By Louis Lowry
Louis Lowry's The Giver is one of the most well-known and controversial books of its time. After winning the 1994 Newberry Medal as well as other awards including the American Library Association listing as "Best Book for Young Adults," it became one of the most popular books for children in all grade levels. The idea of a structured, futuristic society (similar to that in the novel 1984) combining science fiction with realistic fiction made its debut in children's literature in The Giver. Many children's literature author's have built upon Lowry's original theme. The Hunger Games series for example, includes many similar themes and traits found in The Giver. Unfortunately, Lowry, being the first children's author to include such themes took the brunt of the criticism and controversy that goes along with having the courage to "expose" children to a different and "new" style of literature. Because of Lowry's courage and determination to publish and defend her work, any author now has the option to include the same themes deemed "controversial" at the time with almost no challenge at all. In fact, such thematic children's literature is now wildly popular with children and adult readers.
I read The Giver when I was in middle school (when it first came out). I remember choosing it because all of my classmates were reading it and discussing how fabulous it was. I checked it out at my school library (a private school) and read it without a blink of an eye from my teachers and parents. In fact, I didn't realize the book was considered so controversial until reading it a second time for my class in graduate school. I am not sure if this is a result of going to private school (where the school district has zero authority because the school functions off of private funds) or the fact that my parents encourages me to read anything I was interested in regardless of book length or content (obviously they wouldn't let me read porn or anything like that- but you get the point). I remember being told by my teachers that Uncle Tom's Cabin was banned by some schools, but anybody could use it for their book report if they chose to. That was the extent of my knowledge of censorship at the time.
After being exposed to an variety of articles and text discussing the censorship of The Giver, I better understand WHY some parents would choose to not have their child read the book (one child had a deformity and was sensitive to anything suggesting criticism of appearance.) However, I continue to believe that The Giver should be available in the school library to student's who choose to read it and whose parents support this notion.
Here is the link to the resources surrounding the issue of censorship of The Giver:
What do you think?
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