The Giver by Lois Lowry
My name is Rya. I am in middle school and I enjoy reading, writing, swimming, and backpacking.
Like all children in his society, Jonas has been raised with the notion of never telling lies. What Jonas doesn’t know is that the mortar that holds the very bricks of his house and town together is crafted from lies. The citizens living in this small, organized, and simple community carry no burdens on their shoulders. They know nothing more than the systematized life they were assigned rather than given.
Only one extremely respected person is able to see beyond the simple life of the other citizens: The Giver. The burdens of billions become his own. The Giver is the only living person who has ever experienced starvation, wars, and pain. The only one who has ever known the feelings of love, family, and freedom. That was until Jonas came along, assigned a role as The Receiver of Memories. Jonas will be the sole other individual to hold these memories, until The Giver is Released. Then Jonas will be the only one. He will live the long, lonely, laborious life designated for him, all so that the arrogance and ambitions of the human race will not recreate history.
The Giver is another artful masterpiece by award-winning author Lois Lowry. Following this book are three others in The Giver quartet: Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. I would certainly recommend this eye-opening novel, which puts into perspective what we, as humans, take for granted, and what we take advantage of.
