Ms. Osterhaug presents
The Giver
Background Information
about the Author – Lois Lowry
Born: March 20, 1937 (age 76), Hawaii
Lives in Cambridge, Massachussettes
Awards: Newbery Medal for The Giver in 1993 and for Number the Starts
in 1989, Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, Regina Medal,
National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature, Anne V. Zarrow
Award for Young Readers' Literature and More
Education: University of Southern Maine, Brown University
Movies: The Giver
Nominations: Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award, Astrid
Lindgren Memorial Award, Jane Addams Children's Book Award,
Mythopoeic Fantasy Award for Children's Literature, National Book Award
for Children's Fiction (Paperback)More
Other Books:
Over 30 other books, among them Number the Stars,
Lexile Level and Number of Pages
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Lexile Level: 760
AR Level 6.6
Interest Level Grade 5 to 8
Number of Pages: 179
Published in 1993
Chapters: 23, about 6 to 12 pages long.
Book Format
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This book does NOT have
Introduction
 Epilogue
 Index
 Glossary
Dedication: “For all the children to whom we entrust
the future”
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Setting
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Describe the Time Period(s) WHEN this book
takes place
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Takes place in the future: characters tell of
disease and wars as things of the past, but we still
have them
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boring, because clothes are all the same by age.
Community-oriented: the youngest and oldest are cared
for by the community, not individual families.
gray and colorless, because clothes, houses, bikes, etc.
are all made to look the same. No one can see color.
Timeless. People don’t keep track of time anymore.
“After twelve, age isn’t important. Most of us even lose
track of how old we are…” (p. 17)
Setting cont.
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Describe the place or places WHERE this
story is situated.
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Takes place in a town with school, community
center administrative buildings, hospital, etc.
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Sounds square and cold, because houses look the
same, people look the same, haircuts are all the
same
“Attention: this is a reminder to females under 9 that
hair ribbons are to be neatly tied at all times.” (p.
23)
Main Characters (2-4)
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Main Character 1 Jonas
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Main Character 2 The Giver
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Main Character 3 His mother
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Main Character 4 His father
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Main Character 5 Gabriel
Main Character Information 
Main Character 1 - Jonas
The first main character Jonas is very thoughtful.
Evidence in Text (you need 2):
 He spends many hours thinking about where his life is going (p.20).
 He wonders how he fits into the community (p.17).
Another trait of this character is his gentleness.
Evidence in Text (you need 2):
 He treats his little sister and their adopted baby very gently (p.35).
 His friend Asher is unusual, but Jonas sticks by him and does not make
fun of his mishaps.
In addition, we found this character to be courageous.
Evidence in Text (you need 2):
 After he is selected as Receiver, he faces the new assignment even
though he hears there will be lots of pain.
Main Character Information
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Main Character 2 The Giver
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The second main character is exhausted.
His face shows many lines and he is bent over.
He moves slowly and sighs a lot with weariness.
In addition, we found this character to be patient.
He waits for Jonas to get settled and used to his new
situation.
When telling memories, he spends a lot of time, even
though it is painful and exhausting for him.
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Another trait of this character is responsibility.
He stuck to his job for a long time, until the community
found the right person to replace him, even though he was
very tired already.
He takes his job of teaching Jonas very seriously and
spends lots of time with him.
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Main Character Information Describe in complete sentences using adjectives and
supporting evidence from the text.
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Main Character 3
We would describe the third main character as ________________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this adjective.)
Another trait of this character is ______________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this trait.)
In addition, we found this character to be ____________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this trait.)
Main Character Information Describe in complete sentences using adjectives and
supporting evidence from the text.
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Main Character 4
The fourth main character is ________________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this adjective.)
Another trait of this character is ______________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this trait.)
In addition, we found this character to be ____________.
(List at least 2 to 3 actions in the book that show why you chose
this trait.)
Plot - Main Events
with Explanation of Importance
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Main Event 1 – describe with characters, actions,
when and where
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Main Event 2 - describe with characters, actions,
when and where
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(Why is it important to the story)
(Why is it important to the story)
Main Event 3 - describe with characters, actions,
when and where
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(Why is it important to the story)
Plot - Main Events
with Explanation of Importance
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Main Event 4 - describe with when and where
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(Why is it important to the story)
Main Event 5 - describe with when and where
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(Why is it important to the story)
Plot - Main Events
with Explanation of Importance
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Main Event 6 (?)
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(Why is it important to the story)
Main Event 7 (?)
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(Why is it important to the story)
Main Even 1: The New Baby
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Jonas’s family takes in a new baby, Gabriel. His
father brings him home from the Nurturing Center,
where he works.
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This is important to the story because:
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Babies are taken care of by nurturers until given to families
to raise
This baby is fussy and may have to be “released” if he
does not learn to behave “normally” like other babies
It is not normal to give babies a chance like this and may
be against the rules.
Main Even 2: The “Ceremony”
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Jonas takes part in the “Ceremony” at the age of 12.
It is held in the Community Center during a holiday,
so all families can attend.
This is important to the story, because:
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During “Ceremony,” grade levels of students are moved up
to the next year with new looks, rights, and responsibilities.
Jonas’s age group, the 11s turning 12, receive the job
assignments for their adult years.
Jonas is apprehensive about the ceremony, excited and
nervous at the same time.
Jonas is selected as “The Receiver”, a special and honored
position.
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Everyone is surprised and excited about his selection, but
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Jonas is not sure if he likes this honor.
Main Even 3: Training begins
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Jonas visits “The Giver” every afternoon to receive
the memories of the community from times past.
The training takes place in a separate Annex, where
the Giver lives, every day after school.
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Jonas learns about new feelings and experiences such as
snow, sun, love, and war.
