The Giver

The 100 Best Young-Adult Books of All Time

Best YA Novels Of All Time - 45 YA Books Every Adult Should Read

115 Best Young Adult Books of All Time | Reedsy Discovery

Giver Quartet, Book 1

Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy, inhabits a futuristic society where all negative emotions and experiences, such as pain, fear, and war, have been eradicated. Uniformity reigns supreme, with minimal competition, no prejudice, and choice is non-existent. At the age of twelve, community members are assigned jobs aligning with their abilities and interests. Life is strategically planned, involving ordained marriages, assigned children, and living arrangements for different life stages until they reach the House of the Old where they are eventually 'released', a euphemism for death. 

Jonas, living with his Nurturer father, Justice Department-working mother, and younger sister Lily, is unique due to his pale eyes and unusual sensory abilities, including being able to perceive color. As he approaches the Ceremony of Twelve, where he'll be assigned his life's work, he discovers he is the new Receiver of Memory, inheriting the community's collective past. The community, having abandoned memories of pain and emotion in their quest for tranquility, needs Jonas to carry these memories to avoid repeating past mistakes. From the Giver, the current Receiver, Jonas receives memories, transforming his understanding of his world and longing to share this newfound richness with his community.

In addition to his duties as the Receiver, Jonas assists his family in caring for Gabriel, a new child with sleeping trouble. As Jonas becomes closer to Gabriel, he learns from the Giver that 'release' is equivalent to death and becomes determined to transform his community. The plan is for Jonas to escape to Elsewhere, dispersing his vast memories into the community, while the Giver aids the community in navigating their newfound emotions. Circumstances force Jonas to leave prematurely to prevent Gabriel's imminent 'release'. Surviving harsh conditions and evading search planes, Jonas finds a sled on a hill, reminiscent of his first received memory. With Gabriel, Jonas embarks on a thrilling sled ride towards twinkling lights and music, concluding their journey with the hopeful anticipation of a welcoming community.

The Giver Books in Order (4 Book Series)

The Giver

Giver Quartet, Book 1

Gathering Blue

The Giver, Book 2

Messenger

The Giver, Book 3

Son

The Giver, Book 4

What To Read Next

The Giver Books in Order (4 Book Series)

The Giver

Giver Quartet, Book 1

Gathering Blue

The Giver, Book 2

Messenger

The Giver, Book 3

Son

The Giver, Book 4

What To Read Next

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