The Giver by Lois Lowry | Teen Ink

The Giver by Lois Lowry MAG

By Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
Bapalapa2 ELITE, Brooklyn, New York
1044 articles 0 photos 1 comment

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.


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This article has 587 comments.


i.e.mikey123 said...
on Dec. 1 2012 at 2:57 pm
i think the book is very good. It's full of philosophy and unanswered questions.This eutopian society as a whole is perfect, but each individual person is not.This society did not choos perfection, but was forced into it.I'd suggest it to anyone who enjoys philosophy and the future.

on Nov. 15 2012 at 9:39 am
I think its a very interesting book to read. I honestly disagree with you because you shouldn't juge a book by its cover. there are also other series of books by this author.

on Nov. 14 2012 at 9:47 am
SharplyDull SILVER, Glenallen, Missouri
7 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love mainstream, because hating mainstream is too mainstream."

Ummm, DreamingOutQuiet, if it was not two dimensional, then there would be no way that you could read and understand the true point of the book; how society should not be.

on Nov. 14 2012 at 9:43 am
SharplyDull SILVER, Glenallen, Missouri
7 articles 0 photos 4 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I love mainstream, because hating mainstream is too mainstream."

Books such as these (e.g. The Anthem, The Fountainhead, and Atlas Shrugged) they are more than just what you read.  Its a philisophical rollercoaster.  You delve into the contents and form you opinion of the matter.  The ending and even the contents are not the main point.  It is someones philosophy and ideals; put into a book form.  Some people write books for others to enjoy, and others write books for themselves to enjoy; and others to learn from.

CammyS SILVER said...
on Nov. 10 2012 at 7:23 am
CammyS SILVER, Papillion, Nebraska
5 articles 0 photos 188 comments

Favorite Quote:
No passion in the world is equal to the passion to alter someone else's draft.
H. G. Wells
Don't say the old lady screamed. Bring her on and let her scream.
Mark Twain

Well, everyone is intitled to their own opinion, but I thought the Giver was one of the best books I ever read. I loved how I had to read it over and over (since I do that anyway) and each time I read I discovered something I hadn't seen before. And I personally loved the unanswered questions. They made me think after the book, which is a lot more fun than just saying "well, the book's done. they told us absolutely everything there is to know, so let's go read another one!" p.s we sort of find out what happens to Jonas in The Messenger

on Oct. 31 2012 at 2:52 pm
ChobaniLuvinPenguin PLATINUM, Brooklyn, New York
29 articles 0 photos 85 comments

Favorite Quote:
"What makes the desert beautiful is that somewhere it hides a well."
― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince

I must compliment you on your review and the way in which you express your strong opinion, even though my views may be different. Regardless, you did a great job and it was interesting for me to see the other side of the coin. :)

on Oct. 29 2012 at 6:52 pm
in my opinion this book is really good it is imaginative, they explain everything with good deatail the only bad part is the ending... not a good ending

BANNANAMAN said...
on Oct. 29 2012 at 12:49 pm
i thought this book was AWSEOME, and you should be less critizising!! BANNANA MAN

. said...
on Oct. 27 2012 at 1:58 pm
This is the book that made me want to read all the time! I love this book with a passion. Also Your writing is bland and predictable, spice it up next time. Maybe you could take some ques from a book I love called The Giver :/

ECubed said...
on Oct. 20 2012 at 7:58 pm
The Giver was an amazing book. Loved it.

on Oct. 20 2012 at 6:41 pm
lexosaurus BRONZE, Brentwood, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
" ur cool"

Well everyone has there opinion but to me i thought this book was very good and intruiging because i had to read it for my english class and naturally i thought this book would be boring but it turned out to be very interesting and i liked it a lot. The setting was very cool to me although the society they live in i thought was unfair and controlled but for the most part it was really great if you got the setting and society but if you didnt then it was probably not as enjoyable for you

Sunshine said...
on Oct. 16 2012 at 10:27 am
Hi! I haven't read this book but I am a bit curious about it! This book was given as a reveiw on my school's website. Should I read it? Everyone keeps giving it different reviews. Thanks and please reply!

mulan98 BRONZE said...
on Oct. 5 2012 at 5:55 am
mulan98 BRONZE, East Jakarta, Other
4 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night."

