102 pages • 3 hours read
Lois LowryThe Giver
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1993A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Giver by Lois Lowry is set in a future community characterized by safety and orderliness at the expense of individual choice and emotion. The protagonist, Jonas, a perceptive boy about to turn 12, is chosen to be the community's next Receiver of Memory. Training with the Giver, he learns about the world's hidden truths and grows disillusioned with his society's suppression of emotions and experiences, ultimately seeking a deeper understanding of freedom and love. This book involves themes of dystopia, emotional pain, and euthanasia.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Giver by Lois Lowry is widely praised for its thought-provoking narrative and unique dystopian setting. Readers appreciate its exploration of complex themes such as memory, freedom, and the human experience. However, some critics find the ending unsatisfactory and feel the character development could be deeper. Overall, it remains a compelling read for both young adults and older audiences.
Who Should Read The Giver?
Readers who would enjoy The Giver by Lois Lowry are typically teens or young adults who appreciate thought-provoking dystopian novels. Fans of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins or Divergent by Veronica Roth will be captivated by The Giver's exploration of controlled societies, individuality, and ethical dilemmas.
RecommendedReading Age
12+yearsLexile Level
760L