The Giver by Lois Lowry
ISBN: 0-553-57133-8
Lowry, L. (1993). The Giver. New York: Houghton Mifflin.
Read by Ron Rifkin

Plot Summary
Jonas is eleven-years-old and is anxiously awaiting his twelfth birthday.  Each year in December, all the children in their village attend a ceremony where something special happens for each age group.  At twelve, the children receive their future occupation and begin training.  Jonas receives the job of Receiver, and begins to work with a man he calls Giver.  Jonas’ father is a Nurturer, one who takes care of the babies before they are named and given out to families at the yearly ceremony.  One baby, Gabriel, is not developing as he should, and cries too much.  Gabriel stays with Jonas’ family for a year in hopes the extra attention will make him the same.  As Jonas continues his training he realizes that his village has faults.  He realizes that color, feelings, pain, love and memories exist.  The Receiver’s job is to remember the memories of generations past in case the Council requires guidance on one of their rules.  Jonas finds he does not agree with this method, and having all the memories is a burden, but it is not until he finds out what Release is, that Jonas knows he has to take action.  Even more critically, Jonas discovers Gabriel is going to be Released because he has not adjusted to sameness.  Can Jonas make a difference?

Critical Evaluation
This future world’s inhabitants live in utopia – a society with no hunger, no pain, no problems, no violence.  The “no’s” are endless but the most striking is that this society offers no choices. The tightly controlled, colorless culture has logical, unemotional rules. The society restricts freedom but operates very smoothly for those who conform.  Written 20 years ago in 1993, The Giver explored social issues that are still controversial and are still debated. The proposed euthanasia of the baby Gabriel will be met with horror by most readers, but the euthanizing of the elderly grandfather provokes more discussion about one’s worth to one’s community.  The writing style is appropriate for a book that depicts a colorless culture. It is not breathless, “seat of your pants” language, but stark, barren language that fits the plot-line and theme.  The story’s conclusion is vague and while it holds possibilities for Jonas, it doesn’t promise. Released from his utopia, he will now encounter uncertainty, and hunger, and pain, and problems. And choices.

Rifkin does an admirable job reading The Giver.  He successfully infuses each character with his or her own voice, inflection, and personality.  A middle-aged man giving voice to an eight-year-old girl is worthy of mention.  Rifkin effortlessly switches voices back-and-forth during dialogue, allowing listeners to easily differentiate speakers despite the lack of written words in front of them.  Precision of language is one of the key tenets in Jonas' village, and Rifkin has managed to master.  Even when the story becomes intense, Rifkin reads with a slow, measured pace, building anticipation for the listener.  The background music and noises serve to emphasize the dramatic nature of the story. 

Reader’s Annotation
After Jonas is named as Receiver, he discovers his village is hiding secrets and decides saving Gabriel is more important than the village.

About the Author
Lois Lowry began writing around the time of her divorce in 1977.  Her first novel, A Summer to Die is loosely based on her experiences of her older sister passing away.  Lowry says that while all her books have different settings and characters, they all contain the common theme of human connections and their importance.  Lowry has been award the Newbery Medal twice, for Number the Stars and The Giver.  She has written more than 40 books including the Giver quartet, Anastasia Krupnik series, and Gooney Bird.  Son, the long-awaited conclusion to the Giver quartet was published late last year, eight years after the last book.

Lois Lowry was born the middle child of three children, with an older sister and younger brother.  Her family moved frequently because her father was an Army dentist.  Before college Lowry lived in Hawaii, New York, Pennsylvania, Tokyo, and back to New York.  She attended Brown University in Rhode Island, but left after sophomore year to get married to a Navel officer.  Again, Lowry moved frequently and had four children in less than five years.  Lowry returned to college and finished her degree at the University of Southern Maine.  After twenty years of marriage, Lowry and her husband divorced.  She spent the next thirty years with Martin until his death in 2011.  Lowry is now a grandmother to four and loves gardening and spending time with her family.

Ron Rifkin, born Saul Rifkin in New York, is an actor best known for his work on Alias and Brothers & Sisters.  Rifkin has also had a career in film and on stage.  He has won various awards for plays including the Obie, Lucille Lortel, and Drama-Logue for Best Actor.  In 1998 Rifkin won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actor for Cabaret.  Other than The Giver, Rifkin has also read Sang Spell by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor and Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli.  He has been married for over 40 years to Iva Rifkin.

Genre
Science Fiction/Dystopian
Audiobook

Curriculum Ties
Social Issues- surrogacy and euthanasia

Booktalking
Jonas has a choice: continue the status quo in his village or escape to save Jonas.  Why, and what will he do?

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 6th grade and up

Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include defiance of authority, euthanasia, and pre-determined life cycles.

In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.

Why Included
The Giver won the 1994 Newbery and is one of the first dystopian novels for young adults.

