1. The Giver
By Lois Lowry

2. Chapter 1
Jonas – 11 – struggles with his feelings as December approaches.
Little sister Lily – 7
Release (p. 2) – “For a contributing citizen to be released from the community was a final decision, a terrible punishment, an overwhelming statement of failure.”
Asher – Jonas’ best friend.
Importance of precision of language and sharing of feelings.

3. Jonas’ father – Nurturer – release of newchildren.
Page 7 – “There were only two occasions of release which were not punishment. Release of the elderly, which was a time of celebration for a life well and fully lived; and release of a newchild, which always brought a sense of what-could-we-have-done.”

4. Jonas’ father will ask “the committee” for permission to bring a newchild home because he isn’t doing well.
Jonas’ mother – prominent position at the Department of Justice.
Jonas – feeling apprehensive about the Ceremony of Twelve.

5. Chapter 2 December – time of change.
Ceremony of One – Naming – babies given to families.
Father – broke a rule – checked Newchild’s name – Gabriel (Gabe) – might enhance his nurturing (p. 12)
Ceremony of Nine – received bicycles.
Page 14 – Receiver – the most important elder – lived and worked alone.

6. Page 14 – “The Ceremony of Twelve was the last of the ceremonies
Page 14 – “The Ceremony of Twelve was the last of the ceremonies. The most important.” Secret selection by committee of elders – assignments – observation/note-taking.
Different assignments mentioned – laborers, doctor, engineer.
After Twelve, age isn’t important; most lose track of how old they are as time passes.
Comfort object – taken away at Eight – recycled to younger children. Lily – stuffed elephant. Jonas – bear.

7. Chapter ends with suspense – Jonas’ assignment …???

8. Chapter 3
Lily admires newchild Gabe. Important quote – p. 20 – “And he has funny eyes like yours. Jonas!”
Pale eyes – almost every citizen in the community had dark eyes – startled Jonas.
Rude to call attention to things that were unsettling or different about individuals.
Birthmother – “very little honor in that Assignment.” (wonderful food, generous exercise periods, play games and wait)

9. Mother tells Lily – 3 years, 3 births – then birthmothers become laborers until they enter the House of the Old.
Father tells Lily – birthmothers never get to see newchildren.
Rules – females under 9 must wear hair ribbons neatly tied at all times. Male 11’s – objects not to be removed from recreation area and snacks are to be eaten, not hoarded.
These public announcements were used to create remorse.

10. Jonas – feeling of bewilderment – playing catch with Asher with an apple –p. 24 – Jonas felt mystified.
Interesting description of Gabe – p. 25 – “…the newchild with his pale, solemn, knowing eyes.” Suspense? Foreshadowing?

11. Chapter 4
Jonas searches for Asher – volunteer hours at the House of the Old with Fiona.
P. 29 – “Jonas had…chosen to do his hours in a variety of places so that he could experience the differences. He realized, though, that not focusing on one area meant that he was left with not the slightest idea – not even a guess – of what his assignment would be.”
Help bathing the elderly (Larissa)

12. Release of Roberto – telling of his life; then a toast; chanted an anthem; he made a good-bye speech; others gave speeches wishing him well.
Roberto then bowed and walked through the special door in the Releasing Room – note the look of pure happiness (Release of the Elderly).

13. Chapter 5
Jonas had trouble remembering dreams but he remembered one vividly.
- bathing room at the house of the old.
- Jonas wanted to bathe Fiona – she was laughing at him.
- feeling of wanting.
- mother speaks to Jonas – “stirrings” – report these in dream telling.
- Treatment – pills – to be taken until he entered the house of the old.

14. Chapter 6 Lily – hair ribbons.
Ceremony of Seven – front-buttoned jackets – sign of independence.
Ceremony of Eight – start volunteer hours.
Ceremony of Nine – bicycle – moving out into the community, away from the protective family unit.
Going to the auditorium – ceremonies.
Gabe – not at the Ceremony of One – p. 42 -

15. “He had been given an unusual and special reprieve from the committee, and granted an additional year of nurturing before his naming and placement.
He wouldn’t be labeled “inadequate” and released from the community. “Uncertain” plus 1 more year.
Jonas’ family unit – sign a pledge not to become attached to the little temporary guest. They must relinquish him without protest or appeal.

