Content levels
Positive tags
Protagonist archetypes
Tropes
Themes
Synopsis
Award-winning author Lois Lowry challenges readers to imagine what our world could become, how people could evolve and what could be considered valuable in this fascinating quartet of dystopian novels.
Is The Giver Boxed Set: The Giver, Gathering Blue, Messenger, Son: The classic science-fiction fantasy adventure series for kids (The Giver Quartet) appropriate for my child?
Suitable for most readers 11 and up.
This thought-provoking dystopian quartet explores societies that suppress emotion, memory, and individuality. Contains mild violence, difficult themes about euthanasia and loss, and emotionally intense scenes involving children in danger.
What to know going in
This book has mild violence, no sexual content, and clean language. Content notes include child harm, emotional abuse, and death (see the full list above).
Who'll love this
Kids who love dystopian stories will be fascinated by these unique societies where everything is controlled and heroes must choose between safety and freedom.