets the Giver, the secretive figure who teaches him about life outside the community. Jonas gradually comes to see the magnificent colors of the world and learns that life is filled with both joy and pain. Eventually, he must decide whether he should stay and finish his often traumatic mission.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4):
Kids say (48):

Some science fiction classics seem destined for adaptation to comics, and this dazzlingly illustrated graphic version captures the elements of the novel that make it so relevant and admired. P. Craig Russell uses a blue/silver palette for the opening chapters, and it's a wonderful choice, more lively than plain black-and-white, hinting at the hues waiting to be unveiled. Even though they look and act very much alike, the individual characters pop off the pages. Russell composes that pages with a sharp and sensitive eye, always clear on the flow of the narrative.

Lois Lowry's classic novel smoothly makes its transition to comics, and fans of and newcomers to the book will be captivated by the visual storytelling.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about how The Giver depicts a supposedly utopian society. Would it be nice to live in a society where everyone gets along and believes the same things? What are the dangers?

  • Jonas feels anxious and embarrassed when he dreams about a girl taking a bath. Are such feelings normal? Should family members be able to talk about them without shame?

  • Why is it important for people to experience the painful and unsettling parts of life? Should discomfort be avoided altogether? Is such a situation even possible?

Book Details

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