You need to read the next 3: Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. They are not sequels but stories that form a saga. It is only complete when you finish with Son. It is messianic.
No, he’s alive. The sequels make that clear. Sorry if that’s a spoiler, but the Sukel’s have been out for years. I know that the book was taught as if it had been ambivalent ending, maybe because I am Jewish and never think of the afterlife, that never even occurred to me I assumed the people singing at the bottom of the hill are real, and it turns out in fact they are.
One of my favorites. I taught this book to seventh graders and we had great discussions. Read Lois Lowry’s Newbery acceptance speech where she explains her ideas for the book. I thought the movie was a good adaptation.
I read this book aloud to hundreds of my 7th grade students and most all had a positive outlook about the ending with many interesting interpretations.
I loved this book, and it was very thought provoking. These young adult books are excellent to read especially when one’s brain is on overtime trying to keep up with life.
I enjoyed them all but a part of me wishes Lowry would have left it at The Giver. I loved the ambiguity of the ending because it led to great discussions in my classrooms.
@Sally, I felt the same way. I read the Giver a long time ago, before the others were written, and appreciated that ambiguous ending — as you said, so much to ponder and discuss. I did enjoy the other books when they came out (and in many ways they could stand on their own until they all get tied together), but felt they took something away from what I had originally been left with.
Sally McCullen Bearman Yes, the sequels really and the possibility of ambiguity and the ending for the giver. The giver is a masterpiece, the sequels are really just very good
I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at the public library in Clarksdale, Ms. I became an instant fan even before reading a single book she had written. She is a remarkable person.
Another book that came after the Giver but was also a predecessor to so many of the current YA dystopian novels, is the City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, also followed by more in the series. Also great for contemplation and discussion.
That is a wonderful book for tweens. The language in it is very simple but the concepts are very complicated. I used to teach it each year to my junior high classes and each time I read it, I got something new out of it.
@Mary on first time through the four books seem to be stand alone stories, but at the end of book four they meet up and intertwine. Very interesting format.
It transformed my concept of how a story can transcend the words and take me deep to places I never knew were in me. I was young adult( well 38, which seems young now!) when I read it on my own not for a class.
I am currently reading it for the first time. It’s great! I have already purchased the other three books in the quartet and I appreciate the positive comments regarding the rest of the series. I look forward to reading them.
There are so many fantastic YA dystopia books. You need to read Neil Shusterman’s Unwind Series! It has such a unique premise and it makes you think about so many important issues.
Read the entire series. The next book gives the view point of a different community and the final book gives the viewpoint of the birth mothers. It is crazy but good!
I teach it to my eighth graders. They love it! I do a lot of scaffolding, though, to make the content more accessible. It’s an interesting book, because it’s at a fourth grade reading level, but the content is definitely more mature.
The point of a good book is to provoke thinking! Right? Good thing he has a mom with whom he can discuss all those thoughts.
One of my parents refused to let her son read it because of the subject matter…basically questioning authority and bucking against the status quo. I was sad for him.
I remember reading it a few years after it came out, and looking up at the room around me after the Apple changes and seeing the color red and looking at all the colors and just crying. All the books in the series are good, but this one is outstanding. The way it tricks you into thinking were in a utopia only to figure out that it’s a dystopia. Chilling
It’s one book I read years ago, I still have strong emotions when I think about it, it sort of haunts me.
My favorite YA book. I would encourage my 6th graders to reread this book every couple of years.
I love The Giver! I credit this book with turning me into the bookworm that I am now. I read it in Elementary school and it has always stuck with me!
Loved the book. Reading counting the stars with my 4th grader now.
It’s a really powerful book, a utopia that reveals an utterly dystopian price to exist.
Reading it with my high schooler as part of a dystopian literature course.
