"Jonas has not been assigned."  Jonas has been selected."  "Jonas has been selected to be our next Receiver of Memory."

In The Giver, young readers meet Jonas, a young boy who lives in an ideal society along with his parents.  In this utopian community, crime, poverty, unemployment, and illness is nonexistent.  At the "Ceremony of Twelves," Jonas is selected to be the Receiver of Memory.  With this appointment, Jonas' life as well as his views regarding this "perfect" community began to change.  As the Receiver of Memory, Jonas serves as the keeper all memories for the benefit of the community.  He is trained by The Giver who transfers various memories including death, pain, conflict, and hunger to the young boy.

"I think it would seem a little easier if the memories were shared."  The Giver sighed," you're right," he said.  "But then everyone would be burdened and pained."   "They don't want that."

With its prestige and high level or responsibility, the assignment challenges Jonas' conscious and forces him to re-evaluate the only life he has ever known.  Written from Jonas' point of view, The Giver is filled with amazing descriptive details that will surely fascinate young readers!  Lois Lowry has presented a definite page turner for young book lovers.