The Giver

Lois Lowry

I was a little disappointed with the ending of the story. I guess I expected a little more. I am curious what others think.

The ending is hard for some....
The author indirectly asks you: what happened to Jonas and Gabe?
You have to apply what you've learned in the story.

They either died (from hypothermia, malnourishment, and exhaustion) or they lived and made it to Elsewhere (after sliding down the hill in the sled, they came upon a house during Christmas time - as described to Jonas by the Giver).

Lois Lowry lets you decide...but I think they died. There are too many indicators that point to death. I believe Jonas slips into a hypothermic sleep right before he gets to the top of the hill... what we know after that is his last thoughts... including the very last thing: music. Jonas can only experience these things through what the Giver showed him... Jonas never heard music.... he only knew of it through the Giver...

I am a middle school teacher... I teach this novel to my 7th graders. Many hate it because of the unclear ending... I love it for it. Reread it again... pay close attention to the details.

Ask yourself "Why did the author do this?" question when reading (or just WHY?)... it helps you to unearth a lot of the unspoken, or unwritten, details...

I hope this helps :)

I was leaning toward their death, too. It really makes more sense than thinking that they just barely made it. However, I want to believe that they made it. I guess it is my logical mind versus my heart... :)

I home school my 6th grader and he is reading this. I read it before him (really I couldn't put it down). The ending just really through me for a loop. I wasn't expecting it at all!

If you read the two sequels to The Giver you find out that Jonas lived and became the leader of the village he came to. The first sequel, Gathering Blue, is really only a companion novel and doesn't mention Jonas directly. The third book, Messenger, ties the two previous stories together and Jonas is a main character in that one, although he goes by the name Leader. You learn both he and Gabe survived. Hope this helps.

oh wow! I read this book about ten years ago in high school but never followed up on whether there were any sequels! So glad I saw this thread! The ending also bothered me and I realized it was because the author was hinting at Jonas and Gabe dying...pickin up on the music cue that April mentions above. I can't wait to read the other two novels this many years later!

I didn't realize there were sequels. I will be reading them. Thanks so much!!!

thank you for this information: now that I know, I plan to oder Gather Blue and Messenger today and to read them as soon as possible. I loved The Giver, and had thought there was a definite possibility that they had made it.

thank you for this information: now that I know, I plan to oder Gather Blue and Messenger today and to read them as soon as possible. I loved The Giver, and had thought there was a definite possibility that they had made it.