Imagine a world where war, poverty, hate, fear, pollution,

disease, emotions, and freedom of choice do not exist.

Imagine living in Jonas's world.

The Giver is fascinating science-fiction novel is about a boy named Jonas who lives in a prect world...but, is it perfect? The inhabitants are subdued to the point where they have no choices at all and do not question the decisions which are made for them by the Elders. Children live in family units, but not with their natural parents. At the age of twelve they are assigned to learn their adult duties. The only object in life is to conform and in return for this they never have to exerience hunger or pain. In fact, they do not experience real life at all since there are no emotions,

Some ungly truths start to become evident in this particular community when the new Receiver of Memory is selected. This is the person who makes the difficult decisions which are outside the limited experiences of the ordinary inhabitants. Jonas, aged twelve and teetering on the brink of trainee adulthood, is selected as the new Receiver of Memory. He is to receive all the pains, griefs, pleasures, and memories of the past.

How can he be expected to bear the burden of memory ofall of the human experiences? The agonies of war, diease, and loss; of heights of human achievements, freedoms, music, and color; and, finally, the overwhelming power of love. Jonas must keep these memories on behalf of his community and not share them with anyone.

Read this novel and you will discover how Jonas copes with his new role as the Receiver of Memory.

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