16. Release – p. 43 – “If he were released, they would not see him again
Release – p. 43 – “If he were released, they would not see him again. Ever. Those who were released – even as newchildren – were sent Elsewhere and never returned to the community.
Baby Caleb – replacement child – first Caleb had fallen into the river – Ceremony of Loss.
Ceremony of Loss procedure – p. 44
Lily- Ceremony of Eight – jacket with smaller buttons and pockets; start volunteer hours.

17. Ceremony of Ten – each child’s hair was snipped into a distinguishing cut.
Ceremony of Eleven – new clothing – different undergarments for females; longer trousers for males.
P. 48 – release – join another community?
Not fit in?? “…the community was so meticulously ordered, the choices so carefully made.”

18. Matching of spouses – disposition, energy level, intelligence, interests. Monitored for three years before allowed to apply for children.
Jonas – wishes the suspense would end. “Signal came and the crowd began to move towards the door.”

19. Chapter 7
Ceremony of Twelve – initial speech from the Chief Elder (elected every 10 years).
Training would begin immediately after assignments given. “Today we honor your differences. They have determined your futures.”
Called according to birth number – Jonas was #19.
- #1 – Fish Hatchery Attendant

20. - #2 – Birthmother - #3 – Instructor of Sixes - #4 – Asher – the Chief Elder tells a story – snack vs. smack (malapropism – precision of language). Assignment – Assistant Director of Recreation. Thank you for your childhood. - #18 – Fiona – Caretaker of the Old. - #19 - ???? (The chief skips this #) - #20 - Pierre

21. “She skipped me …” Jonas was stunned – there was a hush through the crowd. He felt dizzy and couldn’t focus his attention. Pp
“What had he done wrong?”

22. Chapter 8 Audience ill at ease – murmers of confusion.
Jonas felt humiliation and terror. Chief elder – “Jonas has not been assigned … Jonas has been selected.”
Jonas – next Receiver of Memory – to be trained by the current Receiver – a bearded man with PALE eyes.
Previous selection failed.
“… the Receiver-in-training cannot be observed, cannot be modified.”

23. “He is to be alone, apart, while he is prepared by the current Receiver for the job which is the most honored in our community.”
Positive attributes of Jonas: intelligence; integrity; courage.
“…the training you require involves pain. Physical pain.” “…pain of a magnitude that none of us here can comprehend because it is beyond our experience.”
Wisdom – to be acquired through training.

24. “Capacity to See Beyond” – Jonas looked out across the crowd – “the thing happened again. The thing that happened with the apple.” “They changed.”
Crowd chanted his name – community accepting him and his new role – “his heart swelled with gratitude and pride.”
But at the same time he was filled with fear.
Chapter ends in suspense – Jonas did not know what he was to become – or what would become of him.

25. Chapter 9
Jonas feels “separate, different”. He felt “apartness.” He even felt uncertainty from Asher – things changing already.
Jonas’ parents discuss selection of the previous Receiver and how it failed; female; couldn’t even mention her name now – the name was designated “not-to-be-spoken”. Highest degree of disgrace.
Jonas – opens the thin folder to read his instructions (p. 68).

26. Great restrictions; exemptions from rules.
What would happen to his friendships?
Exemption from rudeness startled him.
No medication – this scared him.
Jonas seems confused about his new rules as Receiver.

27. Chapter 10
Jonas arrives at the Annex – attendant stands and says, “Welcome, Receiver of Memory”, respectfully.
Locked door – for Receiver’s privacy; he needs to concentrate.
Jonas noticed all the books. At home the only books permitted were: a dictionary; a community volume – describing every office, factory, building; and a book of rules.
“Beginning today, this moment, at least to me, you are the Receiver.”

