The Giver: Book Summary
Book Summary The book starts with Jonas feeling apprehensive. At dinner that night, Jonas’s family- his father, mother, and sister named Lily- share their feelings like they do every night, it’s called the “the telling of feelings”. Jonas’s dad talks about taking care for a child. Jonas explains that he is apprehensive about the Ceremony of 12- the time when he will be assigned a career and begin his adult life. Jonas lives in a very strict community. Jonas starts thinking about all the other Ceremonies he's witnessed. Jonas's Father explains that the Ceremony of Twelve is the last ceremony; after that, no one keeps track of how old they are anymore. They stop seeing their friends, and life basically becomes about their work after that. Lily has a comfort object, which are imaginary creatures such as an elephant. Jonas’s father brings a new child named Gabriel home. Jonas realizes that Gabriel has pale eyes just like him. Lily says she wishes she could be a Birthmother. Her mother says it’s a horrible job. Jonas remembers of a time he got in trouble for taking home an apple from school to play catch with his friend named Asher. He noticed the apple change but couldn’t explain how. Jonas and Asher Volunteer at the house of old. When he is bathing and elder named Larissa she discusses the release of one of the old, a man named Roberto. The old woman says it’s a wonderful celebration. Jonas asks Larissa what release like. She's not sure. All she knows is that the person in question walks through a door to the Releasing Room. At breakfast, Jonas and his family go through a telling of their dreams. In Jonas's dream, he explains to his family, he was in a bathtub, like the ones at the House of the Old. And he was trying to convince her to get in the tub with him. Jonas talks about two feelings: wanting, and feeling that he shouldn't. Jonas's Mother tells him that these feelings are called "Stirrings," that he has to report them every time they happen, and