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The Giver by Lois Lowry This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine.


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After reading The Giver, I was left confused and disappointed. It seemed as if it would be interesting, but you can't judge a book by its cover. The contents were dull and predictable. Quite honestly, I wouldn't recommend it to any reader seeking a fine piece of literature. It just doesn't suffice.

The Giver is about a young boy named Jonas. He resides in a futuristic society in which each citizen is assigned a job, a spouse, and children. The children are born to mothers who will never get to see them. Trying not to give anymore away, I will only say that Jonas is assigned an important job and is challenged with the release of an innocent child. Jonas is left with the option of leaving his home, job, and family to save the child, or facing the harsh reality of his community and job, and enduring the release of the child.

This book was dreadful. I became more and more dissatisfied with each page. It was a waste of time and hardly made sense. I'll admit, there were a few interesting lines, but far too few to continue reading after the first chapter. Although I finished it, I regret doing so. It was, by far, the worst book I've ever picked up. It proved to be mediocre, no better than what the average person could conceive. I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

This work has been published in the Teen Ink monthly print magazine. This piece has been published in Teen Ink’s monthly print magazine.




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crushed_veneerThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 17 at 10:55 am:
I agree and disagree.  I think the idea of the book was wonderful, I think it was very creative, however I don't think the book was creatively written or well written.
 
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NaomiStatiaThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 17 at 5:12 am:
Well, I am going to have to disagree. I read it resently and found it very interesting. How Jonas learn from the "Giver" that this life is not what "life" is. Imagine having no color in your life? Imagine having a child and it being taken away from you? Imagine not being able to chose your husband/wife due to the "cousels" choice? But that is all that community has ever known. Running away was because Jonas was trying to help the community. Helping them move into a different life, letting them s... (more »)
 
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saryachanThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 9 at 1:23 am:

Though the book was quite mundane at times, I have to say that the plot was superbly interesting, and not predictable at all...at least, when I read it. The ending leaves the reader hanging with the obscurely described ending, and though I was utterly frustrated by the ending, I thought the book overall was quite well done. Otherwise, why else would they tell us to read it in school? 

 

 
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SensAtionThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
May 6 at 2:42 pm:
To be candid, this book review could use some revision. I am not the greatest "Giver" fan either, but this post isn't so much of a well-rounded review as it is an opinion in three paragraphs. It's oozing with malcontent yet with no explanations at all except for the vague "dull" or "dreadful." There are numerous adjectives though minimal substance is present in this article. If you wish to be a writer you must realize that the quality of the writing is not in the selection of words, especially o... (more »)
 
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wishingtheskywasbluerThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Apr. 15 at 6:46 pm:
good review. . . but i loved the book and thought it was one of the best i had ever read.
 
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maeugeniapThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Apr. 3 at 11:42 am:
I read it when I was 10 or 9 years old. I enjoyed it, and loved the end. I do not understand why do you think it is a very dull book, because it is a piece of art. This book lets you decide how to imagine and see what is happening from different perspectives. This book really was what many had tried to achieve but never did it. 
 
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Missy312This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Apr. 1 at 1:43 pm:
Hm... when I first read "The Giver," I was confused as well. I disliked it. But reading it years later, I realized that it's actually quite a deep book. In all fairness, I think this book means different things to people of varying stages in life. As a middle-school student, I couldn't relate to such a dismal world. As I've grown older, I can appreciate this book more. 
 
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cutie pie said...
Mar. 20 at 12:13 pm:
well i do agree i read this in six grade and in eighth grade. we even wrote to the author n she wrote back.i loved it. at the end it will have you confused.
 
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owlover1 said...
Mar. 19 at 4:47 pm:
I actually think is is a great yet sad book. I am very suprised about what negative comments these people give about this book
 
iamthebestThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. replied...
Apr. 3 at 6:20 am :
I definitely agree with owlover1. The book was a bit confusing but sad. It was set in a different world. but i must say I really liked it
 
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neeya f'n bhad said...
Mar. 19 at 10:52 am:
well to me i agree with what she saiid because you cant judge a book by it cover and on top of that i was left confused n maybe you would see what she talkin bout if you read the book again but slow.
 
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deus-ex-machina14This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Mar. 17 at 7:40 am:
I remember reading this book in sixth grade. I have to say, at the time, I was a little confused, as well. But after pondering the end for a while, I began to appreciate it more. It is a decent book in my view. I'm sorry to say, I disagree with this review.
 