28. “This job has aged me.”
Previous Receiver failed – 10 years ago.
“We have hard and painful work to do, you and I.”
“Please ask any questions that will help you.”
Inwardly, Jonas had a million questions but did not ask one.
“My job is to transmit to you all the memories I have within me…memories of the past…memories of the whole world…generations before…
Jonas says, “I thought there was only us. I thought there was only now.”

29. Current Receiver says, “I am so weighted with them…” Uses a comparison to a sled and snow but Jonas cannot comprehend – “good place to start”.
Jonas – lie face down on the bed.
Current Receiver turns off the speaker and this astonishes Jonas.
“I am going to transmit the memory of snow.” Receiver placed his hands on Jonas’ bare back.

30. Chapter 11
Jonas – feels cold – “very startling; but he was not at all frightened now.”
Seated on a hard, flat surface, holding a rough, damp rope (snow, sled, runners, hill). A new consciousness.
When he opened his eyes, he was still on the bed – he had not moved at all. He felt surprised.
Transmitting memories to Jonas makes the current Receiver feel lightened.

31. Snow and hills disappeared generations ago because of climate control; became obsolete when the community went to sameness.
2nd memory – air hot and heavy – sunshine.
3rd memory – sunburn.
Sharing memories was draining on the current Receiver.
Jonas – “I don’t know what to call you.”
Call me “The Giver.”

32. Chapter 12 Jonas dreamed of sliding down the hill – p. 88.
“Always in the dream it seemed as if there were a destination: a something – he could not grasp what – that lay beyond the place where the thickness of the snow brought the sled to a stop … upon awaking … left with the feeling that he wanted, even somehow needed, to reach the something that waited in the distance. The feeling that it was good. That it was welcoming. That is was significant.”

33. Uncomfortable at school – couldn’t share his experiences.
Seeing beyond – Fiona’s hair. The Giver tells Jonas to recall the memory of the sled – he’s beginning to see the color red.
“We relinquished color when we relinquished sunshine and did away with differences. “We gained control of many things. But we had to let go of others.”

34. Jonas – “We shouldn’t have!”
The Giver – “Maybe your wisdom will come much more quickly than mine.”
The Giver transmits a memory to help Jonas with color – a rainbow.

35. Chapter 13
Days and weeks pass; Jonas becomes frustrated. “If everything’s the same, then there aren’t any choices! I want to wake up in the morning and decide things!”
The Giver – “It’s the choosing that’s important, isn’t it?”
They don’t dare let people make choices of their own – might make the wrong choices.
Jonas felt frustrated and angry.

36. Jonas unsuccessfully tries to transmit a memory to Asher – then father and Lily.
Jonas – can apply for a spouse. However, there will be a whole part of his life he won’t be able to share with a family.
“Life here is so orderly, so predictable – so painless. It’s what they’ve chosen.”
The Receiver is rarely called on by the committee of elders to advise.

37. Failed Receiver – her memories were released back into the community.
Jonas questions The Giver on pain – “If you gave some of it to me, maybe your pain would be less.”
The Giver begins to transmit a memory – goes back to the hill and a sled.

38. Chapter 14 Sled ride – wild acceleration down over ice.
Crack of bone – broken leg; wave of pain.
Denied relief-of-pain.
Memories of neglect and starvation.
Jonas – “Why do you and I have to hold the memories?”
Giver – “It gives us wisdom.” Wisdom from hunger? Increase in population could cause hunger, etc.

39. Baby Gabe – growing but remained fretful at night. Release?
There is an upcoming release of a newchild – Birthmother expecting twins. Smaller twin will be released.
Jonas – Elsewhere – Larissa had been released.
Jonas offers to let Gabe sleep in his room and accidently soothes Gabe by sharing a memory.
Jonas struggles – should he tell the Giver. He decides not to tell.

40. Chapter 15 The Giver – “Please take some of the pain.”
Transmits a warfare memory – sounds of death.
The Giver says to Jonas – “Forgive me.”

