Grade Band: Middle SchoolReading Level 5.0

Chapters 1-2

Jonas was an 11 year old boy. He lived with his sister, mother, and father in a community. His

father was a nurse and his mother was a judge. There were lots of rules in the community. No

one ever chose to leave the community, but the old and sick people were forced to leave. This

was called being released. Jonas was nervous about the ceremony .

Every night Jonas’ family shared their feelings during dinner. Jonas told them that he was

nervous. Soon, Jonas would go to the Ceremony of Twelve. Jonas was nervous about the

ceremony .

Each December, ceremonies were held for the children. The children were in groups with other

children their age. There was a ceremony for each age group. During the Ceremony of One,

families were given a baby. Each family could have one boy and one girl. Jonas was nervous

about the ceremony .

Jonas was turning 12 this year. This was when children were assigned jobs. Jonas did not know

what his job would be. He did know that he would not play with his friends as much. Jonas was

nervous about the ceremony .

Chapters 3-5

Jonas’ father brought home a sick baby named Gabriel, who needed extra care. He noticed that

Gabriel had pale eyes, just like him. Most people in the community had darker eyes and could

not see color. Jonas was different because he was starting to notice colors around him. He had

noticed an apple changing colors. Jonas wanted to learn more about his community.

All children had to volunteer in the community. Jonas worked in a house where older people

lived. He saw many ceremonies for old people who were being released. They looked happy,

but Jonas wondered where they went when they were released. Jonas wanted to learn more

about his community.

During breakfast, Jonas’ family talked about their dreams. Jonas had a dream about a girl from

school. He liked the dream. His mother said he needed to take a pill to stop dreaming about

girls. Jonas wanted to learn more about his community.

Chapters 6-8

It was the first day of the ceremonies. Everyone in the community came to watch. Jonas’ sister

was in the Ceremony of Eight. She would start her volunteer hours that year. Jonas and his

family went to the ceremonies.

The next day it was the Ceremony of Twelve. All of the twelve-year-olds were given jobs, except

Jonas. When it was his turn, he was skipped. Jonas was worried. Jonas and his family went to

the ceremonies.

Finally, Jonas’ name was called last. He was given the Receiver of Memories job. This was the

most important job in the community. It was also very hard. Jonas was the perfect person to

receive memories. He was smart, honest, and courageous. He would become wise. The

audience cheered Jonas’ name. Jonas and his family went to the ceremonies.

Chapters 9-11

To become the Receiver of Memories, Jonas had to follow special rules. He was not allowed to

tell his dreams, take pills, or try to leave the community. He was allowed to lie and ask any

question he wanted. Jonas trained for his job.

Jonas went to training every day after school. The Old Receiver of Memories told Jonas about

his job. Jonas would hold all the memories for the people in the community. Some would be

happy memories and others would be very sad. Jonas trained for his job.

Jonas was given his first memory. It was about snow. Jonas had never seen snow before. Jonas

wondered why the community did not have snow. The weather in the community was always

the same. Jonas trained for his job.

Next, Jonas was given a memory of sunburn. It hurt. This was Jonas’ first painful memory. Jonas

had never felt pain before. He was very brave. The Old Receiver of Memories told Jonas to call

him the Giver. Jonas trained for his job.

Chapters 12-13

The next day in school Jonas started to see more color. He saw red apples and red hair. Jonas

would be able to see all colors after he learned about them. The Giver gave Jonas the memory

of a rainbow. Jonas saw and felt new things.

The memories made Jonas think about his community. Everything was always the same. No one

made their own choices. The Giver explained that it was dangerous to let people make choices.

They might make the wrong choice. People felt pain when they made the wrong choice. The

community got rid of pain. Jonas saw and felt new things.

It was the Receiver’s job to hold the painful memories so the people in the community did not

have to. Sometimes the Giver was in too much pain to train Jonas. Jonas asked the Giver to let

Jonas have more of the painful memories, so the Giver would be in less pain. Jonas saw and felt

new things.

Chapters 14-15

Jonas received more and more painful memories. One was about his leg breaking. Another

memory was about feeling hunger. Jonas wanted the pain to go away. Jonas received painful

memories.

Jonas wanted everyone to share memories. One night Gabriel was crying. Jonas touched his

head and gave him a happy memory. Gabriel stopped crying. Jonas learned that he could share

his memories. He did not tell the Giver. Jonas received painful memories.