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Experiences a lot of joy, but also intense pain in the
memories
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Cannot share training with anyone besides The Giver
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Begins to see color
Main Even 4: “The Pill”
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Jonas decides not to take medication anymore.
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The pill is given to all teenagers to keep them from feeling
uncomfortable
After training starts, he decides not to take the pill anymore
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Starts feeling reactions to things around him
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Has to start keeping his reactions to himself – to hide his
feelings
Begins feeling different from others
Main Even 5: “Release”
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Jonas watches how his father “releases” a baby not
wanted by the committee
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Understands what “release” really is
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Realizes that his parents lie to him regularly
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Realizes that no one is really feeling anything
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Understands that “The Committee” decides everything
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Understands that people have no choice left
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gets very angry and upset
Main Even 6: The Plan
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The Giver and Jonas decide to change the system.
This is important to the story, because:
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Giver and Jonas decide that The Committee is wrong
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Want to give feelings back to community
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Jonas will have to go away to make plan work
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The plan is dangerous for Jonas
Main Even 7: The Emergency
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Jonas has to leave immediately.
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Can’t wait for support of The Giver
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Has to take Gabriel
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Where does he go and will he make it?
Theme of the Story –
Give Evidence Why this is the Theme
The Theme of the story is ______
“theme” – the subject, the topic of the
story,
or: the lesson to be learned from this story
What are events that show you that this is
the theme of the story?
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Event 1
Event 2
Event 3
Theme of the Story
The Theme of the story is Courage.
Events that are evidence of this theme:
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Event 1: Jonas has the courage to take on his
difficult job.
Event 2: The Giver has the courage to want to
change the system with Jonas’s help.
Event 3: Jonas has the courage to leave the
community when he realizes that he can’t wait
for the Giver’s plan.
Conflict - Problems and Challenges
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Problem/Challenge 1:
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Problem/Challenge 2:
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Problem/Challenge (3)
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Problem/Challenge (4):
Conflict - Problems and Challenges
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Problem/Challenge 1: Jonas finds out that he
has to lie to his family and friends.
Problem/Challenge 2: Jonas cannot accept
the way the community is run.
Problem/Challenge 3: Jonas and the Giver
have to find a solution to their frustration.
Problem/Challenge 4: Gabriel is supposed to
be released.
How do characters deal with Conflict Problems/Challenges?
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Problem/Challenge 1
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(Show 3 specific actions how the character dealt
with this)
Problem/Challenge 2
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(Show 3 specific actions how the character dealt
with this)
How do characters deal with Conflict
- Problems/Challenges?
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Problem/Challenge 1: Jonas finds out
that he has to lie to his family and
friends.
Stops talking to them as he used to
 Talks to little Gabriel
 Shares only with the Giver
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Problem/Challenge 2:Jonas cannot
accept the way the community is run.
Cries to release his anger
 Stays with the Giver because he can’t
face his family
 Makes plans with the Giver to change the
community
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Problem/Challenge 3: Jonas and the
Giver have to find a solution to their
frustration.
Work to transfer all memories to Jonas
 Make a plan to have community realize
what has happened over the years
 Take a lot of time to plan to deal with the
danger
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Problem/Challenge 4: Gabriel is
supposed to be released.
Jonas leaves immediately
 Pretends he died in the river
 Travels during the night to avoid search
planes
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Vocabulary from the Book
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Word 1: Type of Word:
Meaning, Found on Page_____
Quote/Sentence where we found this word:
_________________________________
Important to the Story Because _______
Another place where you could use this word:
_________________________
Vocabulary from the Book
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Word 1: precision
Type of Word: noun
Meaning: being correct and accurate
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Synonym: exactness, accuracy
Antonym: Vagueness
Found on Page: 89
Quote/Sentence where we found this word:
“Even trained for years in precision of
language as they all had been, what words
could you use, which would give another the
experience of sunshine?”
Vocabulary from the Book
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Word 1: precision
This word is important to the story because
children are trained early on to be precise in
their language to avoid confusion and
arguments. They are given slaps with a small
stick as early as 3 years old if they use a
word in the wrong context.
Another place where you could use this word:
The board was cut with great precision to fit
into the bookcase.
Vocabulary from the Book
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Word 2: Type of Word
Meaning, Found on Page_____
Quote/Sentence where we found this word:
_________________________________
Important to the Story Because _______
Another place where you could use this word:
_________________________
Closing Thoughts
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What can someone learn or experience
through reading this book?
How did this book affect you as readers?
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If you don’t agree as a team, list the different
opinions your team created
Would you recommend it to other readers?
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Why would you recommend it/ would not
recommend it?
If you don’t agree as a team, list the different
opinions your team created
What kind of reader would like it? Why?
Closing Thoughts
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A person reading this book may experience
the comfort that comes from ignorance – not
knowing what you are missing – and the cost
of having choices. At the same time, he or
she may realize that even though it is difficult
to have to deal with emotions, there is value
in being able to choose what you want to
experience and not having someone lay out
your life for you.
Closing Thoughts
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How did this book affect you as readers?
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I was moved by Jonas’s pain at finding out that most of
his life was based on a lie. I also admired his courage
and wonder whether I would want to be in his role of
knowing what is going on or rather be one of the happy
people who just accept the life they were given.
Would you recommend it to other readers?
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Yes, I strongly recommend this book to young teens,
because it shows how someone their age struggles
with having to grow up and taking on great
responsibility.
This book is appropriate for ages 12 and up, because
it takes some maturity to follow the theme, and
remains interesting even for adults in its topic as well
as use of language.
Sources
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Lois Lowry:
http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contribut
or/lois-lowry
Book Cover:
https://www.google.com/shopping/