In a society that is seemingly utopian, a young man learns a jarring secret after encountering The Giver, the holder of all of humanity’s long-lost past. As he falls deeper into this rabbit hole, he must decide whether to follow the rules or change this utopia forever. The Giver is a provocative novel written by Lowry in 1993. Everything in this society is tediously controlled to maintain full stability and functionality.
The story centers on a boy named Jonas, who is selected for an esteemed and key role in the community. When he takes on this role, he is challenged ethically and has to decipher right from wrong after many years of being contained in his community. This causes Jonas to question his community and whether it really is a utopia. The Giver demonstrates themes of individuality, memory, and the consequences of sacrificing human nature for stability. I liked The Giver’s themes and thought-provoking nature, and causes us to question our own ethics. The only thing I disliked about The Giver was its slow start, but after the first 50 pages, it maintained a good pace. If you enjoyed The Hunger Games, which is a dystopian fiction, then you should read The Giver. I recommend The Giver because of its character development, thought-provoking themes, and itās impactful message on the consequences of sacrificing humanity for stability.
Reviewed by Vignesh A.
