Kerlan Collection

The Book - The Giver by Lois Lowry

Reviews of The Giver:

Campbell, Patty. (November/December 1993). The Sand in the Oyster. Horn Book Magazine, 717-721.

Hipple, Ted & Maupin, Amy B. (January 2001). What's Good About the Best. English Journal, 40-42.

Flowers, Ann A. (July/August 1993). The Giver. Horn Book Magazine, 458.

Kellman, Amy. (May 1993). The Giver. School Library Jornal, 124.

Author Insights into The Giver:

Lowry, Lois. (June 1994). Newberry Award acceptance speech, for The Giver.

Merryman, Kathleen. (February 19, 1997). Literary 'Gifts'/ Children's Author Lois Lowry Draws from Childhood Memories to GIve Every Reader Something Personal. Tacoma Washington News Tribune, FM1.

Author Insights into writing:

Lowry, Lois. (May 4, 2001). The Remembered Gate and the Unopened Door. Sutherland Lecture given at the Chicago Public Library.

What Readers Say About The Giver:

Giannini, Robert. (November 24, 1993). From the Dean.... Bulletin from Christ Church Cathedral, 1-2.

A letter to Lois Lowry from a sixth grade teacher.

(October 19, 2003). Lois Lowry Remains True to Her Readers; Young Readers Share Lessons They've Learned from Lois Lowry's Books. Chicago Tribune, 4.

Kids from all over the world write responses to The Giver on the Reading Matters website.

Negative Responses to The Giver and Other Books by Lois Lowry:

www.trosch.org/rel/antichrist_teachings.html. Website that accuses Lois Lowry of "antichrist teachings".

Pedry, Dave & Pedry, Danna. Blume, Lowry Novels as Corrupt as Playboy. Column referred to by Lois Lowry in the newspaper article, titled "Author Sets Minds Thinking", published 9/28/01 in the Worchester, Massachusetts Telegram & Gazette.

Portion of a letter sent to Lois Lowry, about The Giver, by a parent.

Letter sent to Lois Lowry about Number the Stars and Ms. Lowry's reply to that writer.

The Challenge

The original letter of complaint to Ramona Middle School in the Bonita Unified School District.

Some Other Challenges to The Giver:

(January 6, 2005). Blue Springs Parents Call for Ouster of 'The Giver' from Reading Lists. Associated Press State & Local Wire.

(March 15, 2005). Blue Springs School Board Keeps 'The Giver' on List. U.P.I..

Challenges to The Giver. From www.northern.edu/hastingsw/Giver.html.

Clark, Sandra. (February 22, 1999). Parents Protest Assigned Reading Book Contains Sex, Death Themes. Cleveland Plain Dealer, 1.B.

Eyman, Scott. (July 6, 1997). Book Ban Again Robs School Kids. Palm Beach Post, 1.J.

Flannery, Mary Ellen. (June 19, 1997). Parents Want 'The Giver' Off the Shelves. Palm Beach Post, 1.B.

(July 20, 2001). Suicide Book Challenged in Schools. USA Today.

The Response

From the School District:

A memo from the school board to the Bonita Unified School District.

Bonita Unified School District policy on challenged materials at the time of the complaint.

From Teachers:

A speech, given 12/14/94 by an elementary school teacher in the district, at a school board meeting for the Bonita Unified School District.

A letter to the school district from the Bonita Unified Teachers Association.

A letter to Lois Lowry, about the challenge, from the Bonita Unified Teachers Association.

A letter to Lois Lowry, about the challenge, from a media specialist in the Bonita Unified School District.

From the Community:

A statement to the Bonita Unified School Board, from a community member, about the challenge.

A letter to the Daily Bulletin, about the coverage of the challenge, from a community member.

A letter to Lois Lowry's editor, about the challenge, from a community member.

The Author's Response

About the censorship of The Giver:

Guerriero, Lisa. (September 28, 2001). Author Sets Minds Thinking; Lowry Doesn't Avoid Controversial Topics Worchester, Massachusetts Telegram & Gazette, B.1.

Lowry, Lois. (March, 2005). How Everything Turns Away. Speech given at the University of Richmond.

Malone, Jann. (March 13, 2005). Some Want Us all to Read the Book; Others Want to Keep It from Us. Richmond Times Dispatch, G-1.

Penhollow Steve. (June 1, 2003). A Road Not Taken Noted Children's Book Author Explores Toucht Subjects. Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette, 1.E.

Reinstadler, Kim. (April 21, 2000). Book Ban Puzzling to Author of 'The Giver'. Grand Rapids Press, A.1.

Riggs, Doug. (February 25, 2001). Lois Lowry Tries to Tell the Truth to Kids. Providence Journal, E.01.

About Intellectual Freedom:

Apseloff, Marilyn Fain. (1996). Lois Lowry: Facing the Censors. Para-Doxa, 480-485.

Lowry, Lois. Trusting the Reader.

The Outcome

The Giver was retained by the Bonita Unified School District for use in the middle school curriculum. The book was kept on the shelves in all schools in the district.