“We thank you for your childhood.” The Giver by Lois Lowry is a sci-fi story of order, emotions, and conscience. 12 year old Jonas’ feelings of frustration and isolation are relatable to the unnerving feeling of growing up. He shows the hesitation between following his heart or his mind, as both will cause him pain that he does not understand. The Giver has all the characteristics of a comfort character: witty, kind, and most importantly, real. Jonas and The Giver’s paternal dynamic expose the depth of human emotion. The novel uses memory to remind the reader that no matter how painful a memory is, it is vital to humanity.
The Giver is an easy read for utopian-lovers, and is overall hard to put down. This book is not for those under 12 due to mature themes that might be inappropriate for younger readers. For those who enjoy the book, a movie by the same name was released in 2014.
