The Giver
by Lois Lowry
- Lexile
- 760L
- Grade range
- Grades 6–8
- Age range
- Ages 11–14
- Pages
- 179
- First published
- 1993
- Genre
- Dystopian Fiction
- ISBN-13
- 9780544336261
About this book
Twelve-year-old Jonas lives in a community that has eliminated pain, conflict, and choice. When he is selected to receive the memories of the world as it used to be, he begins to understand what his society has given up. The Newbery Medal winner is a standard middle-school introduction to dystopian fiction and a frequent Common Core grade 6–7 text.
Themes
- conformity vs individuality
- memory
- utopia and dystopia
- coming of age
- freedom of choice
Content notes
- euthanasia (implied and described)
- infanticide (implied)
Common Sense Media recommends age 12+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 7th gradesource: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 6-8 exemplar
- recommended· 7th gradesource: Common Core aligned summer-reading list — rising 7th grade
- recommended· 7th grade · Californiasource: CA CCSS ELA grade 7 aligned reading
- recommended· 7th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Learning Standards grade 7 aligned reading
- recommended· 7th grade · Texassource: TEKS grade 7 frequently taught text
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is The Giver?
- The Giver is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 6–8, with a Lexile measure of 760L. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What is the Lexile level of The Giver?
- The Giver has a Lexile measure of 760L according to MetaMetrics. Lexile measures text complexity, not content maturity — check the grade range and content notes separately for age-appropriateness.
- What curricula assign The Giver?
- The Giver appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is The Giver banned in schools?
- The Giver has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 3 states (TX, FL, MO) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does The Giver explore?
- Central themes in The Giver include conformity vs individuality, memory, utopia and dystopia, coming of age, freedom of choice. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.