When Was The Giver Published?

The Giver was first published in 1993 by Lois Lowry. The book is set in a futuristic society where people have no emotions. The main character, Jonas, is chosen to be the Receiver of Memory. The Receiver of Memory is the only person in the community who knows about the past. Jonas learns about the pain and pleasure that come with emotions from his predecessor, who is now very aged and frail; eventually, Jonas also learns about “real” world outside of his community through his own explorations and interactions with others outside of his home and job (a place where he encounters many different types of people). He decides that living without emotion isn’t right for him and his family; with the help of “The Giver,” Jonas decides to leave this society behind and create one that better fits his needs. The novel is thought-provoking because it addresses several themes—about what it means to be human and how we interact with others around us—that are relevant today even after more than 20 years since its publication; also, because it raises questions that may never have easy answers—questions such as: Is ignorance bliss? What are humans without emotion? What do we lose by forgetting our past?