The Giver

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Lowry's dystopian fiction has won awards and also been challenged, even banned by schools. Perfect combination--when a book is controversial, it is usually worth reading!

Aimed at the YA crowd, "The Giver" follows 12-year old Jonas through his assignment to an important community position. Jonas lives in a society with no crime, no poverty, no unemployment--a seeming Utopia. However, as he delves into the history of the society, troubling issues arise. What must a community give up in order to create this level of conformity and sameness?

The controversies of this book include themes of euthanasia, infanticide and suicide. In my opinion, as a YA book, all of these ethical issues are valid to explore. I would prefer young adults read books with substance and thought provoking material.

Overall, this book is beautifully told. It is part of a series, but I have only read this first novel.