Parents
Taking Charge in Education Encourages and Celebrates Reading in its 3Pt.Series“When
You Give Me a Book” Pt. 2 Featuring Author; Lois Lowry and her Book, THE GIVER
by Mrs. Dorothy Barron
Hello and welcome to Pt. 2 of Parents Taking Charge in Education
3Pt. Series “When You Give Me a Book.” On today, we excitedly feature Author; Lois
Lowry and her Book, THE GIVER. Perhaps,
you are wondering how I discovered Author; Lois Lowry and why her Book, THE
GIVER is being featured in our Reading Series?
I took a Children’s Literature Class a few years ago in
college and discovered Author; Lois Lowry through her books; one of which was
THE GIVER; it is one of the best books that I have read which intellectually
challenges the child by offering a number of thought-provoking topics and
issues.
Parents Taking Charge in Education Video presentation of
Author, Lois Lowry and her Book, THE GIVER can be found at our channel on YouTube here: http://youtu.be/KN42vEwoDmg
Here at our blog on today, I want to share 4-5 facts about
Author Lois Lowry; briefly share an overview of her Book, THE GIVER; share my perspective
(12) of that which the Book, THE GIVER offers and provokes thought-wise and list
12 topics or issues which I feel the Author introduces to the reader. We will conclude
and provide a link to an Interview which Author; Lois Lowry gave about THE
GIVER and provide the URL of her Website.
Thought-provoking is the one word that
best describes Author; Lois Lowry’s Book, THE GIVER.
About
Author; Lois Lowry:
·
Author Lois Lowry was born in Hawaii, but has
lived in various parts of the world.
·
According to Author Lowry “she writes for
children.” She is a Children’s Author, however, her books appeal to all ages.
·
She has received the prestigious Newbery Medal
twice; in 1990 for her Book, Number The Stars and again in 1994 for her Book,
THE GIVER.
·
She writes books for children that are
thought-provoking and intellectually challenging. Some deemed her Book, The
GIVER, a controversial book and in some places the book was banned.
·
Author; Lois Lowry is both a kind and gracious Author
as this Author has personally discovered.
About
The Book, THE GIVER
The GIVER is a book about a seemingly perfect, yet, mundane futuristic
society; a society in which there is strict Order for everything and a
designated role for each person within society.
It appears to be a well-Ordered society, yet an abnormal one when viewed
up close. The book centers on a young
boy; Jonas, aged 12 (a Receiver) who discovers through the powers and help of
an aged man; THE GIVER, that their Ordered, colorless and
superficial world where sameness abounds is not as it seems or should be. It is
a world which shields its members of society from pain, fear, war, choices and
love on a deeper level, because in
their society such has ceased to exist.
Both use their combined strengths to bring about change to their Ordered
and superficial society.
Remember, the book is thought-provoking. It may leave one
asking such questions as; can man create a Utopian society and one in which all
within view as a utopian society; what are the perils for such a society and if
created, could a utopian society be or eventually become a nightmare for
others?
Author; Lois Lowry’s Book; THE GIVER and that which it offers
and/or provokes
1.
Provokes critical thinking
2.
Introduces
a variety of topics
3.
One realizes that one person or a small group’s
idea of a society of utopia or nirvana can be a nightmare for another or others
4.
Effects of lack of choice or choice in the
matter of making one’s own decisions
5.
Raises the question; can one be different and
“March to his/her own beat” in a world where sameness has become the order of
society?
6.
Shows that whether a person is young or aged,
each person can make a difference.
7.
Begs the question; will citizens within our society
ever be forbidden books or very strict limitations placed on access to them?
8.
Due diligence and sacrifices often must occur in
order for a country to retain it freedoms and rights
9.
There can be dire consequences to a people or
nation that forgets its past and is lackadaisical about the present
10.
Although written as a futuristic book; can we
see parallels within our own society and will this ever become our society?
11.
Was written for children, but appeals to all
ages
12.
Show that the abnormal can become or appear normal
after a period of time
Author; Lois Lowry introduces a number of different topics/issues
within her Book, THE GIVER; 12 have been listed here:
1.
Memories - purpose(s)
2.
Family unit and its structure(s) – such issues
as marriage restrictions and families prohibited having biological children
3.
Emotions
4.
Limitations on all aspects of life- acquired
knowledge; number of children per family, that which one can achieve in life;
extent to which one can travel, etc.
5.
Love – superficial v. sacrificial
6.
Effects of lack of Choices & Freedoms
7.
Children - their future and future roles within
society
8.
Conformity
9.
Laws and rules that govern a society
10.
Structure of society’s leadership
11.
Role of individuals within society
12.
Euthanasia
As you can see, Author Lois Lowry’s book, THE GIVER can
provoke much thought and discussion – not only discussion about the society she
has created in her book, but about our own society in the Future and such
possible questions as:
·
Of what will it entailed or be comprised?
·
What will be the role(s) of its Citizens?
·
Are we using today’s challenges to help us
prepare for the future?
Thank you Author; Lori Lowry for having granted us
permission to feature you and your BOOK, THE GIVER in Pt. 2 of our Parents Taking Charge in Education
Encourages and Celebrates Reading in its 3Pt.Series“When You Give Me a Book.” Author;
Lois Lowry, you have given us a thought-provoking book in THE GIVER. Author
Lois Lowry’s website can be found here: http://www.loislowry.com and the direct link to Lois Lowry’s Interview
of her Book, THE GIVER on YouTube can be found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYGGs2lxtjY
Credits: Parents Taking Charge in
Education was granted permission by Author; Lois Lowry to feature the Author;
her Book - THE GIVER, a book cover image of THE GIVER and links to her Website
and Interview of THE GIVER on Parents Taking Charge in Education Channel at
YouTube. Additional information and books written by Author; Lois Lowry can be
found at her website.
Mrs.
Dorothy Barron, Founder
E-mail:
barron.dorothy@yahoo.com
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