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5 stars, obviously. This is the first "dystopian" book that I ever read, way back in, like, 5th grade. I think our teacher read it aloud to us, but I might have already read it myself at that point because I remember waiting grimly for the reaction of my shocked classmates during the scene where (view spoiler)[ a baby is Released (hide spoiler)], and we learn for the first time what that really means. The book has stuck with me all of these years, but this was the first time I've reread it in over a decade. It's funny that some books I reread and think, "I don't remember any of this!" while every single word of this one felt familiar, even though it's been so long since I've read it. I think I probably reread it a LOT when I was younger.

Two things that I noticed differently this time, that are not integral to the plot but still made me quirk an eyebrow: near the beginning Jonas goes with his friend Fiona during volunteer time to the House of the Old, and help bathe the residents there. I didn't really register it before, but Fiona bathes an old man and Jonas bathes an old woman. Although there's a note about how nakedness is fine for the elderly, I think the author specifically chose those people to be bathed by those kids to really highlight just how different this culture is. An eleven-year-old girl is scrubbing down an old man! No way would that be ok in our society....but it's totally harmless and not creepy here.

The other kinda funny thing I noted was how much differently I look at the kids' volunteer hours. From age 8 to 12 they spend a certain amount of time each day volunteering at various places. It's mentioned that one kid spends a lot of time at the Rehabilitation Center, helping to heal those that had been injured. This didn't strike me as odd when I read this book when I was younger, but NOW, in my mid-30s, I can't help but wonder how useful an EIGHT YEAR OLD is going to be at helping people through physical therapy. Like, I know eight year olds. They're only mediumly useful. Can you imagine being a grown-ass adult doing your complicated job, and then an eight year old rolls in to help? I mean, I know it's different here because everyone has been trained to be super nice and considerate, and they'll accommodate the child volunteers because it's expected....but still.

Another thing I wonder about....Jonas is the Receiver of Memories for his community, right? But we know there are other neighboring communities because sometimes they visit. Do THOSE communities all have their own Receiver, or is there just one person holding all of the memories for all of the communities?

OK, and last, I have to talk about the ending. And the sequels. The sequels that I personally think should not exist.

This book is perfect the way it is. The author manages to cram a really poignant story into 200 pages, and that's it. Done. We don't need any more. The ending is somewhat (view spoiler)[ambiguous, leaving some readers to think that Jonas really made it to Elsewhere. Maybe. But reading it this time, it really REALLY seems pretty clear to me that Jonas dies in the end. Or maybe transcends to some other plane or something....but probably dead. Like, he's exhibiting all the signs of hypothermia, and that's how I would interpret the dreamlike way that the sled from his memories appears randomly at the top of this hill. He's hallucinating as he's freezing to death with Gabriel in his arms. It's a bummer, it's sad, and we want to deny it....but I really can't read it any other way now. HOWEVER, it's still tempting to say that the ending is vague and *maybe* the sled was just, like, a weird metaphorical way of showing that he "made it" and found a new place to live.

Regardless, the ending to me always felt really powerful and complete. I personally think he dies in the end, but I'm also open to is just being vague and unknown. Debating the ending of this book has been a great book topic for many readers for many years. Either way, the ending feels mystical and strange and wondrous. And complete. Did I say that already? Complete. Finished. The end. Just leave it there. (hide spoiler)]

Which is why I deny the existence of the sequels. Yes, I've read them, and I've even owned them for a time....but I think they kind of ruin the ending of The Giver. It kills the conversation about the ending of this book that myself and other children of the 90s discussed and debated for years. What really happened? How did the sled get there? What did it mean??? And then BAM! Seven years later the author releases a sequel that erases all of the interesting questions around the ending of this book by just saying, (view spoiler)[ "Oh yeah, Jonas lived. He found other people and now he's like a wise man for this village." (hide spoiler)] Conversation over, basically.

If the sequels had just been unrelated standalone books, they would have been fine. But as sequels to THIS book, they just feel lackluster and unnecessary. And, again, they tarnish this book by trying to change after-the-fact a perfect ending that to me seemed pretty clear. So, I just pretend those sequels don't exist.

Read this one, for sure. Skip the sequels.