The Giver

Author: Lois Lowry

Genre: Dystopian fiction

Publication Date: 1993

Overview

The Giver, published in 1993, is a young adult dystopian novel written by Lois Lowry. The novel begins with a depiction of a utopian world, untarnished by war, hunger, crime, but soon the reader realizes that things are not what they appear to be. The novel follows the life of Jonas, a twelve-year-old boy who lives in a town separated from “everywhere.” Like other residents of the community, he follows the principles of “sameness” and leads a life devoid of individuality. To preserve order and a true sense of equality, the community is deprived of physical and environmental experiences such as color, memory, climate, or terrain.

Jonas is set to inherit the position of “Receiver of Memory.” Accordingly, he will have to maintain a record of all that had happened before “sameness” became the norm. The community will draw upon his wisdom and knowledge of past events to make sound decisions.

The Giver is written in the third person and focuses solely on Jonas’ viewpoint. Readers, as a result, are made privy to his thoughts and feelings.

The Giver won the 1994 Newbery Medal. In 2014, a film adaptation was released, starring Jeff Bridges, Meryl Streep, and Brenton Thwaites.

The Giver Biography

The Giver Background

The Giver Characters

The Giver Summary and Analysis

The Giver Themes

The Giver Quotes

The Giver Discussion Questions