Rating: 
Summary: Haunting
Review: I read this book as a child and the substance really stuck with me, so much so that for years, though I couldn't remember the name or author, I kept vaguely looking for it because I needed to be able to refer to it with the conscious part of my mind. Reading it again was a joy, and I highly recommend it. It's a book which lays a foundation -- it encourages both child and adult to look at the world they live in with more careful eyes, and question the structures and common practices we all take for granted. While describing a fictional world in child friendly language it grapples with relevant issues; from what it means to take a pill, to the simplicity of choosing comfort and numbness over a more painful awareness and the real cost that choice entails. It amazes me how much the books we read as children shape the way we think and process our experiences. For all those who want a world filled with sensitive, compassionate, and truly aware people, Lowry has given us a great gift to share with our children.
Rating:
Summary: I am only 13 and i loved this book!!!
Review: I read this book as a class asignment and it is one of the best books I have ever read! It is about a boy named Jonas who has been born in a community without war, pain, or suffering; but along wih that there was no love,feelings, or anything that would make people be different like color or persomality. At the "serimony of twelve" everything changes for him. He learns about the world from the Giver. One of my favorite parts in the book was when Jonas askes his parents if they loved him. They said no and that they appreciate his company instead of love. these eople even take pills to control their emotions. It is kind of a sad book, but I still loved it I gave it 5 stars!
Rating: 
Summary: The Giver
Review: I read this book as a freshman in high school, which was last year. Most of the novels I wind up reading in English class wind up being boring or not to my interest, I thought it was going to be the same when my teacher handed it out to my class, but I was wrong this book kept me reading and reading as no book has before. I would have given it a 10 if not for alot of the parts of the book had me confused and I had to go back and read it over again. Overall I really enjoyed it and recommend it to all Freshmen. Thank You-Ryan Cox
Rating: 
Summary: A well-meaning book, a slowly-moving plot
Review: I read this book as an assignment in my English class. I think it's certainly full of revealing insights about society and what's supposed to be for the benefit of society. On th other hand: Does a story have to be so stiff, so boring and so obvious in what it is meant to say?
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and intriguing plot.
Review: I read this book at school. It was interesting indeed. But it is not like science fiction, it has more elements of a fantasy and tale. I think that the main idea is too simple and straight forward.
Rating:
Summary: Cold comfort, wan hopes
Review: I read this book because it is on my daughter*s reading list for school; once I glanced at it, I was hooked--had to get to the end. What I found was a sad, safe, uneventful world where no mistakes would ever be made. No mistakes, because there were really no choices to make at all; as Jonas, our protagonist learns, choices are forbidden *because people might choose WRONG.* The result? A peaceful world of health and plenty, wherein all might fulfill thier potential, where bigotry and violence have been eliminated, where humans live in perfect balnce with themselves and nature. The cost? Any differences, no matter how slight. Even color had been all but phased out. Apologies must always be accepted for even the smallest disruption, and all those who even remotely threaten or weaken the careful social order are *released*, which tranlates into being killed, as Jonas discovers. He learns all this from the Giver, an old man charged with retaining all the messy things such as emotions, mistakes, sorrows. This is ultimately a sad book, as the full ramifications of the carefully balanced world unfold in the telling; even such harmless things as grandparents, twins, pets, and candles have had to be phased out, in the name of public welfare. Only the Giver is allowed/entrusted to bear the dangerous burden of Mistakes. In the end Jonas has to decide between his lauded position as the Giver*s apprentice--and of saving the life of an *unfit* baby he has come to love. I find the ending frustrating-- Jonas and his *brother* set out for the mythical Elsewhere, only to be lost in the snow. Though Lowry envokes the power of memories she does not resolve the tale either way, i.e. either with Jonas* death and subsequent release of the pent-up years of memories into the general populace, or with his finding anyone else to take them in. This kind of ending leaves me frustrated; tho her point is well-made, the resolution is left unfinished. Jonas* sacrifice is almost in vain--I wonder if anything will really change. We worry about making mistakes, we see what happens if we are not allowed to make mistakes. A disturbing read.
Rating:
Summary: phenomenal
Review: I read this book because it was required reading for my daughter entering sixth grade and I wanted to see what the school was giving her. I was very impressed. This book is really thought provoking and interesting. I couldn't put it down.
Rating:
Summary: Not Just For Kids!
Review: I read this book because other teachers at my school were using it in their curriculum, and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. I read it straight through in an afternoon, then read it three more times over the course of the following week! I tried to get everyone I ran into to read it, bought a few copies to give away and kept loaning mine out! The story of Jonas, and what he learns about his community, is riveting. Lois Lowry presents a future dystopia that is so disturbing simply because it is so terribly possible. Her straightforward style, with surprises unfolding at every turn, is easy to read, but has many levels that give depth to her tale. As a teacher, I recommend this book for the effect that it had on my students (after reading it I decided I just *had* to teach this book), but as a lover of literature I would recommend it to anyone of any age. This book might be listed as "teen fiction," but it falls into the same category as "Brave New World" and "1984."
Rating:
Summary: My review of The Giver by Lois Lowry
Review: I read this book for my children's literature class. It dealt with in depth issues involving our society, such as euthenasia, individuality, and more. The book has some very in depth issues so I would not recommend it for anyone younger than 10th grade. As an adult and a mother I thought this was an excellent book. I think even an adult could get a lot out of this book. I commend Lois Lowry for her effort to deal with the tough issues that face our society today.
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Summary: I advise you to read it - Ximena Alarco
Review: I read this book for my English lesson at school and although I thought it would be very difficult to understand and maybe boring, it wasn't. It was exactly the opposite of what I had thought. It is a very interesting book written with lots of fantasy without becoming a children's book. Well, maybe children would also like the book, but I'm actually 15 and I liked it very much. It is about a community that tries to be perfect, it is isolated and The Elders (the leaders)give many rules to make the community as perfect as possible. I won't tell you anything more about the plot, because I think you should read the book and see what it is about by your own. I rated the book with 4 stars, because although I find it very interesting and not difficult to understand, I think some things could be better, like the end, for example. I can tell you one thing for sure: Once you start to read it, you can't put it down.
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