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Jul 20, 2017TEENREVIEWCREW rated this title 3.5 out of 5 stars
The definition of the term "dystopia" describes the genre itself: a future where the community is now a very undesirable and unwanted environment. This also elaborates upon every storytelling arc for every dystopian novel there is, so it's not easy for any writer to make it unique. As a result, many writers who aim for dystopia fail at delivering a convincing novel. While "The Giver" is certainly one of the better attempts at writing dystopian fiction, it still leaves much to be desired. Subtract the detailing, and you get a story you've seen in about 1000000 other dystopian novels. The novel ticks all the boxes for a dystopian novel, so the lack of invention hurts. We're given very monotonous characters who simply aren't written well enough for us to empathize with them, or even root for them for that matter. You never feel truly invested because the detailing about the characters is quite vague. The dialogues given to the characters is very heavy on exposition, with every character constantly sermonizing to each other, or spoon-feeding us information that's deducible to any reader. The novel tries to be too many things at one time; for instance, there's a half-hearted teenage romance, a bunch of saccharine family drama and a generic friendship bond with two underwritten characters, all of which serve no purpose in a narrative I wished was much tighter. That said, the novel has a few flashes of ingenuity. I loved the touch where there's a person that's made to store the "memories" and endure the pain. The way the setting was established is quite commendable, and it really gives you a true sense of the oppressive environment the characters live in. These are a few among many other wonderful touches on which the novel shines. All said and done, The Giver is a true step forward in dystopian writing and is by far one of the better dystopian novels I've read, but this is only in terms of sheer professionalism. However, there's so much about it that could've been inarguably better. 3 stars. @SSGDP of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library The Giver takes place in a futuristic society that has eliminated all pain, fear, war, and hatred. Everyone acts and looks the same. At the age of twelve they are given jobs and Jonas is given the highly honored Assignment of Receiver of Memory. Jonas receives both good and bad memories from the Giver, a wise old man. I love the fundamental themes that were explored in this literary work, such as the importance of memory, rules and control, and development into an individual. I have learned an abundance of meaningful lessons from this book and I think it is a perfect fit for ages 15 and up! @grumpykat of the Teen Review Board at the Hamilton Public Library A twelve-year-old boy named Jonas has been given something so special and fragile from an old man known as the Giver. Jonas receives all memories from the past; good and bad. The wise aged man has told the boy to call him 'The Giver'. The Giver transfers all the past memories towards Jonas by placing his out of the ordinary hands on the boy's bare back. Lois Lowry was inspired to write this novel after visiting her aged father who had lost his memory. This written piece shows the importance of memories. It is the significance of memory in human life. This wonderful piece of work is a very emotional and inspiring novel both at once. I would definitely recommend reading this novel so hands down this book deserves a 5/5 rating. @bookland of the Hamilton Public Library Teen Review Board