The Giver

I honestly think I read this book in the 4th grade, but do not know how I could have even began to understand it. This extraordinary takes place in a community where everything and everyone are the same. The people of the community do not experience any pain or even love. They are given a job during their twelfth year and that is the job they are to study and do. They do not believe in choice, or color, or anything that would allow a person to think or be an individual. The main character of the story, Jonas, is incredibly nervous as his twelfth year approaches. He is not sure what kind of job he will receive. At the end of the ceremony he finds out he will be the new receiver of memory. This is very honorable job to have in this community because he gets to a follow a different set of rules. The receiver of memory trains with the giver, the only person in the community who holds memories of a place in which the world was once like. When he begins to receive memories from the giver, he starts to feel pain and love. He does not understand why the community would be against this things. He see's colors and finds them beautiful.

As time goes on, Jonas also discovers what it means to be released into the world. He finds out through memories that if you are released you are going to be killed. His father wanting to release Gabriel, a baby they had been looking after. Jonas does not want this to happen and also wants all the memories to be released back into the communities so that they can all experience these things. He decides to escape with Gabriel and free all the memories. The ending of the book is left to interpretation. Jonas and Gabriel hear music and think they will be welcomed in this new land. Some people believe this means they came across a new village, one more like the real world today as we know. Some believe the coldness they experienced made them freeze to death and that is was they heard before they died.

Whatever the ending may mean, I believe that this book is one that should not only be read by middle schoolers, but young adults and adults who may have never read it. I barely remember reading this book because I think I was to young to understand its full meaning. When teaching this book you can really delve into big issues like independence, difference, and being able to make mistakes. We all experience pain, but the great part in experiencing pain is experiencing something great after that pain. We can enjoy the great things in life if we never experience any of the bad things. This is so important for children to learn.

I would recommend this book for children in 6-8th grade because I think they will get the most out of it. There are many great discussions and assignments that can be done with this book and will crease some great dialogue. I feel like this book is a must for teachers.