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swcricket98This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 24 at 12:32 am:
I would have to say that I disagree with this review. I feel like it was a close-minded viewpoint, as this book, to me, was a very figurative piece. Perceive it as you may, but it was far from uninteresting and was not as dreadful as you make it sound.
 
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KendisPiperThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 19 at 9:33 pm:
With all due respect, i strongly disagree with this review. While the plot line may not have been as exciting as the hunger games, for example; it grew in complexity and charecter development with every page. The society was a very original concept, eliminating colour, music, animals, landscape, and introducing a drug to eliminate love. I found it got my brain working and kept me compelled the whole time. While the ending was a bit confusing, there are two others in the series to explain it, if ... (more »)
 
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WritersArtThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 19 at 4:11 pm:
This book happens to be considered a great, classic, beautiful piece of literature. I loved it! I believe it takes a very sophisticated viewpoint to really understand it, and Lois Lowry wanted everyone to be able to interpret it in their own way. It's a very mature style of writing, so if you don't appreciate beauty, I can understand why you wouldn't like it. But I thought it was pure art.
 
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EtherealThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 19 at 11:20 am:
The giver is one of my favorite books ever- I love dystopian society books, and though it was on a reading list and I thought it would be boring, I found myself eating it up! I disagree with this review.
 
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ElkieLionThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 13 at 9:47 pm:
Huh. I remember liking it.
 
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KatsviewThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Feb. 12 at 4:07 pm:
I guess you haven't read Little House on the Prarie then. Jokes aside, The Giver is a really good book, and I highly recommend it.
 
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alemx said...
Feb. 6 at 4:14 pm:
I loved this book! I think that you need to reread it, and focus more on the meanings, than on the plot. I was fascinated by the way the took out color.
 
Katrini replied...
Feb. 6 at 4:18 pm :
So true, alemx, I really enjoyed this book and I think it was written in a great style
 
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crazyboy6 said...
Feb. 6 at 4:08 pm:
hi kate its colton
 
Katrini replied...
Feb. 6 at 4:18 pm :
What a fitting user name!
 
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kcunning44 said...
Feb. 6 at 4:04 pm:
I disagree with you. I think this book is one of the best books I have ever read. I loved how the end was sudden, and a cliffhanger. Every time I reread this book I think about what happens to Jonah and it stays with me for days. This is the point of literature; to make you think.
 
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3va101 said...
Feb. 3 at 8:24 pm:
i know what yoou mean when u felt disappointed at then because the story was just hanging there but i discussed this with my teacher and i finally realized the author did this to make sure the reader keeps thinking about what's gonna happen next the author want u to keep thinking about the book!
 
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yankeesgirl14 said...
Jan. 30 at 8:22 pm:
I disagree with all of you this was a good book you just had to dig in deep to find the true story. There are two follow up books. Yes it was slow at first and the book is sad and depressing but interesting
 
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RoxiMai said...
Jan. 28 at 9:30 pm:
I agree. I was forced to read this book for a book report and was greatly disappointed. I usually am okay with ambiguous ending but this one left me hanging, needing to know more.
 
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FrozenInChaos said...
Jan. 28 at 2:32 pm:
I somewhat enjoyed this book wen it was read to me by one of my favorite teachers last year. It was not as bad as you say, though it was a bit confusing.
 
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bookitup123 said...
Jan. 23 at 10:18 am:
ok so who can answer this question for me... why should the younger generation read "the Giver"? btw i loved this book :)
 
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brittbear12This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 22 at 10:41 pm:
I have to say I completely disagree with what you said. The Giver takes place in a "so-called" Utopia. They try to control everything that is going on to maintain that image of a perfect society. Jonas is given one of the most important jobs in his community. Throughout the story Jonas discovers all the thing that the rulers of the community are doing that only certain people know about. As for the ending, she leaves it so you can guess what you think happens. But in the book, "The Messenger", ... (more »)
 
ElvenGirl4Ever replied...
Jan. 28 at 9:05 am :
I completely disagree, I loved this book it was amazing! I don't know what you got from it but From what I understood it was completely original, and unpredictable!
 
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Bookworm1997This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 20 at 7:15 pm:
I completely agree with this. The Giver really was a disappointment. We had to read it in my class, and it was a good concept but it fell through.
 
