I know this text isn't terribly recent, but I would like to explore some of these texts that could easily become classics.
The Giver takes place in a time and place where children are grouped according to years and are treated collectively in these groups. At age 9, each child receives their first bike; at 12, each child is given their assignment, their job. At his 12 year ceremony, Jonas is chosen to become the new Receiver of Memories.
Jonas works with the current Receiver (who becomes the Giver) and learns of snow, sunshine, colors, love, etc. He has access to information he never knew existed; things that we take for granted in modern America. But when Jonas learns a fact about his father that makes him question the Community.
There are a number of questions raised by Lowry. What pain and sacrifice do we incur for knowledge and truth? What forms a family "unit"? How do we account for free will?
The Giver is a quick read and I'm sure the young and old will continue to read it (and re-read it) for years to come.
