• The Giver

  • By: Lois Lowry
  • Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
  • Length: 4 hrs and 49 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (14,473 ratings)

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The Giver  By  cover art

The Giver

By: Lois Lowry
Narrated by: Ron Rifkin
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Publisher's summary

December is the time of the annual Ceremony at which each twelve-year-old receives a life assignment determined by the Elders. Jonas watches his friend Fiona named Caretaker of the Old and his cheerful pal Asher labeled the Assistant Director of Recreation. But Jonas has been chosen for something special. When his selection leads him to an unnamed man, the man called only the Giver, he begins to sense the dark secrets that underlie the fragile perfection of his world.

Told with deceptive simplicity, this is the provocative story of a boy who experiences something incredible and undertakes something impossible. In the telling it questions every value we have taken for granted and reexamines our most deeply held beliefs.

©1993 Lois Lowry (P)1993 Random House, Inc., Listening Library, An Imprint Of Random House Audio Publishing Group

Critic reviews

Newbery Medal Winner, 1994

"This is a compelling prospect for family listening. Initially Rifkin's voice seems too regional to portray the characters of this utopian/dystopian world, but he convincingly conveys the anticipation of the coming-of-age ceremony of Jonas and his friends. As the meaning of Jonas’ selection as “Receiver of Memory” unfolds, Rifkin’s characterizations become more powerful. Although the story drives the presentation, Rifkin’s juxtaposition of the young boy and the old Giver has tremendous effect. His voice for the Giver becomes increasingly weary and strained while Jonas' gains strength. Sharing this audiobook in a family or a classroom offers a valuable opportunity to respond to and discuss Lowry’s moving novel." (AudioFile magazine)

"A powerful and provocative novel." (The New York Times)
"Lowry is once again in top form...unwinding a tale fit for the most adventurous readers." (Publishers Weekly)
"The author makes real abstract concepts, such as the meaning of a life in which there are virtually no choices to be made and no experiences with deep feelings. This tightly plotted story and its believable characters will stay with readers for a long time." (School Library Journal)

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What listeners say about The Giver

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing story, not great listening

I love this story & will probably even listen to it again at some point, but I can’t recommend this to friends due to the whiny voice the narrator uses for Jonas & the strange music that sounds like it’s out of a corporate training video. The Giver is a beautiful book & I recommend it to anyone, but the audiobook made me wince many times throughout because I felt like I was listening to someone trying to play a petulant 6 year old rather than a very mature & even-dispositioned 12 year old - there’s a lot of free readings online & I will likely turn there next time I want to listen to this book

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As Great as I remember

really enjoying this reading of The Giver. I never read the sequels, and am eager to continue

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Wonderful!

I have read this several times, and this time I listened along with my husband who is not a reader. He thought it was amazing!

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Excellent

This is a wonderful book with wonderful narrator. I look forward to the rest in the series.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Favorite book

I might be sliiiiightly biased but this is my favorite book and it was told beautifully by the narrator. 10/10

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    5 out of 5 stars
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    1 out of 5 stars

Spectacular writing!

It was wonderful to read an author that knows how to reveal, one little piece at a time. Definitely worth the read!

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Amazing I love this book

I like the book and it is a great story I bit dark but I love it

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A deeply moving story

Feelings. The most important message in this story. Beautifully written. Control , peace a utopian life style vs anger, hunger, love and death. Definitely, a discussion starter.

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Well Written

This is my absolute favorite book that I read in middle and high school! I’m so happy I read it again.

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    4 out of 5 stars
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    3 out of 5 stars
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Annoying music

Would you listen to The Giver again? Why?

I'm not planning to listen to this again. I've read the book before and like the story very much, but it was interrupted by strange music at inopportune moments. A great book, but not a very good listening experience.

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92 people found this helpful