For Further Reference

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Bradburn, Frances. “Middle Books for Fourth through Eighth Graders.” Wilson Library Bulletin 68 (1993): 122-123, 126. Bradburn asserts that The Giver is outstanding science fiction for young readers, noting it is both more subtle and straightforward compared to Louise Lawrence’s Keeper of the Universe (1993).

Campbell, Patty. “The Sand in the Oyster.” Horn Book 69 (1993): 717-721. An in-depth examination of The Giver, highlighting Lowry’s development as a writer and drawing comparisons to David Skinner’s You Must Kiss a Whale (1993). Campbell discusses Lowry’s use of foreshadowing and the novel’s ending, which incorporates elements from three typical dystopian conclusions.

Flowers, Ann A. Review. Horn Book 69 (1993): 458. Flowers observes that the novel is skillfully crafted, suggesting its central theme revolves around balancing freedom and security.

Haley-James, Shirley. “Lois Lowry.” Horn Book 64 (1990): 422-423. A biographical profile of Lowry, written by a friend when she received the Newbery Medal for Number the Stars.

“Interviews: Lois Lowry.” Publishers Weekly (February 21, 1986): 152-153. An interview with Lowry where she discusses her writing process.

Kellman, Amy. Review. School Library Journal 39,5 (1993): 176. Another brief, positive review.

Lowry, Lois. “Calling It Quits.” The Writer (April 1989): 13-14, 47. Lowry addresses the challenge of concluding stories for children and young adults.

——. “Lois Lowry.” In Something About the Author Autobiography Series. Vol. 3. Edited by Adele Sarkissian. Detroit: Gale Research, 1986: 131-146. A comprehensive autobiographical essay detailing Lowry’s life and career.

——. “Lois Lowry.” In Speaking for Ourselves, Too: More Autobiographical Sketches for Young Adults. Edited by Donald R. Gallo. Urbana, IL: NCTE, 1993: 125-127. In this brief sketch, Lowry highlights key moments in her life and career.

——. “Remembering How It Was.” The Writer (July 1987): 16-19. An essay where Lowry discusses the importance of memory in her writing.

Ray, Karen. Review. The New York Times Book Review (October 31, 1993): 26. Ray describes The Giver as a powerful and thought-provoking novel, comparing it to other “haunting and unpredictable” works by Lowry, such as Number the Stars and Autumn Street, which she finds more rewarding than Lowry’s lighter fiction.

Review. Publishers Weekly 240,7 (1993): 240. This anonymous review likens the book to John Christopher’s The White Mountain series and Hans Christian Andersen’s “The Little Match Girl,” suggesting it hints at Christian allegory.

Silvey, Anita. Editorial on The Giver. Horn Book 69 (1993): 392. In this special editorial, Silvey applauds The Giver for its boldness and compares its conclusion to Robert Cormier’s ending in After the First Death.

Zaidman, Laura. “Lois Lowry.” In American Writers for Children Since 1960: Fiction. Edited by Glenn E. Estes. Detroit: Gale, 1986: 249-261. (Dictionary of Literary Biography, volume 52.) A detailed exploration of Lowry’s works and life up to 1986.

Media Adaptations

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The Giver was released as an unabridged audiobook in 1995, available on two cassettes from Bantam Books-Audio.

Bibliography and Further Reading

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Sources

Patty Campbell, review in The Horn Book Magazine, Vol. LXIX, No. 6, November-December, 1993, pp. 717-21.

Jane Inglis, review in The School Librarian, Vol. 43, No. 1, February, 1995, pp. 31-32.

Lois Lowry, Newbery Medal Acceptance speech, delivered at the American Library Association’s annual meeting, June 1994, printed in The Horn Magazine, Vol. LXX, No. 4, July-August 1994, pp. 414-22.

Gary D. Schmidt, review in The Five Owls, Vol. VIII, No. 1, September-October, 1993, pp. 14-15.

For Further Study

Michael Betzold, Appointment with Doctor Death, Momentum Books, 1993.

A journalist compiles evidence and background on cases involving Dr. Kevorkian.

Joel D. Chaston, “The Giver,” in Beacham’s Guide to Literature for Young Adults, Volume 6, edited by Kirk H. Beetz, Beacham Publishing, Inc., 1994, pp. 3255-63.

This reference book excerpt examines Lowry’s life and work, offers ideas for reports, papers, and discussions on The Giver, and summarizes the novel’s plot, setting, themes, characters, and literary qualities.

Joel D. Chaston, Lois Lowry, Twayne’s United States Author Series, edited by Ruth K. MacDonald, Prentice Hall, Intl., 1997.

Chaston traces Lowry’s evolution as a writer, starting from her childhood and her sense of storytelling and values, and advancing through her literary career and reputation.

Ilene Cooper, “Giving and Receiving,” in Booklist, Vol. 89, April 15, 1993, p. 1506.

An early review that finds the novel’s conflict between sameness and freedom thought-provoking but criticizes Lowry’s message as “forced” and the ending as too ambiguous.

Mary Ellen Hannery, “Parents Want The Giver Off Shelves,” in The Palm Beach Post, June 19, 1996.

Flannery reports on the ongoing dispute between Northport Middle School and concerned parent Anna Cerbasi, who objects to the use of The Giver in a public school setting.

Louise Kaplan, “Images of Absence, Voices of Silence,” in No Voice Is Ever Wholly Lost, Simon & Schuster, 1995, pp. 216-37.

Psychologist Kaplan explores the challenges and significance of bearing witness to traumatic events, suggesting that Holocaust survivors had to psychically distance themselves to endure trauma, and their children must "testify as to what happened" to their parents.

Seymour R. Kester, Utopian Episodes: Daily Life in Experimental Colonies Dedicated to Changing the World, Syracuse University Press, 1996.

A highly detailed and critical examination of the lifestyle endured by participants in the three main American Utopias of the nineteenth century.

Walter Lorraine, “Lois Lowry,” in The Horn Book Magazine, Vol. 70, July-August, 1994, pp. 423-26.

Lowry’s editor reflects on her fiction, praising it for being immediately accessible to “very broad” audiences.

Lois Lowry, “Calling It Quits,” in The Writer, Vol. 102, April, 1989, pp. 13-14, 47.

Lowry discusses the importance of concluding a story at the right moment, so readers will feel compelled to continue the narrative in their own minds.

Lois Lowry, “Remembering How it Was,” in The Writer, Vol. 100, July, 1987, pp. 16-19.

In discussing the significance of memory for storytellers, Lowry asserts that while the specifics of a story don't need to be factual, the emotions tied to those specifics must be authentic. She also notes that channeling painful memories into writing can be a method of overcoming them.

Lois Markham, Lois Lowry (Learning Works Meet the Author Series), Learning Works, 1995.

Targeted at Lowry's young audience, this book illustrates how the author weaves meaningful autobiographical elements into her fiction.

Donald E. Pitzer, editor, America’s Communal Utopias, University of North Carolina Press, 1997.

This compilation of essays covers a wide array of American communities, including the Shakers, George Rapp’s Harmony Society, and the Oneida Perfectionists.

Karen Ray, “The Giver,” in The New York Times Book Review, October 31, 1993, p. 26.

An early critique that describes the novel’s themes as “provocative,” despite noting “occasional logical lapses” in the story.

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