@Beatrice I’d recommend reading The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas by Ursula LeGuin. It’s a utopia based upon a very dreadful price: http://www.mccc.edu/pdf/eng102/Week%209/Text_LeGuin%20Ursula_Ones%20Who%20Walk%20Away%20From%20Omelas.pdf
@Stephanie Thank you- I will definitely consider it!
Don’t stop there! It has sequels! Such a good series!
If you like The Giver, I suggest reading the rest of the quartet. All four books together are so good.
Loved The Giver! Loved the whole series!
You need to read the next 3: Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son. They are not sequels but stories that form a saga. It is only complete when you finish with Son. It is messianic.
LOVE the whole series, especially Gathering Blue.
All of the books are good, but they are more like ordinary books. The giver is something else again
Great book! My daughter and I read it together and both loved it. Disappointing movie adaption….
my daughter and i are re-reading now, it’s GREAT
Also enjoyed the four book series. Messenger #3 was very thought provoking.
Just read it a month ago and really enjoyed it. The ending was a downer though.
The first time I read it, I thought the ending was positive until someone said otherwise.
I thought it ended with hope for the future.
I wasn’t sure about the ending, but came to the conclusion he died and was hallucinating at the end about all the goodness in his life.
No, he’s alive. The sequels make that clear. Sorry if that’s a spoiler, but the Sukel’s have been out for years. I know that the book was taught as if it had been ambivalent ending, maybe because I am Jewish and never think of the afterlife, that never even occurred to me I assumed the people singing at the bottom of the hill are real, and it turns out in fact they are.
Go for the series!! Really brings in more ideas and fleshes out the characters and their stories.
One of my favorites. I taught this book to seventh graders and we had great discussions. Read Lois Lowry’s Newbery acceptance speech where she explains her ideas for the book. I thought the movie was a good adaptation.
I just read her speech! Amazing!!
I read this book aloud to hundreds of my 7th grade students and most all had a positive outlook about the ending with many interesting interpretations.
I would recommend reading the whole series – wonderful books.
Reading it now!
I couldn’t get it out of my head for weeks after reading it.
I loved this book, and it was very thought provoking. These young adult books are excellent to read especially when one’s brain is on overtime trying to keep up with life.
Excellent book! Now read Gathering Blue.
Next book on my tbr list!
I bought “The Quartet” (the four books in the series) and enjoyed it very much.
I read the Giver years ago, but just recently read the other 3. I like them all.
Thought it was OK.
Thanks to GAR, I am reading books like this that I had never read! Loved this one.
Thank you for all of the comments. I didn’t know there were sequels. I will certainly read them.
I read it years ago- it stuck with me but not in a good way. Not a favorite of mine
I love this book! Also a favorite for both of my children.
You should read Twenty One Balloons
There are four books in The Giver world. Gathering Blue is the second one and it’s my favorite.
I enjoyed them all but a part of me wishes Lowry would have left it at The Giver. I loved the ambiguity of the ending because it led to great discussions in my classrooms.
@Sally, I felt the same way. I read the Giver a long time ago, before the others were written, and appreciated that ambiguous ending — as you said, so much to ponder and discuss. I did enjoy the other books when they came out (and in many ways they could stand on their own until they all get tied together), but felt they took something away from what I had originally been left with.
@Amy Yes…and then there’s the movie. “I watched the movie. I already know what it’s about” ???? “No, you don’t. Read the book!”
Sally McCullen Bearman Yes, the sequels really and the possibility of ambiguity and the ending for the giver. The giver is a masterpiece, the sequels are really just very good
Now you need to read the companion books!
I had the pleasure of hearing her speak at the public library in Clarksdale, Ms. I became an instant fan even before reading a single book she had written. She is a remarkable person.
Wow ? small world I just finished it this afternoon and ready to start the second in the series Gathering Blue and I have the next two books also . ?
A fantastic book.
I have taught The Giver in high school, and it was one of the recommended novels in my college children’s literature course. I love the book!
I teach it in my eighth grade class. The kids love it!
That book really meant a lot to me.
Loved it!!
