The Giver

The Giver
Lois Lowry
ISBN-10: 0440237688
Dell-Laurel-Leaf Publishers, 1993







Plot Summary:


In Lois Lowry's, The Giver, Jonas is a twelve year old boy just assigned his life profession. He is the new "Giver of memories." This job is an important one in this dystopian society as the Giver carries the burden of the all of the memories of the past. The society itself holds no memory of pain, color, love, war, or sadly even choice and agency. The entire society acts strictly on their assignments. They are assigned spouses, children, vocations, etc. There is no sex, passion or love. The book examines difficult concepts such as motherhood, euthenasia, critical thinking, considering one's history as well and also considering the history of one's society.





As Jonas recieves the memories from the original Giver, he begins to question his family, his life, and the future of his society. He is one of the few people experiencing pain, love, and he faces very difficult decisions on what to do with his new knowledge of the past, present, and future.





Critical Evaluation: Lowry constructs a beautiful tale where a boy uses his new knowledge and demonstrates agency, and integrity. In her exporation of the dystopian society and its history she helps readers to consider how history is indeed a construction and we are challenged to consider the way societies use history to justify choices. In a society where choice and agency are absent, Jonas demonstrates he is unique and holds the ability to evaluate his life and society. He acts as an individual and challenges the expected passive role citizens play in this society. Lowry moves into uncomfortable territory and constructs a story valuable for tweens and teens alike as she deals with mature themes and engages her readers.





Reader's Annotation: Jonas recieves his assignment for his life's vocation in a very ioprtant ceremony and now must face the difficult choices and feelings attached to his new assignment. Lowry creates a beautiful story where even a twelve year old boy possesses the power to change the future.





Information about the author: Lois Lowry moved a great deal in her childhood as her father was in the military, then she married a military man as well and raised four children. She also managed to finish both a Bachelor's and Graduate degree as a mother and started to write. She has written many books and series including The Giver trilogy, and Anastasia Krupnik. She claims that all of her stories vary in style and place, but hold one constant; they all explore the "importance of human connections" (Lowis Lowry). Lowry continues to write, and is now a grandmother as well. One can read her blog and find out more about her interesting life and writing on her website: http://www.loislowry.com/.





Genre: YA Science Fiction





Curriculum Ties: History, Exploring history, Sociology





Booktalking ideas:

1.)How much of our own history is a construction?

2.)How do societies use history to control the present and future?

3.) Is life really better with no "pain?"

4.)In The Giver, the birth mothers' only job is to have the babies for the society. Jonas own mother believes this is a low position. How do we treat motherhood and jobs in childcare as "low or unimportant positions? What does this convey about our society?





Reading Level/ Interest Age: Junior High and Young Adult, 7th grade and up





Challenge Issues:

Euthenasia: When Jonas sees that the unhealthy twin must be terminated by his own father.

Motherhood: there are birthmothers used to breed for the society, and none of the parents have sex or choose how many children they want.

Sexual Feelings: Jonas and other teens must take pills to suppress sexual stirrings.



Defense:

First share information abou the author and her perspective on censorship, then
I would also share the selection policies for San Diego County Libraries: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.41_material-selection.pdf If after my working to convince the patron, they still were not satisfied and wanted to file a grievance, I would provide the needed paper work and then it would go to the “Challenged Materials” team for San Diego County and then onward until there is resolution: http://dbpcosdcsgt.co.san-diego.ca.us/screens/Intranet/policy/sdcl-policy_O.34_intellectual_freedom.pdf





Selection Purpose: This book is not only beautifully written, but also it holds important themes and ideas which are engaging and exciting for teens. Lowry explores History as a construction, sexual feelings, pain/ emotions, agency, motherhood, death, birth, family, and how we obey societal rules. This book is full of interesting topics worth discussing and considering, for a teen, adult, and even a Junior High Student. Even though the book is assigned the ages og twelve and up, the Young Adult will find many useful and provacative discussion points in this text.