Kara and Virginia join the other Book Interrupted ladies for the banned book “The Giver” by Lois Lowry.  This novel has been banned for violence, sexual references, infanticide, euthanasia and suicide. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book and continue in the group discussion. The women discuss utopia vs dystopia, family sharing time, sameness, the excuse of safety, free childhoods and ‘observers’ choosing vocations.

This book is on the American Library Association's most frequently challenged and banned books list from 1990 to 2009.

Discussion Points:

• How the book reveals the “world” slowly


• The fear of spoilers


• Is it a utopia or a dystopia


• Family sharing time


• Control and sameness


• Kids are capable of more


• The excuse of safety


• Restricted vs free childhoods


• Observers deciding on an individuals vocation

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Book Interrupted Website  

Book Interrupted YouTube Channel 

Book Interrupted Facebook Book Club Group 

The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver Film

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins 

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie

Julie and Julia by Julie Powell

My Life in France by Julia Child

Hunt Gather Parent by Michaeleen Doucleff 

The Matrix

Under the Tuscan Sun 

Chocolat 

What Florida Doesn’t Want You to Know About Its Book Bans by Jodi Picoult