The predecessor to all the recent Young Adult dystopian novels!
Wonderful book.
Excellent book!!
Brilliant. What a writer!!!
I loved it and years later found there were three more books in the “series”!
read the rest of the series. You won’t regret it.
Engaged my students
Wonderful discussions
Lois Lowery is a marvelous writer
Not just for children
Me too. Didn’t love the ending.
So good.
I read this for the first time last month (I’m 43). Such an interesting read.
Another book that came after the Giver but was also a predecessor to so many of the current YA dystopian novels, is the City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau, also followed by more in the series. Also great for contemplation and discussion.
One of my favorites.
That is a wonderful book for tweens. The language in it is very simple but the concepts are very complicated. I used to teach it each year to my junior high classes and each time I read it, I got something new out of it.
Did you ever read the others in the quartet? I have never heard how people like them.
It was interesting but thought it was ok
Love this book
The following three books in the series are equally thought provoking. Similar ideas from the Handmaidens Tale.
I recently read The Giver too, but I haven’t read the rest of series yet. If they are just as good, I will have to go back and read them.
@Mary on first time through the four books seem to be stand alone stories, but at the end of book four they meet up and intertwine. Very interesting format.
One of my favorites!
I agree!
You should the rest of the series.
It transformed my concept of how a story can transcend the words and take me deep to places I never knew were in me. I was young adult( well 38, which seems young now!) when I read it on my own not for a class.
I am currently reading it for the first time. It’s great! I have already purchased the other three books in the quartet and I appreciate the positive comments regarding the rest of the series. I look forward to reading them.
There are so many fantastic YA dystopia books. You need to read Neil Shusterman’s Unwind Series! It has such a unique premise and it makes you think about so many important issues.
Or Scythe!
Read the entire series. The next book gives the view point of a different community and the final book gives the viewpoint of the birth mothers. It is crazy but good!
Read the whole Quartet! It is powerful!
what is the Quartet?
I loved this series. I reread it every few years.
@Amanda it just means that there are four books in the series. They are The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.
@Patricia me too!
Too thought provoking for 12 yr olds. Mandatory reading when my son was 7th grade. He was like “what?”
I teach it to my eighth graders. They love it! I do a lot of scaffolding, though, to make the content more accessible. It’s an interesting book, because it’s at a fourth grade reading level, but the content is definitely more mature.
The point of a good book is to provoke thinking! Right? Good thing he has a mom with whom he can discuss all those thoughts.
One of my parents refused to let her son read it because of the subject matter…basically questioning authority and bucking against the status quo. I was sad for him.
I’d rather have him read The Giver than have him watch dirty films or play violent video games.
The Giver is not too thought provoking, in my opinion. I read it when I was 10, and it profoundly affected me. It encouraged my love of reading.
One of my favorite books!
Also a great movie
Loved the whole series
There is a prequel and sequels to the book. Gathering Blue, Messenger and Son. Good reads
Son?
The book is amazing…I’ve read it and taught it so many times. The Giver quartet is a fantastic group of books. The Giver movie was so disappointing!
It is a great start into getting young children thinking critically. I loved it when I was 10 and now my daughter plans to read it this year, at 10.
I get chills when my daughter says that a classmate is currently reading it. I’m like, “Oh yes. He’s going to love it. “
Wonderful book.
Love that book!
Yes and it is written for upper grade school students
This is one of those YA books that is just as engrossing for adults!
It really IS thought provoking. I love a book that stays in my mind for a long time after I’ve finished it! This is definitely one of them.
I remember reading it a few years after it came out, and looking up at the room around me after the Apple changes and seeing the color red and looking at all the colors and just crying. All the books in the series are good, but this one is outstanding. The way it tricks you into thinking were in a utopia only to figure out that it’s a dystopia. Chilling
I am currently on the second book in The Giver series and I love them !!!
I finished them all. Good reads!
@Pat I agree Pat ?