The Giver by Lois Lowry, 179 pages

"Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no war or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community. When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back." -Back Cover

This book is short and yet very moving. Jonas lives in a community where there is Sameness. Marriages are arranged. Each couple can apply for two children, a boy and a girl who are given to them at a Naming Ceremony when the child is one. There are rules that govern the Community such as apologies must be given and then immediately accepted. Those who break the rules are Released or sent to Elsewhere. Every morning dreams must be discussed and at night feelings talked about although they've no idea what feelings really are. When a child turns 12 they are assigned a career based on careful observation by the Elders and when they are grown their parents go to live with the Childless Adults and they don't see each other anymore.

Jonas is selected to be The Receiver, a very rare and honored thing. As he is given memories he learns about and experiences color, snow, sunshine, joy and eventually pain and realizes that all those things make life beautiful and meaningful, yet he has no one to share them with because he cannot talk about his training with anyone other than The Giver and the people in the Community wouldn't understand anyway. He begins to see that while the way the Community lives is comfortable and safe, it is not really living. One of the most touching parts for me was when Jonas asks his parents if they love him and they have no idea what the word love is or means.

I went out on my deck last night and saw the most amazing firefly display and couldn't help but be grateful that we don't live in a world of Sameness. We experience life to its fullest with all of its changes, all of its colors and seasons. We appreciate the good because we can experience the bad.