The Giver by Lois Lowry
My son has been after me to read this book for ages. Now that is has been made into a movie coming out in August, he said I have no choice but to read it so we can see the movie. I have taught him well!
Written in 1993, it was dystopian before dystopian was cool, much like 1984. Now dystopian is all the rage. In this society, there are no colors, feelings, music, sunshine, weather, anything. Everyone is the same. People apply to marry and a matched to someone. They apply for children, and they can have no more than two. These children are born to birthmothers, spend time being nurtured in a facility, and then, in December, they are named and given to their families. If a baby doesn't thrive, they release it, which means they stick a needle in its head and kill it. Old people go to a home for old people, and then are released. They are killed in much the same way. Parents, after their children are raised, go to a home and never see their children again. Sounds like a pretty screwed up society to me.
Our story is about Jonas. He is about to be 12, and at the ceremony in December, will be given his assignment, or job. He is to be The Receiver, which means he will be burdened with memories of several generations prior to his own. Why? Because the people of the community can't handle them.
Jonas' father is a nurturer, and he has brought home one of the babies because they are concerned that he will not be able to go to a family if he doesn't thrive. Jonas also sees something of himself in this baby.
During his training, Jonas finds out what they do to release people, and he is fed up with life in his community. With the help of the Giver, he makes plans to escape. The night before he plans to leave, he finds out that they are going to release the baby that his family has been taking care of. What would you do in his situation?
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