Author: Lois Lowry
Title: The Giver
Illustrator: cover artist: Cliff Nielsen
Publisher: Bantam Books
Year: 1993
Format: eBook
Genre: Newbery
Reading Level: Independent
Interest-Level: Middle School
Topics: Futuristic, Science Fiction
Summary: Set in a different world, The Giver follows a boy named Jonas in a world with no color, love, music and knowledge. Jonas is in what it called the twelfth year of his life and he is to become the “Receiver of Memory”. Once Jonas meets The Giver and learns more about his world he has to decide if he wants to stay with his family in this world or discover other possibilities out there.
Extension Activities:
-Discuss how The Giver is different from normal fiction books. What makes it “science fiction?”
-Have students compare and contrast our world from Jonas’ world. How is it different? Which world would you want to live in?
-Ask students how they would feel in Jonas’ shoes. Would they decide to leave what they have known as home forever and their family behind? Or would they decide to live in this black and white world?