41. Chapter 16
Jonas didn’t want to return to training …for the memories, the honor, the wisdom and the pain; he wanted his childhood again.
The Giver gives him good memories – birthday party, museums, horse riding, walks through the woods, campfire.
The Giver’s favorite memory – Christmas – warmth, happiness, family, grandparents – love.

42. Jonas asks his parents – Do you love me
Jonas asks his parents – Do you love me? His parents laugh – precision of language – used an obsolete, meaningless word.
Parents – Do you understand why it’s inappropriate to use a word like love? Jonas says yes – 1st time he ever lied to his parents.
Gabe – sleeping good in Jonas’ room – would be named and place in 2 months.
Taken away – stopped sleeping and cried again. Placed back with Jonas and given moe time.

43. “Things could change, Gabe, things could be different
“Things could change, Gabe, things could be different. I don’t know how, but there must be some way for things to be different. There could be colors…and grandparents…and everybody would have the memories.”
Each night Jonas gave memories to Gabe – boat rides, picnics, soft rainfall.
“There could be love.”
Next morning, Jonas does not take his pill.

44. Chapter 17
Jonas – 4 weeks without pills – “couldn’t go back to the world of no feelings that he had lived in so long.”
Jonas finds his friends playing a game of good guys and bad guys – he never recognized it before as a game of war. His feelings surged; shuddering breaths; struggled not to cry; pleaded with his friends not to play it anymore. “But it’s a cruel game. In the past, there have – “

45. He is overwhelmed with feelings of loss – his childhood; his friendships; his carefree sense of security – seemed to be slipping away. “Jonas knew with certainty that he could change nothing.”
Discipline wand – in case Gabe misbehaved.
Almost December again.
Father – identical twins born next day – “one for here, one for Elsewhere.”
Father performs a small ceremony of release and waves bye-bye.

46. Chapter 18 Jonas questions the Giver on release.
Receiver is not allowed to apply for release – decided after the failure of the previous Receiver.
Previous Receiver was “a remarkable young woman … very self-possessed and serene…intelligent, eager to learn.” Her name was Rosemary.
Rosemary received 5 weeks of happy memories; she asked for more difficult memories – he gave her loneliness and loss – child taken from its parents.

47. She also received poverty, hunger and terror.
She went to the Chief Elder and asked to be released. The Giver never saw her again.
It was a disaster for the community – when she was gone, the memories came back to the people – painful ones were overwhelming. The Giver found it hard to help the community because he was devastated by his own grief at her loss.
Jonas – the only way I deal with it is by having you here to help me.

48. The Giver – “I suppose that I could – “ I could help the whole community the way I’ve helped you. It’s an interesting concept. I need to think about it again sometime. But not now.
The Giver – his thoughts seemed to be elsewhere, and his eyes were very troubled.

49. Chapter 19
Jonas- father releasing twin. The giver says, “I wish they wouldn’t do that.”
Jonas is allowed to watch the video of the release – he has access to everything. These ceremonies are recorded and stored in the Hall of Closed Records.
Jonas watches the video: needle in forehead; twin moved arms and legs in a jerking motion; went limp; head fell to the side, eyes half open. The baby then went still.

50. Jonas felt a choking sensation. “He killed it! My father killed it!”
Body was placed in a carton and sent down the chute (same type as trash deposited in at school).
The Giver watched the video of Rosemary’s release – she chose to inject herself. The Giver had to turn away.
Jonas felt a ripping sensation inside himself, the feeling of terrible pain clawing its way forward to emerge in a cry.

51. Chapter 20 Jonas is distraught – won’t go home.
The Giver – “They can’t help it. They know nothing.” “It’s the life that was created for them.”
Fiona – release of the old – “Feelings are not part of the life she’s learned.”
The Giver and Jonas discuss a plan – “escape”.
If he failed, he would likely be killed.
Jonas – “I want you to come with me.”
He will never be able to return.

52. The Giver must stay to help the community or they would be thrown into chaos and destroy themselves.
Next day Jonas returned home and lied easily about his busy night.
2 weeks – memories of courage and strength – needed to find Elsewhere – difficult journey ahead.
Jonas – plan – leave night before the Ceremony – most dangerous part – leave dwelling at night.

