Excerpt
An Excerpt from The Giver
"Jonas," she said, speaking not to him alone but to the entire community
of which he was a part, "you will be trained to be our next Receiver of
Memory. We thank you for your childhood."
Then she turned and left the stage, left him there alone, standing and
facing the crowd, which began spontaneously the collective murmur of his
"Jonas." It was a whisper at first: hushed, barely audible. "Jonas. Jonas."
Then louder, faster. "JONAS. JONAS. JONAS."
With the chant, Jonas knew, the community was accepting him and his new
role, giving him life, the way they had given it to the newchild Caleb.
His heart swelled with gratitude and pride.
But at the same time he was filled with fear. He did not know what his
selection meant. He did not know what he was to become.
Or what would become of him.