The Giver: The Graphic Novel

by Lois Lowry, P. Craig Russell (Illustrator)

Overview

The Giver is a modern classic and one of the most influential books of our time.
 
Now in graphic novel format, Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal–winning classic story of a young boy discovering the dark secrets behind his seemingly ideal world is accompanied by renowned artist P. Craig Russell’s beautifully haunting illustrations. 

Placed on countless reading lists, translated into more than forty languages, and made into a feature film, The Giver is the first book in The Giver Quartet that also includes Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son.

In this new graphic novel edition, readers experience the haunting story of twelve-year-old Jonas and his seemingly ideal, if colorless, world of conformity and contentment, through the brilliant art of P. Craig Russell that truly brings The Giver to life.

Witness Jonas's assignment as the Receiver of Memory, watch as he begins to understand the dark secrets behind his fragile community, and follow the explosion of color into his world like never before. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780544157880
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	02/05/2019
Series:	Giver Quartet Series , #1
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	15,959
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.00(d)
Lexile:	GN500L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Lois Lowry is the author of more than forty books, including the NYT bestselling Giver Quartet. She received Newbery Medals for Number the Stars and The Giver. www.loislowry.com 

P. Craig Russell is a renowned artist of comics and graphic novels. He illustrated the graphic novel adaptations of Neil Gaiman’s Coraline and The Graveyard Book.  www.artofpcraigrussell.com. 
 

Editorial Reviews

02/20/4

This graphic novel adaptation of Lowry’s Newbery Medal–winning book hews close to the original text, retaining nearly all dialogue and narration in some form while substituting visual depiction for textual description. When Jonas turns 12, his perception of his seemingly utopian community begins to change. His selection as the next Receiver of Memory puts him in a position to see everything that is missing from the world he knows, as well as the hard truths that underlie his heretofore comfortable life. Russell (who also adapted The Graveyard Book) uses a simple, realistic cartoon style in a palette of blue pencil and ink wash that conveys the colorlessness of the world. The blue tone also mirrors the cool, passionless logic that drives the group’s decisions, and the vast swathes of white space on the page hint at the essential emptiness of the community members’ lives. Color is introduced slowly as Jonas begins to see it himself, helping the reader to identify with the startling changes that Jonas undergoes and creating a striking visual record of the heinous memories the boy receives—a mushroom cloud in a bright red panel, a battlefield and dying soldier in orange. An accessible version of the story for readers who have not yet encountered it. Ages 12–up. (Apr.)

Publishers Weekly

"A first-rate visual reframing: sensitive, artistically brilliant, and as charged as its enigmatic predecessor with profound challenges to mind and heart." –Kirkus, STARRED review

"This striking retelling of the modern classic blends words and images to create a brilliant new representation of Lowry’s dystopian conflict....This stunning work will introduce The Giver to a brand-new audience and will also delight longtime fans." –School Library Journal, STARRED review

"Russell masterfully preserves the flow of story....The relief and sometimes shock of these colors allow the power of the memories to reach readers in a way beyond mere sight, and thus the wonder of Lowry’s story is made palpable in a startling new way." –Booklist

"An accessible version of the story for readers who have not yet encountered it." –Publishers Weekly

"This beautifully illustrated graphic novel...gives new life to a true classic." –School Library Connection

From the Publisher

★ Winter 2018

Gr 6 Up—Jonas lives in a colorless world where everyone is content and conformity is the key to serenity. At the age of 12, in a ceremony that determines Life Assignments for each citizen, he's chosen to be the community's "Receiver of Memories." He begins training with the Giver, an old man who is the sole guardian of the community's dark and concealed history. Jonas learns not only of sunshine, color, and love but also of pain, war, and death. Confronted with this reality, he faces difficult choices and discovers that the wisdom he now holds could determine the fate of his entire civilization. This striking retelling of the modern classic blends words and images to create a brilliant new representation of Lowry's dystopian conflict between the ideals of free will and security. The artwork, rendered in blue pencil and grayscale, perfectly depicts Jonas's stark, dysfunctional society, and the measured introduction and brief glimpses of color keep readers hopeful for a brighter future. The characters are distinct, and the action flows well, evoking the feeling of the original work. Dialogue is pulled directly from the source material and heightens the story line and Jonas's emotions. VERDICT This stunning work will introduce The Giver to a brand-new audience and will also delight longtime fans.—Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

School Library Journal

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