53. Wouldn’t be questioned forcefully – respected role.
Note - early morning bike ride along the river – back in time for Ceremony.
Leave bike and spare set of clothes in bushes by the river. Make his way back to Annex; Giver waiting for him.
Probably wouldn’t be missed at Ceremony.
The Giver would have a vehicle and driver ready to visit nearby community. He will send the driver on a brief errand and Jonas will then

54. Hide in the vehicle storage area.
Jonas’ absence would be apparent by midday; serious concern; searches will be sent out.
The Giver returns; Jonas will be making his way Elsewhere.
The community will seek the advise of the Giver. He will announce that Jonas was lost in the river – ceremony of loss. Community would then call of the search.

55. Jonas pleads with the Giver to go with him – but he already knows the answer.
Giver – “My work will be finished when I have helped the community to change and become whole.”
Giver – “When my work here is finished, I want to be with my daughter.” “Her name was Rosemary.”

56. Chapter 21 Plan falls apart; Jonas forced to flee.
Jonas felt no fear or regret leaving the community behind.
At supper than evening, he learned that Gabe was to be released; even his father voted for this. It would happen the first thing the next morning.
Rules broken by Jonas: left dwelling at night; robbed community of food; stole his father’s bicycle; took Gabe.

57. Gabe – memory of hammock and palm trees – deep sleep.
Jonas hoped that the memories he already received would be enough.
Exhausting journey – hid in trees to sleep during daylight; gave Gabe memory of deep, contented exhaustion.
Days passed; slept in the day; endless miles of travel by bicycle at night.

58. Most terrifying thing was the planes; low flying search planes; used heat-seeking devices to identify body warmth. Jonas transmitted to Gabe memories of snow and some for himself; shivering by the time planes left. Frighteningly close calls.
Frequency of planes diminished; search seemed more haphazard and no longer hopeful.
Finally, there was an entire day and night where they did not come at all.

59. Chapter 22
Landscape changing; bumpy roads; bike fell; injured ankle and scraped knees.
Began to ride in daylight; forgotten the fear of the searchers.
New fears – unfamiliar landscape; unknown perils.
Waterfall; wildlife; birds – Jonas was awed at the surprises that lay behind each curve in the road – simple moments of exquisite happiness.

60. Desperate fear – starvation.
Begins to doubt his choice to leave – “But if he had stayed … he would have starved in other ways. He would have lived a life hungry for feelings, for color, for love.”
“For Gabe there would have been no life at all. So there had not really been a choice.”
Hills; struggle.
Weather changing – rain; cold and wet; hard to get dry.

61. Gabe crying – hungry; cold; terribly weak.
Jonas cried for the same reasons, plus, “He wept because he was afraid now that he could not save Gabriel. He no longer cared about himself.” True LOVE.

62. Chapter 23
Jonas felt that Elsewhere was not far away, but he had little hope left that he would be able to reach it.
He wanted to lie down in the snow and sleep but he had come this far; he must try to go on.
Tried to transmit the memory of sunshine to Gabe – a passionate yearning to share the warmth with the one person left for him to love.
Restored his will to survive.

63. Stumbled and fell; grasped for another memory; trudged upward.
Jonas began to feel happy as he reached the top of the hill. He remembered his family and friends and the Giver – memories of joy.
“We’re almost there , Gabriel … I remember this place, Gabe.”
He felt that there was warmth and light.
Jonas found a sled waiting for them at the top of the hill … the snow was powdery and soft.

64. His heart surged with hope. They started to slide down.
Jonas – losing consciousness. Felt that the ride would lead to a place he always felt was waiting – Elsewhere.
He could see lights – shining through windows of rooms – red, blue, yellow – on trees. Families celebrated love; he felt that they were waiting for him and Gabe.
He heard music; he heard people singing.

65. “Behind him, across vast distances of space and time, from the place he had left, he thought he heard music too. But perhaps it was only an echo.”