Review of "The Giver"

"It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened."

     In Lois Lowry's The Giver, everything is regulated. Newchildren are cared for by Nurturers until they are assigned to their family units, and receive certain possessions--stuffed toys, buttoned sweaters, bicycles--as they age. There is no color, music, or love. For twelve-year-old Jonas, nothing is more exciting than the upcoming December Ceremony, where he will be assigned his full-time occupation. What Jonas doesn't know is that he will not be a Speaker, a Caregiver, or even a Street Cleaner; he has been chosen as the next Receiver of Memory, an occupation that is given out only once in a lifetime. As the community's Receiver, Jonas will absorb memories from his predecessor of everything their founders left behind. But Jonas soon realizes that while history contains some horrifying tragedies, some things are too important to forget--and some wrongs are worth risking everything to right.

     Lowry's writing style is both gripping and deceiving. Her prose appears to be geared toward younger readers, uniquely filtered as it is through the eyes of a twelve-year-old boy. Don't let that fool you, however--The Giver is intense, full of shocking discoveries and imminent dangers many children may find to be "too much". That isn't to say the book is unsuitable for consumption. Though a child, Jonas is observant, complex, and sympathetic. He is determined not only to fulfill the duties of a Receiver, but to ease the pain of the previous Reciever, known as the Giver, while also enjoying a normal life with his friends and family. As he uncovers more and more secrets about his supposedly perfect community, it becomes achingly obvious such a life is one he can no longer experience; not when he knows what his people are missing and must not tell them. Not when the life of someone he cares for is on the line.

     Needless to say, Jonas's character arc is dramatic. He starts out as a strict rule-follower, a model citizen who rarely questions the laws of the community. By the time the novel reaches its end, he is a different person entirely--a strong, empowered young man with a heart for innocent victims. It is a relatively short story, but the journey is long and well-developed. Jonas is a great character in a fantastic, incredibly realistic world. Though the ending is rather strange and the action is minimal, The Giver is full of tension as our hero struggles to reconcile his newfound knowledge with the community he thought he knew. There is no language to be concerned about, and the only potential flag-raiser as far as romance goes is Jonas' first attraction to a girl, which is quickly treated with a pill and is a source of much logical consideration throughout the tale.

     I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a chilling dystopian tale featuring an extraordinary young protagonist who longs for liberty. Jonas and his story are well-rounded and well-crafted, set in a world that is painted with brief, detailed strokes. Though it was originally intended for children, teens and adults are almost certain to enjoy it as well, despite the queer ending. Lois Lowry's The Giver may not have action or romance, but it is one of a select set of books that truly makes readers think--about their morality, our current world, and the numerous possibilities for the future. It deserves four stars.