The Giver

I enjoyed reading The Giver by Lois Lowry, which is set perhaps sometime in the future.  Jonas is turning 12 and that is the age that people in this community are told what their future will be.  The elders in the community take this very seriously after assessing the children and working out their suitability for the positions in society.  There are nurses, carpenters, cooks, factory workers and many other positions depending on the skills of the child.  Jonas is assigned to The Giver, the holder of memories.  The people in this community have known nothing else.  There is no colour and the citizens lead a regulated "safe" life.  They rely for their existence on the elders. The Giver passes his memories to Jonas.  The Giver can be consulted by the elders for advice where a past event memory may be relevant.  Jonas learns about colour.  He stops taking his "feelings suppressant" pill which all citizens take every day from about the age of 12.  The book was recommended by my grandson.  The people here don't know about "Elsewhere" only that it is not here and possibly dangerous.  How can a society exist without love?  Thought provoking. 4/5