Books: The Giver

I somehow managed to make it through both junior high and high school without reading The Giver by Lois Lowry--which is odd since I read nearly everything I can get my hands on.
But recently I decided to make up for lost time and read it. I didn't have any idea what the plot was, but it wasn't long before I was captivated by the story and plot. If you don't know, the story follows a boy named Jonas was he grows up in a "perfect" society. In this look into the future, useless members of society are quietly euthanized, marriages are carefully arranged by committees, conversations and behaviors are constantly monitored, and any pain is quickly eliminated with the aid of medicine. Jonas' role in this society is to keep memories from the messy past in order to help guide the future of the society. The knowledge he gains makes him question whether the supposed perfection in which he currently lives is not somehow inferior to the beauty and chaos of the past.
If there's one thing I love, it's a look out a dystopian future. I can't get enough of it. The Giver, along with the more recent City of Ember series by Jeanne DuPrau, is a dystopian social novel aimed for younger readers. While DuPrau's future is darkness moving towards an ever brightening future (both figuratively and literally), Lowry's future is much bleaker. The haunting ending of The Giver is almost shocking in comparison to the speedy pace and inquisitive tone of the novel. My expectations were constantly subverted as I read Jonas' journey towards wisdom. This is a book that raises questions about human nature and personal liberty, and Lowry is please to leave us without any easy answers.

If you read The Giver as a kid, read it again and let me know how your feelings then compare to now!