Journal 8/28/07-8/31/07

8/28/07
Even though their parents objected, Captain Ron took her and her friend on a helicopter ride over the Grand Canyon.

8/30/07
Aunt Felicia said, "Golfing is more relaxing than swimming or jogging."

8/31/07
Mark's father is an engineer at the Ace Farm Equipment Co.; his mother is an illustrator at Herrara Publications, Inc.


-Will the new lunchline setup succeed? I think it will work. The students don't like it because they have to walk around the room to get to the line. The teachers are really strict on it but that is what it will take to stop people from passing and crowding the lines.

-Beans or franks? Explain. I would choose franks before beans any day. Beans are alright but franks are much better. Franks are much more tasty and there are also many ways to eat them. I like my franks with ketchup.

-What was your most memerable summer adventure? My most memerable summer adventure was just playing baseball with my friends. I love baseball season. When baseball is going on I don't even worry about going on vacation.

Book Synopsis: The Giver

Title: The Giver
Author: Lois Lowry
Publication date: 1993
Page count: 180
Type: Fiction
Started on: August 30th, 2007
Finished on: August 9th, 2007


My grade: B+

1. Why did I decide to read this book?
The John Newbery Award winning book has a attractive cover gave me a reason to read this book. I have heard of Lois Lowry for being a good writer so i gave her the chance to impress me. Also when I was choosing this book someone had told me they had read it. They told me it was a good book. As interested as I was I decided to read it. After reading it I was impressed and enjoy it a great deal.

2. Plot Summary
Jonas, a main character, is trying to use the right words to describe the feeling he's having. As December was approaching Jonas grew eager, excited and a little nervous. Jonas finds "Apprehensive" to be the best word to describe his feelings.

Jonas lives in a community where the people are not allowed to make their own choices. The committee is governed by strict rules. All of the decisions and rules are made by the Elders. The adults don't choose their spouse. The adults must apply for one and then the Elders who will be couples. A couple doesn't give birth to children. Women are chosen to be birth mothers. Birth mothers give birth to three children and then couples apply for children. Each family may only have one male and one female child. The people of the community do not see colors. The knew nothing of snow or rain. They don't feel pain. The people don't experience feelings.

Each December ceremonies are held for each age group of children in the community. During the ceremony children born the previous year are assigned to families. The eight year-old children begin volunteer work. The nine year-old children are given a bicycle for transportation. The twelve year old children are given their assignment. The assignment is the profession which has been selected for the individual. After this they will no longer have much time to spend time with their friends.

At twelve years-old Jonas was assigned to be the Receiver of Memory. The community only has one Receiver of Memory. Jonas will succeed the current Receiver. When Jonas is given his assignment the current Receiver becomes the Giver. As Jonas begins training a whole new world opened to him. The Receiver is the only person who has memory of the past. Unlike the rest of the citizens of the community, the Receiver sees colors, hears music, and has feeling. It is up to the Giver to transfer all of his memories to Jonas. Many of those memories are pleasant things like of sunshine, sailboats, and parties. Other memories are not as pleasant. When Jonas asked the Giver to share his favorite memory the Giver gives him the memory of a family Christmas celebration. The Christmas celebration both will have a major impact on Jonas' future.

3. What is the setting and why is it important to the novel?
The majority of the story takes plaice with in a community. After Jonas is chose as the Receiver much of the novel takes play in the Annex, where he lives, works, and learns from the Giver. Later the story happens outside of the community. In the final chapter you realize that Jonas is entering another community where Christmas is celebrated.

4. Describe the main characters and what roles they play in the novel:
Jonas is eleven years old at the beginning of the novel. When the novel ends he is thirteen. He is very intelligent who I consider brave. He is given the assignment to be the Receiver. He quickly realizes that being protected from everything does not out weight the experience of feeling. The Giver teaches Jonas about being the Receiver. Asher and Fiona are two of Jonahs friends.

5. What is the main conflict of the novel?
The main conflict deals with truth and honesty. The community is protected and everyone lives in a perfect world. The conflict is if the people are being protected if they have no feelings. What kind of perfect world would exist without love.

6. Describe the climax of the novel.
Near the end of the novel, the Giver and Jonas make plans for Jonas to escape from the community. Leaving the community was against the rules and if Jonas was caught he'd be released. Not only does Jonas decide to follow through with escape plans, but he also decides to take the baby Gabriel with him. Search plans spend days looking for the two of them. The flew planes very low searching for the two. The plans are equipped with body heat detectors. Suspense heightened wondering how Jonas could possibly avoid being caught.

7. What is the significance of this books title? Is the title appropriate, or would I change it to something else?
The title the Giver is perfect for this book. The Giver is one of the main characters of the book. Without the Giver the story would be impossible. The Giver is the one who give Jonas all of the memories. Along with giving Jonas memories you could also say the Giver gave Jonas a reason to escape the community. By encouraging Jonas to escape the Giver gave Jonas much more than memories. The Giver actually gave him a life in the real world.