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IlovedracoandItalytoomuchThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 7 at 12:06 pm:
I have to agree with this article, and the end was too fast. The most epic part of the book was only 2 chapters long, while we get endless boring chapters in the beginning
 
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FrenchHippieThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 6 at 6:57 pm:
I'm sorry, but I have to disagree. I have read this book countless times and it continues to amaze me. The symbolism of Jonas's society devoid of differentiation, choice or even color shows us the importance of all those things in life. Also, the enlightenment Jonas gained about family and love professs a simple beauty. I love this book and I think that everyone should read it. As for the clifhanger ending, there's more books in the series and your also have imagination to carry you. People are ... (more »)
 
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GhrenqiThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 6 at 6:46 pm:
I couldn't agree with the reviewer more, especially about the ending. It just left off, and it was very unclear. The entire novel was flat. There were hardly any descriptions, and it just flashed around. I certainly would not recommend this.
 
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writereadloveThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 6 at 2:54 pm:
I read this book last year in school and while it's not one of my favorites, I did find it intriguing. I liked the dystopian society, but not the ending. I'm not usually a fan of cliffhangers. :P
 
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half.noteThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Jan. 6 at 12:08 pm:
I completely DISAGREE! I won this book in a draw at a library this summer and finally got around to reading it. That's one choice I'll never regret! Though lacking the modern violence and non-stop action we come to expect, I thought it was great. It was kind of laid-back, but always kept you wondering. Everything was subtle yet thrilling. I really enjoyed the plot, the characters, and the message. It's an amazing dystopian novel that was around even before the Hunger Games. I do realize ... (more »)
 
I LOVE THIS BOOK replied...
Jan. 6 at 12:42 pm :
I totally agree with you. I was always reluctant to read this book but when my school assigned it and I was forced to read it, i fell in love. I fell in love with Jonas, Gabriel, and this book!! This book it amazing and always kept me wondering.
 
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LadyRoseThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Dec. 24, 2011 at 1:07 pm:
I read this book a while back, and I honestly have to disagree with your point that this book is a terrible one. Its a great piece of liturature in my opinion, with a message that lies not in the action. It had me hooked throughout the entire story, and is much better than some other books I have read. this book is absolutely worth reading.
 
pitt98This teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. replied...
Dec. 28, 2011 at 11:28 am :
Great comment, i agree with you.
 
WordfisherThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. replied...
Dec. 28, 2011 at 1:23 pm :
Same here, this was one of my favorite books ever. It did leave me hanging, but that's sorta why I liked it.
 
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DarkMountainThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Dec. 16, 2011 at 11:56 pm:
If you read this book solely for action and thrills, you WILL be disappointed (except in a few spots). As much as anything this book is a social commentary- its worth lies in the political, social, and humanitarian implications. If you are bored or confused while reading this book you are reading it wrong.
 
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selenagfanThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Dec. 15, 2011 at 7:26 pm:
I read that book too, and it really wasn't that good.
 
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EmersonThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Dec. 15, 2011 at 6:06 am:

i read this book and i loved it. it has a lot of substance in it that many don't appreciat though... he has sequel books to this, read them and see if you like them, as i did.

 

 
WordfisherThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. replied...
Dec. 28, 2011 at 1:24 pm :
What are they called? I would love to read them!
 
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AmbrehhhsArt said...
Dec. 13, 2011 at 9:58 pm:
Honestly, I wasn't enthusiastic to read this book, but I'm glad I did. I agree, it has it's slow points but when it picks up, it's amazing. I love this book. It's honestly one of my favorite books.
 
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WaffleManThingThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. said...
Dec. 13, 2011 at 9:04 pm:
this is a great book and u who does not think so! read the comments people loved this book i have it in my top 5 :)
 
EmersonThis teenager is a 'regular' and has contributed a lot of work, comments and/or forum posts, and has received many votes and high ratings over a long period of time. replied...
Dec. 15, 2011 at 6:06 am :
i put it on my top 5 as well.
 
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hannahmunchy said...
Nov. 23, 2011 at 5:56 pm:
Are you kidding?! This book was incredible!!!! It is definitely one of my favorite books of all time. (see my profile). I loved it--the writing was phenomenal, and the story was the most creative, innovative, and moving that I have ever read. I strongly disagree with the author of this review.
 
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inadaze said...
Nov. 23, 2011 at 12:10 am:
You MUST read the other two sequels. Gathering Blue and The Messenger. Ties it all up!
 
AFreeSpirit9714 replied...
Dec. 1, 2011 at 10:59 pm :

There's more to the story?? I never knew that! Which came after the Giver, first, Gathering Blue, or The Messenger?

Thanks for telling!

 
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