Classic Favorite: The Giver « Books Worth Reading

Classic Favorite: The Giver

April 25, 2008 at 12:16 pm | In Books, Reviews | 4 Comments
Tags: CS Lewis, Dystopia, Eugenics, Isaac Asimov, Lloyd Alexander, Lois Lowry, Madeleine L'Engle, Newbery Medal, Science fiction, Series, Soft science fiction, Speculative fiction, Trilogy, Utopia, Young adult

The Giver, Lois Lowry (1993)

It is true that most habitual readers acquire the habit when they are young. I have my father to blame for my addiction to books, who actually gave me an Isaac Asimov novel when I was in the fourth grade (from which I learned several choice curse words, although I was totally incapable of following the plot). In fact, if I do not get to read at least once a day, preferably before going to sleep, I suffer severe withdrawal symptoms such as insomnia and persistent moodiness. But I digress.

Like many young readers, I was hooked by the gateway drugs of science fiction and fantasy. My favorites when I was a pre-teen were the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, the Chronicles of Prydain series by Lloyd Alexander and A Wrinkle in TIme and its sequels by Madeleine L’Engle.

Unfortunately, I had long abandoned my childish ways by the time The Giver was published. I read it for the first time recently and realized that this was a book my younger self would have loved. It depicts a dystopian society where all choices have been eliminated. Everything from what your job is to who you marry is decided for you. But one person in the society, the “Receiver,” must be chosen as the keeper of the society’s collective memories. His job is to remember what life used to be like, with war, tragedy and pain, yes, but also with true emotions, extended family and even colors. Each new Receiver receives the memories from the previous Receiver, who thus becomes the “Giver” of the title. While a bit too simplistic for the adult reader, the novel provides a nice introduction to some weighty themes for younger readers. Think of it as a Brave New World or 1984 lite.

This is the first book in a trilogy. I haven’t read the other two in the series, but trilogies are the crack cocaine of science fiction — once you start, you can’t stop. (Or have I stretched this metaphor too thin?)

Practice a little subversion, and sneak a copy of The Giver to a young reader you know.

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it was a great book

Comment by liseth — October 30, 2008 #
This book came out when my middle son became a reluctant reader (“mom, just because I’m a good reader doesn’t mean I like to read!” and I gave it to him. He agreed that it was one of the best books ever read, but when I suggested sharing it with his teacher and doing it as a class, he said, “Nah, then she’ll just ask a bunch of dumb questions and ruin it for me.”
Isn’t it the truth? I find myself, some 15 years later, suddenly teaching replacement language arts Since my students, middle school ELLs, can’t handle the regular curriculum, I’m sticking to the theme of “outsiders” – kids who don’t fit in. And I also find myself in the position of trying NOT to ask a lot of dumb questions that would ruin it for them, but rather guide them on their discovery. Each time I reread The Giver I find new insight.
BTW, the other two books are not exactly sequels. Gathering Blue is a companion book – same time, different society. The Messenger can be viewed as a sequel. If you read the other two, some characters might be familiar but older, but it stands alone as well.

Comment by Barbara — February 7, 2009 #