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The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) (1993) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Name: The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)
Rating: 4.3 (16 reviews)
Author: Lois Lowry

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

In Lois Lowry’s Newbery Medal–winning classic, twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a seemingly ideal world. Not until he is given his life assignment as the Receiver does he begin to understand the dark secrets behind his fragile community. Life in the community where Jonas lives is idyllic. Designated birthmothers produce newchildren, who are assigned to appropriate family units. Citizens are assigned their partners and their jobs. No one thinks to ask questions. Everyone obeys. Everyone is the same. Except Jonas. Not until he is given… Sign up for the full guide

Middle Grade • 1993 • 300 pages • Lexile 760L (roughly grades 4–5 reading difficulty)

by Lois Lowry

4.3

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

10+

The Giver is a seminal dystopian novel that earns its 10+ rating primarily through dark thematic elements and a chilling discovery regarding the true nature of 'release.' While it contains no graphic sex or swearing, the middle-grade audience will encounter themes of infanticide, euthanasia, and emotional numbness that may require parental discussion. The story follows a 12-year-old boy in a sterile society where individuality is… Sign up for the full guide

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Is The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) appropriate for kids?

Content severity in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

Sex Moderate 3/10

Violence Strong 6/10

Language None 0/10

Substances Mild 2/10

Themes Strong 5/10

What happens in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2), moment by moment

p. 2 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10
p. 7 🔥 Mature Themes 1/10
p. 12 🔥 Mature Themes 2/10

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Sex and nudity in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

There is no sexual activity depicted in the novel. The narrative mentions 'Stirrings,' which are puberty-related dreams and feelings experienced by Jonas; consistent with the society's rules, these are treated medically with a daily pill to suppress hormonal attraction. Jonas describes a dream about wanting to bathe Fiona, which is the catalyst for his medication. The focus remains on the clinical suppression of human desire rather than eroticism. As a middle-grade novel, it handles the concept of maturation with…

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Violence and gore in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

Violence is largely clinical and off-page until a pivotal scene involving lethal injection. Jonas experiences transferred memories of physical pain, including a painful sunburn and a broken leg, but the most disturbing violence is the bloodless, mechanical 'release' of a newborn baby. A graphic memory of a historical war zone features a dying soldier begging for water, which is particularly harrowing. The violence is never gratuitous; it serves to contrast the 'Sameness' of the community with the harsh realities…

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Language in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

Clean. The community prizes 'precision of language,' and there are no instances of modern profanity or vulgarity.

Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

There are no substances in the traditional recreational sense within the community. The citizens take mandatory daily medication to suppress emotions and physical urges, which is administered as a small pill. The process of 'release' involves the use of a lethal syringe, which is presented as a medical procedure rather than a drug-related event. There is no mention of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal narcotics. The narrative uses the concept of medication to highlight the theme of control and the loss of natural human…

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Mature themes in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)

The story features heavy focus on social engineering, the loss of individuality, and the ethics of a 'painless' society. It explores the necessity of suffering to truly experience joy and the morality of euthanizing those who do not fit societal standards, referred to as 'release.' Readers observe the emotional numbness of Jonas's parents and the cold logic of the Committee of Elders. The existential weight of Rosemary's failure and the subsequent 'release' of her memories into the community provide deep…

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) is best for ages 10+. The Giver is a seminal dystopian novel that earns its 10+ rating primarily through dark thematic elements and a chilling discovery regarding the true nature of 'release.' While it contains no graphic sex or swearing…

What age rating does The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) have?

Books don't carry official age ratings. The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) is published for a Middle Grade audience, and Bontent's independent parent guide recommends it for ages 10+.

What reading level is The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)?

The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) is 300 pages and its reading level is Lexile 760L (roughly grades 4–5 reading difficulty). Bontent recommends it for ages 10+.

What is The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) about?

Is there sex or nudity in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)?

How violent is The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)?

Is the language in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) appropriate for kids?

Clean. The community prizes 'precision of language,' and there are no instances of modern profanity or vulgarity.

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)?

What mature themes appear in The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2)?

Where can I read the full The Giver Quartet (The Giver, #2) parent guide?

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