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Giver
Another Newbery Award (1994) winner from the author of Number the Stars. A remarkable coming-of-age story about a young man who overcomes his society. Set in a "utopian" or "dystopian" (depending on your point of view!) society which is extremely regulated and controlled, Jonas is selected for the very special job of becoming the Receiver of Memory in this story about a community of the future. When Jonas realizes; however, what has been lost and the price of conformity, he makes a daring decision that will forever change his life. Our whole family read this book, finding it an excellent starting point for frank discussion of individuality and responsibility vs. security and homogeneity.
