- 8 stars
- ages 11+
PS. The Giver I so good it really deserves it's own review. I will spend a little more time on it that the other three books.
Book 1: The Giver
- Pages: 179
After about a year, I usually only remember the general idea of a book, not, The Giver! This book has stuck with me! I just love how the author tells us just enough to understand what is going on, but not to much, so that the story has a bit of mystery to keep us going.
"Jonas," she said, speaking not to him alone but to the entire community of which he was a part, "you will be trained to be our next Receiver of Memory. We thank you for your childhood."
With these words young Jonas' life was changed forever. In Jonas' society everything is the same. Anyone or anything that does not abide by a strict set of rules is dangerous. At the age of twelve every child is given a task perfectly suited to their abilities. The career Jonas receives is beyond his wildest dreams. He receives information that makes him doubt that the community he lives in is right. He begins to feel things he has never known before, he sees beyond the lies everyone else believes. Quickly he realizes that he must make a decision that will change his community forever.
This story cover topics such as memory, government, community, euthanasia, people with disabilities, society, sameness, self - sacrifice etc.
Not only is The Giver engaging, but it also insightful. A must read for all tweens and teens!!
***
Negative Elements: (none being best, 5 being worst)
Violence - 0.5
As Jonas begins to receive memories he observes scenes of war, an elephant being killed by poachers, and Jonas himself bleeds and vomits. A baby who is undesired is injected with poison and dies.
Profanity - none
Romance and Sexuality - 0.5
Jonas has a dream about a female friend in which he desires her to undress. He tells this to his family, and his mother explain this as "The Stirrings". Jonas is then given medicine to make these feelings go away. Later on, as Jonas learns what love is, he stops taking the medicine.
Book 2: Gathering Blue - Pages: 256
In Kira's community anyone without a purpose is cast away. As an orphan with a deformed leg Kira has little chance of survival. But, because of an extraordinary gift for embroidery Kira is allowed to stay in the community. She is tasked with repairing, maintaining, and adding to a robe that tells the story of her community. The robe is only worn once a year at The Gathering, in which a singer is chosen to sing a song that tells the story of mankind. Over the time leading up to The Gathering, Kira befriends another gifted young man Thomas, who cares for the staff that the singer will use, much in the same way Kira does the robe. Together Kira and Thomas slowly discover that beneath the surface their community may be harboring some dangerous secrets! Gathering Blue really is an inspiring book. It shows that even the smallest, and seemingly useless parts of a community can make a difference!
***
Negative Elements: (none being best, 5 being worst)
Violence - 1.5
One of the women in the village has a ragged scar on her neck. It was either caused by a beast attacking her, or when her child slipped on a rock, pulling her along as well. Her child later dies, and many suspect he was poisoned by his mother. Women threaten to stone Kira, or leave her outside the village as prey for wild beasts. Men get into a fight, and draw bolld. A man stabs himself while holding a vigil for his dead wife. Kira's father describes how a man hit him in the head with a club, and stabbed him, leaving him blind.
Profanity - none
Romance or Sexuality - 0.5
Kira speaks of people coupling at night in order to reproduce; although, nothing is described.
Book 3: Messenger
- Pages: 192
Village is one of the only safe places in the world for those who are outcasts in their former communities. Matt has lived in Village for years, and hopes to receive the title of Messenger. Suddenly, people who visit the trade center of Village, called Trade Mart, are changing. Theses people are no longer kind, and open to outsiders as they were before. A darkness begins to rise over the safe haven. The people want to close Village to any newcomers. Matt has proved to be invaluable as a messenger. So, he makes one last journey to bring his mentor Seer's daughter Kira home to Village. Along the way Matt realizes that his true role in life is so much more than he ever hoped, or dreamed.This is a book so many tweens and teens need to read. It is a beautiful example of someone giving the deepest part of themselves for the good of so many others!
***
Negative Elements: (none being best, 5 being worst)
Violence - none
Profanity - 2
One use of "d--n". A character quotes Shakespeare in saying "O he--kite".
Romance and Sexuality - 0.5
A girl kisses Matt as he leaves Village.
Book 4: Son
- Pages: 400
Claire's story begins in the community that Jonas left. She is assigned the job of Birth mother. A necessary, but shameful job. When it comes time for her child to be born, something unusual happens. Claire has no idea what it was, but she knew it wasn't supposed to happen. But, she does know that now she is no longer fit to be a Birth mother. Other odd things begin to happen. She feels a strange connection to her child. Then, one night, overcome with emotion, Claire finds herself on a ship out of her community... then everything goes blank. Eventually she finds her self in a completely foreign place. As the people there take her in, Claire begins to realize the truth about herself, her community, and her child. Armed with these truths, and hope for her future, Claire embarks on a journey that will find her the truth, and her son!A glorious ending to this quartet!
***
Negative Elements: (none being best, 5 being worst)
Violence - 2
Claire is told about wounded fishermen and hunters that have bled to death. She is told of their horrifying screams. A boy's father wanted to throw him in fire, but was stopped. This same father would kick his son, and then laugh when he got caught up in the ropes of his fishing boat. On one occasion the boy breaks his arm, but his father forces him to continue working. Trademaster holds a large knife to a character's throat.
Romance and Sexuality - 3
It is scandalous to many villagers that Claire had a child without being married, even though it was implanted in her. A man who wanted to marry her suns her saying that unmarried women who go into fields and "couple" are stained. A character explains how that sheep couple to produce lambs. A character claims he was a wife to his father, in ways he doesn't explaining. Claire and a male mentor share a kiss.
