Lois Lowry
2011
1994 Newbery Medal Winner
The Giver, the 1994 Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time. The haunting story centers on twelve-year-old Jonas, who lives in a seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver of Memory does he begin to understand the dark, complex secrets behind his fragile community. Lois Lowry has written three companion novels toThe Giver,includingGathering Blue, Messenger, andSon.
Lois Lowry's The Giver is a thought-provoking dystopian novel that raises important questions about memory, emotion, and the human experience. It's a book that I would feel comfortable recommending to both my students and my own kids, as it's a poignant exploration of what it means to feel and to remember in a world that's stripped of both. The narrative is both stark and beautiful, and it leaves a lasting impression that lingers long after the final page is turned. It's a powerful reminder of the importance of individuality and the richness of human experience.
