The Giver

The Giver (ISBN 0440237688) by Lois Lowry is a novel set in a possible future society that can be described as either a utopia or dystopia. For example, the society remains orderly by matching up husbands and wives based on personality compatibility, yet it has lost most of the idea of "family." All children are born to the "Birthmothers" and then adopted, and when they become adults they are expected to completely ignore their adoptive parents.

Another feature of this society is that a council of elders assigns each 12-year-old the job he or she will perform for the rest of his or her life. The book's protagonist, Jonas, is selected to receive memories from the aged Giver. These memories are images from the world we know--things that no one else in Jonas's world remembers. Through the Giver, Jonas learns about everything from the horrors of war to the joy of love. Eventually, these revelations prompt Jonas to seek an escape from the colorless community in which he lives.

Lowry was awarded a Newbery Medal in 1994 for The Giver.

Rodman Philbrick cited The Giver as inspiration for his novel The Last Book in the Universe.

A film adaptation of The Giver is currently under development by Walden Media.