The Giver

by Lois Lowry
The Giver cover
Good Books rating 3.88
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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Paperback • £7.99
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Technical
  • ID: 1264
  • Added: 2025-10-02
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780547424774
  • Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
  • Published: 2011-01-01
  • Formats: 27
  • Reviews: 4

Jonas lives in a world where pain and suffering have been eliminated, but so have individuality and emotions. At the Ceremony of Twelve, he is selected to be the Receiver of Memory, a role that comes with a profound burden. Through the transmission of memories from the Giver, Jonas learns the truth about his community's past and the sacrifices made to maintain its order. /n/nAs Jonas grapples with these revelations, he begins to question the very foundations of his society. The more he learns, the more he realizes the importance of memory, emotion, and freedom. His journey leads him to make a life-altering decision that could change his world forever.

Reviews
This Reader's Thoughts · 2024-09-30
immersive 4.50

The world-building is vivid and immersive, immediately drawing the reader into the story.

The reviewer was captivated by the vivid depiction of the ordered world in 'The Giver', which they found immediately immersive. The story's ability to sweep readers up from the very beginning is highlighted as a key strength. They appreciated the detailed world-building that makes the narrative feel rich and compelling.

Quick quotes

    Their world is the definition of order, and Lois Lowry paints it vividly.

    The reader is swept up in the story immediately.

    The detailed world-building makes the narrative feel rich and compelling.

Rainy Day Blog · 2023-04-28
influential 4.00

This Newbery Medal winner is considered one of the most influential novels of our time.

The reviewer acknowledges 'The Giver' as a significant and influential novel, noting its status as a Newbery Medal winner. They appreciate the book's thought-provoking themes and its enduring impact on readers. The story is seen as a timeless piece that continues to resonate with audiences, making it a must-read.

Quick quotes

    The Giver, the 1994 Newbery Medal winner, has become one of the most influential novels of our time.

    The book's thought-provoking themes and enduring impact on readers.

    A timeless piece that continues to resonate with audiences.

Joe's Notes Blog · 2021-09-07
mixed 3.00

The book is found to be easy to read and compelling for most of the story, but the ending is considered lackluster. Despite this, the reviewer acknowledges the book's overall strength.

The reviewer found 'The Giver' to be an easy and compelling read for the majority of the story, praising its engaging narrative and themes. However, they were disappointed by the ending, which they felt was lackluster and did not live up to the rest of the book. Despite this, they acknowledge the book's overall strength and its ability to captivate readers. They suggest that the book's themes and narrative make it a worthwhile read, even with its flaws.

Quick quotes

    The book was easy to read and not very long.

    I found it compelling for the majority of the story

    I thought that the ending was lackluster.

The Guardian · 2014-09-06
engaging 4.00

The book is praised for its simple yet gripping storyline and engaging characters, making it a quick and enjoyable read.

The reviewer found 'The Giver' to be a compelling read due to its straightforward yet captivating narrative and well-developed characters. They appreciated how the story could be easily finished in a couple of hours, highlighting its accessibility and engaging nature. The book's ability to draw readers in quickly is seen as one of its strongest points, making it a memorable experience.

Quick quotes

    This book was easily read in a couple of hours because of its simple but gripping storyline and its interesting characters.

    The Giver was so engaging.

    The book's ability to draw readers in quickly is seen as one of its strongest points.

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