Synopsis
In the Community, people don't choose what they want to do. A job is selected for them.
In The Community, everything was seemingly perfect. Because there were no religions, colors, or feelings, there could be no discrimination, racism, or war.
Also, there are no memories of discrimination, racism, or war.
Jonas is facing the Ceremony of the Twelves – a ceremony for those reaching the age to receive their chosen job.
But Jonas is given the rarest of jobs – he is chosen to be The Giver. That day, Jonas' life is turned upside-down.
He meets the current Giver – a man who has the weight of the world on his shoulders.
He carries the weight of all the world's memories – only he remembers all the wars and cruelty that went on in our world today.
Now, he must hand down those memories to Jonas. First, he begins with vibrant color memories, but he moves on to horrible battles and heartache.
Now, together, they are the only members of the Community who feel and see color.
As he learns all the things that go on in our world today, Jonas finds out that the Community is not as perfect as it seems.
In fact, the atrocities it performs are worse than the memories of the world.
Lessons from The Giver
In America, I believe that we experience the danger of the Community.
While the Community was trying to save themselves from racism, war, and horrific memories, the Community was committing atrocities behind the scenes.
That's precisely what's going on in America.
While we're trying to save the trees and bees, babies are being killed behind the scenes.
We have become like the hypocritical Community.
Quotes
The worst part of holding the memories is not the pain. It's the loneliness of it. Memories need to
be shared.”
“Even trained for years as they all had been in precision of language, what words could you use, which would give another the experience of sunshine?”
“If everything's the same, then there aren't any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!”
“The Community of the Giver had achieved at such great price. A community without danger or pain. But also a community without music, color, or art. And books.”
“But there was nothing left to do but continue.”
“The man that I named The Giver passed along to the boy knowledge, history, memories, color, pain, laughter, love, and truth. Every time you place a book in the hands of a child, you do the same thing.”
Recommendation
Would I recommend this book to you? Yes! Especially to you who love the fantasy, dystopian, and drama genres!
For those of you who aren’t into fantasy or dystopian, I would ask you to make an exception for this book since it is such a great classic!
Content
1. Language. Nothing here!
2. Sexual content. There is one little scene that occurs in a dream. It is very short and doesn’t go very far.
3. Violence. There is some here and there, but nothing graphic. Also, know that there are quite a few disturbing bits.
If you would like to know more of the content, here is the PluggedIn review:
The Movie
The movie adaptation was remarkable and decently followed the book's main plot though there were a few changes.
If you like watching book adaptations and wouldn’t mind the changes made, I would definitely recommend the film.
If you would like to review the content, here is the PluggedIn review:
Conclusion
Jonas stood resolutely. He wasn’t going to let the atrocities continue. He was going to leave the Community to put an end to all this wrong.
He was going to do the right thing.
Even if it meant he could die in the process.
Even if it meant he was risking his life.
And that’s what we should be doing in our community. We should be trying to put an end to things like abortion.
Yes, it’s not a very popular thing to do.
But it’s time to put an end to all this wrong.
It’s time we do the right thing.