Kids/Teens Book Club discussion

Im not sure weather or not to read this? What do you guys think? Would you recommend it? Is it worth buying, or just borrowing?

I loved the Giver. We had to read for school in 6th grade and I just plowed through it. Though I didn't like the ending until I read the Messenger.

I read it on my own and (thoguh it's been several years), I remember likeing it.

They are. :) I read The Messenger and I *think* Gathering Blue, but I didn't like them as much.

Soli wrote: "♫♫☺Allie☺♫♫ wrote: "I loved the Giver. We had to read for school in 6th grade and I just plowed through it. Though I didn't like the ending until I read the Messenger."

Did u also read gathering..."

Yup! I also read that for school.

Personally? I hated The Giver. EVERYONE I know loved it. But I think I had such high expectations for it by the time I read it (March of my sophomore year) that I was disappointed by it.

I've been told to read Gathering Blue and the Messenger anyways, though. Would you guys recommend it?

Question: What exactly is it about? And how 'big/in depth' is the dystopian world?

Still 50-50 on reading this one.

The dystopian world is SUPER confusing. I won't tell you the spoiler, but there's this one thing that's like all ambiguous about things and then when you find out what it is later you're like, "Really?! That's stupid." Okay, so maybe it was just me. But the dystopian world isn't all that great in my opinion.

Then again, this is coming from someone who rated it 2 stars....

★ Jessica ★ wrote: "Question: What exactly is it about? And how 'big/in depth' is the dystopian world?

Still 50-50 on reading this one."

By this age, I wouldn't read it. It's a lot better for younger readers I think.

I think you're right, Kate.

Knowing that most of my friends read it in 5th or 6th grade and loved it, while I read it in 10th and hated it... I think it is intended for a younger audience, but to be read with adults to talk about it with.

We're reading the trilogy throughout Middle School. Like 6th is Giver, 7th is Gathering Blue, and 8th is The Messenger.

Really? That's cool. Our school doesn't connect anything like that. One grade is totally different from another, except that math and sometimes science build off of the previous year.

I read it in 4th grade and I loved it. I really don't rememeber a lot about it.

I had to read this as a school assignment, and I wasn't too happy about it, but it ended up being pretty good.

This is one of my favorite books. I didn't like Gathering Blue all that much, but I did like The Messenger. The Giver was the best though. But then, I haven't read it for a few years. So my opinion may have changed.

I borrowed this book from the public library a few days ago. It's good. I like it.

I've had this book since a kid and i never could make myself read it. Then as I got older I started reading it. It was a really good book. It kept my interest all the way through.

I had to read it in sixth grade, and I liked it a lot. It was actually the first dystopian I ever read.

Same here, Anna- although not the required to read part. And I think it was in 5th grade...anyways! It's REALLY a great book.

It is! I had a project where we had to write a different last chapter, which was pretty fun.

This is a very good book. It's a very good example of dystopian fiction, and the ending just makes you think. I love this book.

I personally hated the Giver. The citizens of the city in the book were so much like robots. It was very weird. I really just didnt find it good.

What are other books like the giver? dystopian?

This is most definitely in my Top 5 favorite books. This book was amazing. I had to read it over summer for school.

It was rather clique at first but the whole passing memories thing was pretty original. The ending was terrible though.

I honestly don't agree with you, I think the book was spectacular, but of course, everyone has their own opinions.

It just felt to open-ended. Not much closure.
But each to their own, I suppose :)

The Giver was ok. Had to read it for school, not the biggest fan of the genre.

The Giver was good but I much prefered Gathering Blue

I loved the whole series! I especially enjoyed the giver and son. I would recommend it, but in the beginning I was somewhat confused. It all makes sense at the end though.

I liked the series but i was dissapointed by the ending in the first book.

Taylor wrote: "Personally? I hated The Giver. EVERYONE I know loved it. But I think I had such high expectations for it by the time I read it (March of my sophomore year) that I was disappointed by it.

I've been..."

Yes, you should read the next three. I loved the Giver, but I liked the others better

I LOVED the giver. It's by far my favorite book ever. I read the whole series and I really hope Lois keeps writing. If she doesn't, I'll be really disappointed.

I really did not like the book. I had to read it for school. I also thought the dystopia itself would have been better if it referenced how the large change happened and also a little more about the receiver holding the memories. I thought it kind if dragged and that for most of the book, not much really happened!

I read it for school too, but i liked it. Excpept for the ending ,which is where i was disappointed.

I read it on my own and loved it the first time i heard of the book was when my sister read the end to someone

We're reading The Giver in school. IT'S AWESOME!!!

Among the many things I love about the Giver is the way it goes against everything an average dystopian novel would have but still kept the important thing. An average dystopian novel always has a character that is dissatisfied with living in a 'Utopia' and then there's a cheesy love story and an underdeveloped rebellion. You are bombarded with facts about the government that you won't need until the climax of the book. In the Giver you learn along side Jonas as he discovers the real world. There is no large rebellion but a personal one that I found even more enticing and exhilarating.

I can't wait to see the movie, but I bet that the book will be better.

I'm gonna be buddy reading the giver on another book! I heard its a very good book so I bought it!

The giver series is so good! Dystopian without romance which hardly ever happens. I love this book so much.

I saw the trailer and it's awful. That's why I hate movies made from books.

I loved the beginning of The Giver, I finished it in one day (which I suppose isn't that hard as its a children's book.) However, I hated the ending! It made zero sense, and the rest of the series is really confusing.

The Giver was such a deep and ,at times confusing book! But i still enjoyed but i thought whatever message the author was trying to give (Giver, get me ? XD) , i didn't get it.

I loved the Giver and thought it was the perfect portrayl of a dystopian society. It was kind of confusing at times though, and there were a couple of things that I didn't really understand until someone told me.

I remember reading this book for school last year and I must agree with many of the comments The Giver is a very complex book. Although, I really enjoyed the book but I thought was rather confusing. The book gave me a different outlook of things but I wish the ending was different.

I honestly didn't like the giver that much. We had to read it for school and I just didn't really get into it

Jess, borrow it first, then you might want to buy it. It is great. Maybe we should all read and discuss it. Ask your parents first though, everyone. There is a scene were *spoiler, but you will want to to ask your parents about it if you read the book*, a baby is killed by injected poison. (It is important to showing Jonas how messed up the Society really is). And there is a scene were the main character (A boy) dreams about undressing a girl. Let me know if everyone's parents are okay with these scenes and the group could all read and discuss it, if that's something you want. I think it will completely change your idea about life.

I read it back in 7th grade and it's what got me into reading novels. :). I loved it a lot.