The GiverThe Giver•BiographyBiography

•About Her About Her WritingWriting

•Book ReviewsBook Reviews

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

BiographBiography y

Birthplace:Birthplace: HawaiiHawaii

Birth Date: Birth Date: March 20, 1937March 20, 1937

Parents:Parents: Robert & KatherineRobert & Katherine

Education: Education: Brown University,Brown University,

University of Southern MaineUniversity of Southern Maine

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

Her father was in the Army so her Her father was in the Army so her family moved around a lot. Lois has family moved around a lot. Lois has lived all around the world.lived all around the world.

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

She married after her sophomore year at Brown and had four children. They settled

in Maine where she finished her degree at USM. She is

currently is divorced living in West Cambridge with her dog,

Bandit.

• She’s an author of over 20 books for She’s an author of over 20 books for young adults including those in the young adults including those in the popular Anastasia Krupnik series.popular Anastasia Krupnik series.

• Twice the winner of the Newbery Twice the winner of the Newbery Medal for her novel Medal for her novel Number the StarsNumber the Stars

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

““She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

““She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”

• Winner of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Winner of the Dorothy Canfield Fisher Award.Award.

• Winner of the Boston Globe – Horn Winner of the Boston Globe – Horn Book Award.Book Award.

• Winner of the California Young Winner of the California Young Reader’s MedalReader’s Medal..

• Winner of the Mark Twain Award. Winner of the Mark Twain Award.

About Her About Her WritingWritingAbout Her About Her WritingWriting

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

““She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”

She has tackled a number of topics in her literature including adoption, mental illness,

cancer, the Holocaust and futuristic societies. Whatever the theme, Lowry portrays realistic life

experiences to her audience.

About Her About Her WritingWritingAbout Her About Her WritingWriting

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

““She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”She fulfilled a childhood dream when she began writing in the mid-1970’s”

In her books, Lois Lowry throws her

characters and readers into

many thought-provoking situations.

Book ReviewsBook Reviews• ““Lowry is once again Lowry is once again

in top form – raising in top form – raising many questions many questions while answering few, while answering few, and unwinding a tale and unwinding a tale fit for the most fit for the most adventurous adventurous readers.” readers.”

Publishers WeeklyPublishers Weekly

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

February 15, 1993

Book ReviewsBook ReviewsBook ReviewsBook ReviewsL o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

• “…“…The Giver, a The Giver, a powerful and powerful and provocative novel, is provocative novel, is sure to keep older sure to keep older children reading and children reading and thinking!” thinking!”

Karen Ray of the Karen Ray of the New New York TimesYork Times October October

26, 1993 26, 1993

L o i s L o w r yL o i s L o w r y

Once readers make contact with Lowry’s treasure, they may never Once readers make contact with Lowry’s treasure, they may never see things exactly quite the same.see things exactly quite the same.

Bonus Question?Bonus Question?

What wasWhat was

Lois Lowry’sLois Lowry’s

Dog’s name?Dog’s name?

Bonus Answer!Bonus Answer!

Bandit!

What is UTOPIA?What is UTOPIA?

The GiverThe Giver

By: Lois LowryBy: Lois Lowry

Pre-Reading ActivityPre-Reading Activity

UtopiaUtopiaAn ideally perfect place in terms of:

• social aspects

• political aspects

• moral aspects

What would you visualize as the “perfect” world?

Take a minute to reflect…Take a minute to reflect…• What do you think a Utopian society What do you think a Utopian society

would be like?would be like?

• Are all people free?Are all people free?

• Do people have monkeys as butlers?Do people have monkeys as butlers?

• What jobs are there?What jobs are there?

• What are the rules and the laws?What are the rules and the laws?

• What happens if people break the What happens if people break the laws?laws?

• Would there be religion?Would there be religion?

• Who would rule the country?Who would rule the country?

The reality of The reality of UTOPIAUTOPIA

•Could there ever be a Could there ever be a “perfect” world?“perfect” world?

•What inhibits us from What inhibits us from living in a perfect world?living in a perfect world?

Utopia and Utopia and The GiverThe Giver

There is a thin line between utopia There is a thin line between utopia and dystopia as we will study in Lois and dystopia as we will study in Lois Lowry’s, Lowry’s, The GiverThe Giver..

In this “perfect” world, citizens are In this “perfect” world, citizens are restricted on clothing, jobs, spouse restricted on clothing, jobs, spouse and children, therefore leaving and children, therefore leaving personal choice out of the question.personal choice out of the question.

Is there a price to pay in a seemingly Is there a price to pay in a seemingly perfect world?perfect world?

Essential QuestionsEssential Questions• We will consider the following questions We will consider the following questions

during our study of during our study of The GiverThe Giver. . – What are the characteristics of a community?What are the characteristics of a community?– How do members of the community affect How do members of the community affect

one another?one another?– Is belonging to a community a good thing? Is belonging to a community a good thing? – Should the government restrict personal Should the government restrict personal

freedoms for the good of the community?freedoms for the good of the community?

• Record these in the first page of your Record these in the first page of your journal.journal.

Introduction

LET’S HEAR IT FROM A LET’S HEAR IT FROM A STUDENTS’ STUDENTS’

PERSPECTIVE PERSPECTIVE

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