Son (The Giver #4) by Lois Lowry

Son (The Giver #4) by Lois Lowry-304 pages

This is the fourth and final book in The Giver Quartet. It is the story of Claire and Gabe, her son, and how each longs for the other. It is also the story of Jonas and Kira and Village. It neatly ends the story that The Giver began. Lowry ties the story together very well in this book. I especially liked the ending. I would recommend that anyone who has read The Giver continue and read the rest of the story in Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry-171 pages

I started reading this for the dystopian challenge last month, but didn't finish it in time. I had already listened to the audiobook version, but I wanted to read it myself. It is a good, thought-provoking read. It's ideas about sameness and differences invite the reader to consider such things and what the effects might be. We ought to celebrate our differences and realize that each of us is unique, yet the same in one aspect: that we are all human beings. I'm not a big fan of the abrupt ending and not learning exactly what happens to Jonas's former community, but perhaps it is best left up to the reader's imagination. Overall, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction and being challenged to think critically. I plan to read the other three companion novels written by Lois Lowry at some point in the near future, but I have other books to read, for now.

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver by Lois Lowry -- 240 pages

Jonas lives in a perfect community. No one is unhappy, because the government or "The Elders" have chosen your parents, siblings, job, children, etc. Everyone is the same. Everyone has a place.

Jonas and his schoolmates are at a critical point in their lives as they are 12 and ready to receive the job that they will have for the rest of their lives. But Jonas is not assigned to a job, instead, he discovers, he has been selected, chosen to be the next receiver of memories.

During his training, Jonas receives the memories of what the world was like before their community, and he begins to realize just what they had to sacrifice to get where they are. As he becomes less and less content, he starts looking for a way to restore memory to the community and bring back everything that they lost.

I enjoyed this book very much and I think it is a great children's book.