The Giver tries to paint a very unique setting but fails to be interesting. A lot of the subjects which the story tries to be critical of just aren't really engaging or relevant in modern society; at the very least, these are subjects best addressed through other books or mediums. This story also reminds me of a lot of the shortcomings of Ray Bradbury's writing, where we are supposed to take for granted that the story is good because it tries to send a good message. From the perspective of the characters and entertainment value, The Giver is straight up boring no matter how you spin it. Try to dig a little deeper for some better Sci-Fi dystopias if you can.

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