The Giver by Lois Lowry
Winner, 1994 Newbery Award
Quick Summary
When twelve-year-old Jonas becomes the new Receiver of Memories he discovers the dark side of his utopian community.
Favorite Quote
Thank you for your childhood.
About the Author
Lois Lowry is the author of more than 30 children's books, some of which have concerned controversial topics such as racism, murder, and terminal illness. (The Giver has been one of the most challenged books in school libraries.) Her earlier book about the Holocaust (Number the Stars) was also a Newbery award winner.
My Project
For this piece, I wanted a modern, futuristic look, so I kept the natural aluminum background. I added a bright red border to represent the color red that plays a key role, plus a hint of the bloodshed in the book.
I added multiple painted snowflakes to represent the memories of the sled, as well as to play with the idea of individuality since snowflakes are said to be unique. (Yes, one of the snowflakes is actually a gear. Not only does it speak to the society's technological advances, but also it underscore the difficulty of transmitting the idea of snowflakes to someone who has never seen them.) The year of the Newbery award is stamped on the metal to give it a sense of permanence and also underscore the preciseness of the society.
Final Thoughts
This is a book that lingers in your mind. The author's plain, straightforward language makes the themes such as the right to make your own choices more powerful than if she had wrapped it all in flowery prose. I read the 20th anniversary edition which includes a fascinating introduction by the author, who says that she still gets 50-60 emails or letters a day specifically about this book.
The Giver is the first book I've read in this list of Newbery winners that made me wonder if I might have read it too late. Today you can't walk into a young adult book section and not trip over numerous dystopian novels for teens, many far darker than The Giver. More than twenty years ago that wasn't the case. It reminded me of reading another futuristic novel (The Handmaid's Tale) when it first came out in 1985. I remember finding it shocking, but I'm not sure I would have the same strong reaction if I read it for the first time today.
The Giver is the first in a quartet of books. I'm curious to read at least the second one (Gathering Blue) to see where the series heads next. I'm not planning on seeing the movie; reviews like this one make it sound like the movie barely resembles the book.
Your Turn
Readers: If you read this book, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.