The Giver. ISBN 978-0-440-23768-6. Lois Lowry. 1993. Newbery Medal. Ages 12-14. Caucasian.

Life in the community seems perfect. The Elders ensure that citizens in the community have everything they need. Citizens are safe, happy, fed, clothed, and without physical or emotional pain. Rules and rituals are essential for this perfect life, including the Ceremony each December in which those who have reached the age of twelve are assigned their vocations by the Elders. Jonas learns that this seemingly perfect existence comes with a price when his training as the Receiver begins. The Giver reveals to Jonas that his role is to hold all the memories of life for the community. Now Jonas will be the sole keeper of those memories. When the transfer process is complete, Jonas alone will hold the memories and knowledge of life’s great pleasures and its worst pain, including physical pain and death, from which the community is sheltered. When Jonas learns the true meaning of “release” and discovers that a child is scheduled for this ceremony, he takes the child and runs away from the perfect society.

The Giver provides many opportunities for expanded reflection, discussion, and writing. Are there religious or cultural ceremonies marking specific ages/milestones that you know of or have participated in? How does Jonas’ new-found knowledge represent his maturing while the rest of the community remains immature/childlike in their ignorance? Are there good memories you would sacrifice in order to forget the bad? Write about what you think happened to Jonas and Gabe after the book ended.