It is hard to find an adjective to describe this book. At the end of one chapter I actually notated "holy smokes batman!" Lol. So much importance is placed on precision of language and vocabulary but you don't realize it's importance until Lowry wants you to. She is careful in choosing the words in this book and using them to narrate the story for the reader. It really is ingenius. I wish I had picked this book up when it was published in 1993. I might have read more sci-fi/dystopian novels as a child instead of sticking to fiction.
Somewhere in some century in the future is a world of Sameness. Everything is regulated during this time; childhood development, job placement, wardrobe, emotions, education, foods, family. At age 12 children are given their Life Assignments, their job placement to being specific training. Jonas begins his training with an old man known as The Giver. He is unsure of the specifics of his job but quickly learns it's importance and history. In a community of sameness, Jonas is different. He tries to hide his differences but there are monitoring cameras everywhere watching everyone. He begins to process things differently than his peers and others around him which I suppose is the essence of the book.
Lowry does a magnificent job of letting readers know what she wants them to know. When there's a "reveal" it's so cleverly written that you didn't even know it was hidden. I want to loan my book to friends but I'm afraid my notations would ruin it for them. I was excited and thrilled and shocked in this one book. I never wanted to put it down. Never. Well done Lous Lowry. BRAVA!
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