The Giver

Lois Lowry is in my opinion one of the best authors of young adult and teen literature today.  She has many books to her credit, some of which I've blogged. "The Giver" is one of her best.
"The Giver is about a boy named Jonas. He lives in a society in which everything is regulated and controlled.  The people are controlled by genetic engineering, pills and brain washing.
However, each generation or so, the society creates one unique person. This person is called The Giver. The Giver's job is to keep all the memories society deemed inappropriate. The memories are kept in case they are needed for any reason.
The society consists of family units. Each family gets two children, a boy and a girl. These children are birthed by a birth mother then given to the families to be raised.  Jonas, his sister and his parents are given extra child named Gabriel.  Gabriel does not fit the criteria.  He is supposed to be sleeping well by the age of 1 but he does not. Jonas' father, who is a nurturer, takes care of the children who have not yet been placed in families. It is he who wants to give Gabriel some extra time before he is "Released".  Being released is what happens to those who reach a certain age, or who don't fit into the society.
In the society, each child is evaluated to find what he or she is best suited for. At the age of 12 they are given their life's assignments. It is during the ceremony that Jonas finds out he is to be a Giver.
Jonas is taken off the pills that he has been given his whole life. As Jonas is taken off the pills, he comes to understand what the people around him are missing. Happiness, laughter, Pain and love.
Jonas is saddened by the realization', but he is horrified beyond belief when he finds out how society handles those who can't conform.
When Jonas realizes Gabriel's life is in danger he makes a decision that costs him everything he knows. But for the sake of one child Jonas stands by his decision. Jonas will protect Gabriel and those like him.
"The Giver" is one of those books that you remember long after you read it. Some schools assign it for summer reading while other schools condemn it. My own children, who read it in middle school thought it was sad, but I didn't. I saw the end of the book as a new beginning and not an ending.
 It is all how you read it I suppose.  Read it yourself and see what you think!