One day the Giver was in terrible pain. He asked Jonas to take the painful memory. It was about

war. As Jonas received the memory, he saw soldiers lying on the ground. They were hurt and

crying. This was the most painful memory Jonas had received. Jonas received painful memories.

Chapters 16-19

Jonas did not want to go back to training. He wanted to be a child again. He looked at all the

people around him who had no pain. The Giver reminded Jonas that there were many happy

memories. Jonas received memories of birthdays and holidays. For the first time, Jonas felt

love. No one else in the community had birthdays or love. He wished his parents could feel

love. Jonas learned more about his community.

Jonas asked about the last person who was given the Receiver of the Memories job. The

memories were too painful for her, so she asked to be released from the community. When she

left, the memories went to the people. The people did not know what to do when they felt the

painful memories. It was a bad time for the community. Jonas learned more about his

community.

Jonas wanted to know more about people being released from the community. He watched his

father release a baby from the community. His father gave the baby a shot. Then the baby died.

Only Jonas and the Giver knew that the baby died. People in the community did not know

about death. Jonas learned more about his community.

Chapters 20-21

Jonas was angry. He wanted everyone to have their own memories and make their own

choices. Jonas and the Giver wanted everyone to feel and think for themselves. Jonas wanted

the community to have his memories.

They decided that Jonas needed to leave the community. When he left, everyone would receive

all of the memories. The Giver would stay to help the community with the memories. Jonas

wanted the community to have his memories.

The baby, Gabriel, was going to be released. Jonas did not want him to die. He took Gabriel

with him. It was very dangerous for them to leave the community. Jonas wanted the

community to have his memories.

Chapters 22-23

Jonas rode his bike with Gabriel away from the community. He rode for days. He ran out of

food. Jonas was scared and hungry. He was also losing his memories. The memories were going

back to the people in the community. Jonas left his community.

It started to snow. Jonas and Gabriel were shivering. Jonas gave Gabriel a memory about warm

sunshine. After climbing a big hill, Jonas saw lights. They had reached another community.

Jonas saw a house with a family inside. It reminded him of a happy memory from the Giver. He

knew that the family was waiting for him and Gabriel. Jonas left his community.

The Giver Vocabulary Definitions*This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Essential VocabularyImportant Vocabulary

Community-a group of people living in the same area

Nurse-someone who takes care of people who are sick

Release-to set free

Nervous-feeling scared and uncomfortable

Ceremony-a formal act that is done a certain way according to rules

Volunteer-to choose to do something without being paid

Dreams-thoughts, feelings, and pictures that occur during sleep

Pill-medicine that is swallowed

Receive-to take or get something that is given

Memories-things that are learned and remembered

Wise-having good sense or judgment

Sunburn-sore red skin caused by too much sunlight

Painful-something that hurts

Brave-showing no fear; courageous

Choices-decisions

Dangerous-likely to cause injury or harm

Hunger-needing food and feeling weak

War-a period of fighting between opposing groups

Soldiers- a person in the military that is trained to fight in wars

Hurt-to feel or cause pain

Love-a feeling of strong affection for someone else

Shot-a medicine given with a needle

Death-the end of life

Shivering-to shake from the cold

All definitions adapted from www.wordcentral.com

The Giver Vocabulary and Object List* This list is a vocabulary reference tool.

Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on student needs.

Vocabulary Object

Community Toy houses grouped together, Map of own communityNurse Thermometer, Blood pressure cuffRelease Demonstrate letting something goNervous Demonstrate biting nails/tapping toes or handCeremony Graduation capVolunteer Raise handDreams Pillow, BlanketPill Medicine cupReceive Demonstrate giving an object to someoneMemories Sticky note, Old photographWise BookSunburn SunscreenPainful Rub head; Demonstrate pinchingBrave Trophy; Medal; RibbonChoices Demonstrate making a choiceDangerous Caution Tape; Textured danger signHunger Rub stomachWar Flags, helicopterSoldiers Toy Soldier; Helmet, Camouflage; Hurt Band AidLove Demonstrate holding hands/heartShot Toy shot (from doctor set)Death Miniature tombstone (Halloween decoration)Shivering Demonstrate shivering

The Giver Public Domain Vocabulary* This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on

student needs.Community Released

Nervous

Ceremony

Volunteer

Dream

Pill

Receiver

Memories

Wise Sunburn

Painful

The Giver Public Domain Vocabulary* This list is a vocabulary reference tool. Teachers should choose existing words and/or create additional words based on

student needs.Brave

Choice

Dangerous

Hunger

War Soldiers

Hurt Love

Shot

Death Shivering