This judgement awfully sounds like a matter of one's own inablity to brainstorm possiblities of what happened in the end. Although I do understand that the ending might have left us all feeling confused, it's fair to point out while you said that it became very "dull and disappointing" towards the end, I find you asking questions about it as well. Lowry might have chosen to end the book this way as means to keep it alive, but this is merely an opinion and I hope you don't take it the wrong way. (:

I.R.B BRONZE said...
on Sep. 24 2012 at 12:56 am
I.R.B BRONZE, Mendocino, California
1 article 0 photos 6 comments

Favorite Quote:
"When you see beyond yourself, then you may find peace of mind is waiting there."
(The song, Within You Without You, by The Beatles)

I think this is a very wellwritten piece. But I must dissagree. At first I did not care for the book much mself. But as I read on, I saw so much meaning in the pages. The theme of this place being a "utopia" made the whole book a paradox. I think the author described the use of drugs, sexual desire, and governmental control to write a fabulous story, that holds so much meaning. 

on Sep. 17 2012 at 10:13 pm
Ririchiyo45 BRONZE, Downey, California
1 article 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
"The virtue of angels is that they cannot deteriorate; their flaw is that they cannot improve. Man's flaw is that he can deteriorate; his virtue is that he can improve." -Hasdic Saying

Good review, but I must disagree. I believed The Giver to be a wonderful book that showed the complexity of humanity and of a utopian society. The ending was a bit of a bummer, I might add.

AKequestrian said...
on Sep. 13 2012 at 5:58 pm
AKequestrian, Homer, Alaska
0 articles 0 photos 2 comments

Favorite Quote:
A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.
- George Bernard Shaw

I do not agree with Bapalapa2 at all!!! The Giver by Lois Lowry is a very well written book. IT was unique and fresh, and there has been many books made AFTER following the same theme. "It proved to be mediocre, no better than what the average person could concieve." THis is a quote directly from Bapalapa2's book review. That is purely untrue, it is strictly an opinion and its ridiculous. Mediocre, could've been written by anyone books do not recieve many medals and lots of readers that enjoy it. I disagree with everything in this book review and would say to all people considering to give it a chance!! I LOVED IT!! :)

happyAKgirl said...
on Sep. 13 2012 at 5:58 pm
happyAKgirl, Homer, Alaska
0 articles 0 photos 1 comment

Favorite Quote:
Life is a story...but be careful your writing in pen.

I do not agree at all. I read The Giver earlier and loved it. The ending was mysterious and the author gave you the chance to decide for yourself what happend. It was confusing in a good sort of way. But good job on you review Bapalapa2 even though i disagree.

on Aug. 31 2012 at 8:51 am
ShannonLaDieu SILVER, Waycross, Georgia
7 articles 4 photos 42 comments

Favorite Quote:
The best part of beauty is that no picture can express- Loren blake Chosen House of Night serise
mee-uf-ow!- Nala(Zoey's Cat) House of night Books
since when has public making-out become a turn-on for you?- Zoey Redbird

I totally agree.  I mean the ending is like what happened di he make it or did they die? We will never know. The book became very dull and dissapointing the further you get into the novel. I had to read it twice and wouldnt recommend it to anyone ever.

jenledgerfan said...
on Aug. 30 2012 at 10:11 pm
I read this book and I thought it was one of the best bo! oks ever. when you can write as good as Lois Lowry then feel free to bash a great work of literature.

on Aug. 25 2012 at 5:52 pm
pandagirl312 GOLD, Leawood, Kansas
19 articles 1 photo 91 comments
I recently read The Giver, and I loved it. I spent days after reading it thinking about it. However, you are entitled to your opinion, too. It's a nicely done review, even if I don't agree. :)