Others in the Series
Gathering Blue (Book #2)
Messenger (Book #3)
Son (Book #4)

References
Lowry, L. (2012).  Biography.  Retrieved from http://www.loislowry.com/
Ron Rifkin. (2013, February 22).  Retrieved April 20, 2013 from Wikipedia: http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ron_Rifkin
TV Guide. (2012). Ron rifkin: Biography.  Retrieved from http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/ron-rifkin/172870

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
ISBN: 0-02-770130-1
Paulsen, G. (1987).  Hatchet. New York: Bradbury Press.
Read by Peter Coyote
Produced by Blane and DeRosa Productions Listening Library

Plot Summary
Brian Robeson’s parents are newly divorced and he is headed off on a small plane to visit his father in Canada.  The pilot suffers a heart attack and suddenly dies, leaving Brian alone to pilot the plane.  He manages to land suddenly, but is alone, out of range of the plane’s radio, without any resources.  Brian immediately despairs, but has a hatchet to help.  He makes a small shelter against a boulder and finds berries to pick and eat.  A few days after landing, a plane flies overhead, but leaves without seeing Brian.  Brian understands it was a search plane, and likely will not return.  He concentrates on making a bow and arrow as well as a spear for hunting.  Just as Brian is feeling comfortable and getting a handle on life a moose attacks him.  Days later a tornado hits and his shelter and food reserves are destroyed.  When Brian recovers he finds that the plane is now in the water, and remembers there is a survival pack.  What is in the survival pack?  Will there be food, a sleeping bag, a radio?

Critical Evaluation
Paulsen could easily have written a thrilling, fascinating adventure story about survival in the forest, but Hatchet is much more than that. Paulsen covers the dual themes of survival and isolation, both physical and emotional.  Just as Brian learns to survive in the wild forest he learns to survive his parents’ divorce.  This one-person story balances the adventure and survival aspect with Brian’s growth as a young man who is prepared to deal with the disintegration of his family.  Because of the divorce Brian has a self imposed emotional isolation from his parents as he does not want to reveal the hurt and anger he feels. Now, stranded on the island physical isolation threatens his life.  When Brian is rescued the reader will recognize that he has come to terms with both threats. He is no longer a whiny, helpless teen, but a stronger and more mature young man.

Coyote's reading of Hatchet is a solid effort.  There is not much need for varying voices and tones, but Coyote manages to make a one-person story interesting.  At times the reading sounded awkward and stilted, but it also may have been the written book not translating well to spoken narration.  The background music was often distracting and unnecessarily ominous.  The book is already dramatic enough without overdone music or background noise.  Individual chapters in the novel were not spoken, which created a flowing listening experience, but also made finding a stopping point difficult.  At the same time, track changes were seamless, preventing a break in the story.  Overall, an enjoyable audiobook that likely increased the suspense and investment to Brian.

Reader’s Annotation
After Brian crash lands in the wilderness, he must somehow learn how to survive alone until someone can save him.

About the Author/Reader
While working in California Paulsen realized he wanted to be a writer.  He quit his job and spent a year proofreading magazines in Hollywood.  Paulsen moved to the woods in Minnesota and wrote his first novel.  Hatchet came about from his survivalist experiences living in the woods.  He received so many letters from readers about the sudden ending in Hatchet that Paulsen decided to write Brian’s Winter, an alternate ending that continues Brian’s adventure in the wilderness.

Gary Paulsen was never a strong student, but after a visit to the library, he became a lifelong reader.  He ran away at 14 to join a carnival, and held a variety of jobs including engineer, construction worker, ranch hand, truck driver, and sailor.  Paulsen became interested in dog sled racing and participated in the Iditarod twice.  After becoming ill, Paulsen stopped racing and turned his efforts to writing instead.  He has written more than 175 books, 200 articles and short stories, has had three Newbery Honor books, and his books appear on American Library Association’s best book lists.  Paulsen is married to Ruth Wright Paulsen and live part-time in New Mexico and a boat.

Peter Coyote was born Rachmil Pinchus Ben Mosha Cohon in New York.  At sixteen, Coyote began acting classes at the Neighborhood Playhouse.  He attended Grinnell College and became an activist organizer.  He graduated with a BA in English Literature and then attended San Francisco State University for Creative Writing.  Coyote continued to be a part of San Francisco’s counter-culture.  In the late 1970s he returned to acting and has now been part of 70 films.  In the 80s, Coyote began doing voiceovers and won an Emmy in 1992.  Other than Hatchet, Coyote has read several other audiobooks.  Coyote has two adult children and married Stefanie Pleet in 2000. 

Genre
Action & Adventure/Survival
Audiobook

Curriculum Ties
N/A

Booktalking
Brian is fourteen, alone in the wilderness, without food, water, or shelter.  What does he do?

Reading Level/Interest Level
RL: 6th grade
IL: 6th grade and up

Challenge Issues
Possible challenge issues include the survivalist and independence Brian experiences away from adults.

In my defense file, I would include the following:
1) Library Mission Statement
2) Library Selection Policy approved by any or all of the following individuals—principal, school board, district librarian OR library manager, city council, mayor.
3) Library Bill of Rights adapted from CSLA Bill of Rights, AASL Bill of Rights and/or ALA Bill of Rights
4) Reviews, both positive and critical, from respected sources such as School Library Journal, VOYA, Booklist
5) Rationale for book inclusion for titles anticipated to be controversial, frequently challenged, or created when a book is challenged including: summary, audience, purpose, controversial issues and how they are handled
6) How the book fits within Common Core Standards or State Standards
7) Reconsideration form for challenger to complete—include a section asking which part was of particular concern, if the entire book was read, and what other similar titles are suggested instead
8) Student reviews from those who have read the book and either enjoyed or disliked the book and why.

Why Included
I had never read Hatchet, but it is a popular book and on school reading lists in my area.  Additionally, it was a 1987 Newbury Honor.

Others in the Series
Brian’s Winter (Book #2- Alternate Ending)
The River (Book # 3)
Brian’s Return (Book #4)
Brian’s Hunt (Book #5)

References
Coyote, P.  (1998) Biography.  Retrieved from http://www.petercoyote.com/biography.html
Random House. (2004).  About gary.  Retrieved from http://www.randomhouse.com/features/garypaulsen/about.html