I read this book in middle school and remember loving it, so I picked it up again to read to my kids. My 8 and 10 year old were riveted and often had outbursts of why the seemingly perfect society with no choices, love, happiness or color was so wrong even though it looked so right. I loved watching them internalize what was happening in the story and come to their own conclusions about why pain, discomfort, and sadness is necessary to a full existence.
I think the ideal read aloud age for this one is between 10 and 14, but my 8 year old also enjoyed it and anyone older would too. It is a quick read and such a great one for family discussion. There is a small part about “stirrings” that you may or may not feel comfortable reading aloud depending on the ages of your kids. Highly recommended as a “read aloud” so you can help them figure out and sort through the feelings the book incites in them.
Goodreads.com summary: Jonas’ 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 is time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.
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Frequently Asked Questions: The Giver Read Aloud
What age is right for The Giver read aloud?
I think the ideal range is 10 to 14. My 8 year old listened happily and got a lot out of it, and older children and teenagers would too. Below about 8 the central ideas — a society that removes choice, love and pain — are hard to hold onto, and the discussion is most of the value.
Is there anything I should preview before reading it aloud?
Yes — one short section dealing with what the book calls “stirrings”. It is brief and not graphic, but it touches on the beginnings of adolescent attraction and you may or may not want to read it aloud depending on your children’s ages. Read it yourself first and decide how to handle it, rather than meeting it unexpectedly mid-chapter.
Why read it aloud instead of letting them read it alone?
Because the book provokes reactions children want to voice immediately. Mine interrupted constantly to argue about why a world without pain or colour was wrong. Reading it aloud means you are there when those questions surface, and you can help them sort through the feelings rather than leaving them to sit with them alone.
Is it too dark for children?
It is serious but not frightening. The community in the book is disturbing precisely because it looks pleasant, and children tend to grasp that faster than adults expect. There is one genuinely hard scene involving what the community does to those it releases. Handled in conversation it becomes the most valuable part of the book rather than the worst.
