The Giver Louis Lowry By: Zoe Verrico

A Short Introduction… The Giver, by Louis Lowry, takes place in a futuristic utopian society, where life is seemingly well and happy for the people within each community. The people have never known and will never know hunger and pain, and they’re all created equal. However, there’s catch. There is no such thing as love, color, feelings, emotions, or a sense of uniqueness and individuality. When the children of the community become “twelve’s,” there is a special ceremony in which the highly respected elders select suitable jobs for each of the children. Jonas, the novel’s main character, was selected to have one of the most honorable positions within the community; the “Receiver.” From then on, he met with the elder-“The Giver”- and learned through special transmissions from the Giver’s memory to his-what love, and feelings and colors were. He experienced what was beyond his community, which was deemed “Elsewhere.” Jonas learned through these memories that the past used to be colorful, people were unique, and there were such things as animals, emotions, and even weather and pain. Determined to return what had been taken away from is community, Jonas set out on a journey through the unknown outskirts of the comfort of his town, to search for Elsewhere, so that his people could experience the same joys and perks of being human; of being unique, and experiencing true feelings.

Science... Well... Science, is everywhere. Even in books, like this one! But, what sciences are shown? Well...

Jonas learns of colors throughout the novel as he is transmitted memories from The Giver… As he begins to see them…science teaches us how this is possible

The Electromagnetic Spectrum

Eye Colors; Dominant and Recessive Genes In the novel, although everyone in Jonas’s community is created equal, Jonas and another baby named Gabe have similar “light” eyes. But, what is the science behind the color of eyes? How and why do people obtain certain colors?

...how is this possible? For Example: “A baby inherits one chromosome from each parent in each pair of chromosomes. A piece of DNA on a chromosome is called a gene. Genes are the basic unit of heredity, they determine many characteristics about a baby. Genes also come in pairs. Alleles are found in genes and determine the appearance of any characteristic. There are two alleles for each trait inherited” (http://www.sewanee.edu). For Example: Certain eye colors are dominant and recessive. Brown overrides green, and blue, while green overrides blue. Blue eyes are only possible if both genes in a pair are recessive.

Optimal Environments But why...? Within Jonas’s community, weather and hills were taken away. There are only rivers, bushes, and flat plains. But why...? An optimal environment was created for the people so that they could live without any hardships. To prevent hardships! The Giver states That snow made agricultural periods rough, and hills made transportation uneasy. The solution; taking away land features and limiting weather.

How are optimal environments created? Science has the answer! Through experimentation! Optimal environments can be found through observation and experimentation, which is the basis scientists start at. Then, experiments are conducted; in which, one variable is changed at a time. For Example... How would an optimal environment be determined for a plant? What variables would be tested?

Testable variables for the optimal environment of a plant Temperature Location Intake of sunlight/amount Intake of water/oxegen

How does this relate to controlled weather in Jonas's community? Like with the plant scenario, different variables were tested out within Jonas’s community so that an optimal and more suitable environment could be created. Land features, like hills, plains, and mountains, were tested to see how they positively and negatively affected the people inhabiting the area. Different types of weather, like rain and snow were also tested. Then, alternations were made after experimentation and observation, so that Jonas’s community could live in a place with lesser hardships.

Can we agree it really is everywhere? SCIENCE Can we agree it really is everywhere? Over all, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes stories of controlled society, rebellion, change, and courage.