A Reading Guide to the Giver (Scholastic Bookfiles)

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Summary: The Giver: A Review
Review: The Giver is a futuristic novel about a "perfect world" where there are no choices, no emotions, and no color. On the twelth birthday of children, their lifelong job is chosen by the Commitee of Elders, and they begin training. Jonas, a twelve year old in this society is given the job of Reciever. The Reciever's job is to keep all of the memories of the past, and use the memories and the knowledge that the memories give him to advise the Commitee of Elders on big decisions. When Jonas begins training with the "Giver" he learns about the world before "sameness", learns about pain and suffering, but also learns of true joy. The Giver is a good book, though disturbing. It isn't really a "feel-good" novel, but it is thought provoking and interesting.

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Summary: Lizzy's Review of The Giver
Review: Lois Lowry wrote one of the best books of all time called "The Giver." The setting of "The Giver" is in a small village with no freedom. The people there do not have a choice of who they marry, what their job is and if they have children or not. Their world is so controlled that there is no pain. There are no choices. Their lives are controlled by other people. They have certian things they must do. The rules are strict. If you break three rules you get "released" (killed). If you are born different or special you get released. They want everybody to be the same. When young people have crushes on people they must take pills. They take pills because they do not want men/boys and women/girls to fall in love or get too attached because chances are they will not get married to each other. The word love is an inappropriate word in their society. A long time ago everybody that was living in the society chose sameness as their way of life. From then on everybody is supposed to be the same. One of the very odd things about this society is that they see in black and white. Another odd thing is that they have never heard or seen animals. One day Jonas, the main character, who is a very intelligent boy, finally turned twelve. He went to the "Ceremony of the Twelves." He got his job. Jonas got the most important job. Its called "the Reciever of Memory." The Reciever's job is to take in all of the memories from the previous Reciever. Jonas did not like his world. One day he decided to leave and go elsewhere...
"The Giver" is a very interesting and expressive book. I recommend that you read it. It is a book filled with feelings.

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Summary: The Giver
Review: The Giver is a book that depicts a "perfect" world starring the 12-year-old Jonas, who is a normal and completely perfect boy. He is living in a normal and completely perfect world, living a normal and completely perfect family. There are no lies, no deception, no dishonesty, no hate, no war, no illness, no evil, and no good. Everything is gray so there is no racism, and everyone looks the same. Among all of these identical blobs of gray is Jonas who- on his twelfth birthday awaits to be assigned a job form the community. He finds he is different than many of his friends who where chosen as workers, doctors, nurses, and laborers. For Jonas was the new Receiver of Memories... In which only the giver, and elderly old man, can give to him. All he can offer is memories of relaxation, of pain, of color, of light, of good, of bad, and of a different Utopia other than the only one Jonas was used to.
Jonas was different. He (as the receiver of memories) was allowed to lie, he could manipulate, and he could see color. Like the red of an apple or a patch of wheat blonde hair. In a world where there is no emotion the giver exposes Jonas to love, and to hate. To fear and pain and the cold and the heat. It is with this understanding and this emotion that he understands he must overthrow the community. He realizes the true insanity of the world around him, and the pure evil of his brainwashed friends and family. This book strives for individuality and freedom of self.

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Summary: The Giver
Review: This book is all around a great book. There is adventure, mystery and very much suspense throughout this book. It makes you read beyond the lines. It is definitely one of the best books that I have ever read and one of my favorites. There is no question about it, you should and need to read it!

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Summary: The Giver
Review: The Giver by Louis Lowry is a very good book. This is one of the best book I ever read. I would recomend this book to everyone who reads because it has a lot of action adventure.

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Summary: An Excellent Book!
Review: I thought this was an excellent book because the author, Lois Lowry, made the statements come alive. This book is an adventures book at the end when one of the main characters, Jonas, travels and starts to fell the real meaning of "starving" and I recommend this book to young adults how really like to read wonderful books, this is one of the best books I have ever read!

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Summary: The Giver
Review: The Giver is one realy great book. I would recomend this book to everyone that does and doesn't like to read. Whoever, hates to read I think you should start reading The Giver and if you still don't like to read. I have no clue to a book that is better then the giver.

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Summary: A Must Read!
Review: Everyone talks about how they want a "perfect world." The Giver centers around just that. But, it isn't what you think it is. This "perfect world" is nothing more than a prison where conformity is the golden rule. I happen to like the ending. It give room for you to think, instead of forcing on an ending to such a mind-boggling thing. There is an article out where the author, Lois Lowry, explans why her ending is like it is. She wanted people to form their own ideas and if she had given a definite one, there wouldn't be discussions about it. About writing a sequel: She feels that since some people feel that Jonas dies on the hill (there's this stage before you freeze to death that you see things and fall into a dreamlike state). There wouldn't be a sequal because he's dead. Btw, I'm one of those people that feel Jonas dies. It just seems like a tragic ending and you just gotta love those. And it's the only one that seems realistic to the story.

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Summary: Stimulating!
Review: This is great literature. The story appeals to your curiosity and then you are sucked in emotionally. Super thought provoking, great for stimulating discussions on the importance and challenges of freedom.

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Summary: A Priceless Book
Review: If you ever wonder what the perfect society would be like read this book. This book introduces us to the "perfect" society and the cost which is paid to uphold it. The book is a lesson to us all that perfection is better left as a idea as opposed to a reality. Character development is somewhat minimal in this book. Lowry does a good job with developing the main characters but the others are kind of flat, but don't get me wrong Lowry does a good job considering the length of the book. The plot is excellent and despite the flat charcters it will get you hooked.