Lois Lowry was born Lois Hammersberg in Honolulu, Hawaii on March 20 th, 1937. She was born the middle of three children, Helen (deceased 1977) and Jon. Her father was a U.S. Army dentist and she lived in New York, Pennsylvania, and Japan during her childhood. At age 19, she married Donald Lowry, a U.S. Navy officer. Together they moved frequently and lived in California, Connecticut, Florida, South Carolina, Massachusetts, and Maine. Her and her husband had four children, Grey (deceased 1995), Benjamin, Alix, and Kristin. Lowry obtained her Master s degree in English Literature from the University of Southern Maine in 1972. She wrote her first book, A Summer to Die, a fictionalized retelling of the early death of her sister, shortly after. Houghton Mifflin published the book in 1977. Later that year Lowry and her husband divorced. She soon met Martin Small and they spent 30 years together until he passed away in the spring of 2011. Lowry was awarded a Newbery Medal in 1990 (Number the Stars) and in 1994 (The Giver). When asked about her writing, Lowry stated, My books have varied in content and style. Yet it seems that all of them deal, essentially, with the same general theme: the importance of human connections. The Giver quartet is broader in scope than my earlier books, but it nonetheless speaks to the same concern: the vital need of people to be aware of their interdependence, not only with each other, but also with the world and its environment. I try, through writing, to convey my passionate awareness that we live intertwined on this planet and that our future depends upon our caring more, and doing more, for one another. Lowry currently resides in Massachusetts and enjoys reading, spending time with her grandchildren, and playing with her Tibetan terrier, Alfie.
The Giver Quartet The Giver (1993) Gathering Blue (2000) Messenger (2004) Son (2012) Anastasia Series Anastasia Krupnik (1979) Anastasia Again! (1981) Anastasia at Your Service (1982) Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst (1984) Anastasia on Her Own (1985) Anastasia Has the Answers (1986) Anastasia's Chosen Career (1987) Anastasia at This Address (1991) Anastasia Absolutely (1995) Autobiography Looking Back (1998) Books Sam Krupnik Series All About Sam (1988) Attaboy Sam! (1992) See You Around, Sam! (1996) Zooman Sam (1999) Tate Family Series The One Hundredth Thing About Caroline (1983) Switcharound (1985) Your Move, J.P.! (1990) Gooney Bird Series Gooney Bird Greene (2002) Gooney Bird and the Room Mother (2006) Gooney the Fabulous (2007) Gooney Bird Is So Absurd (2009) Gooney Bird on the Map (2011) Other A Summer to Die (1977) Find a Stranger, Say Goodbye (1978) Autumn Street (1980) Taking Care of Terrific (1983) Us and Uncle Fraud (1984) Rabble Starkey (1987) Number the Stars (1989) Stay! Keeper's Story (1997) The Silent Boy (2003) Gossamer (2006) The Willoughbys (2008) Crow Call (2009) The Birthday Ball (2010) Bless This Mouse (2011) Like the Willow Tree (2011)
ACTIVITY (This activity would be used to introduce The Giver to students.) Lois Lowry s book, The Giver, is set in a futuristic dystopian society. There are many underlying themes throughout the book, including lying, pain, community, and society. In order to compare your thoughts about these themes before and after reading the book, read and respond to the statements below. Write whether or not you agree with the statement and a brief sentence or two of why you feel that way. The statements are meant to be thought provoking and opinion-based. When you re finished writing, you may open up the corresponding envelopes and place your papers inside. You may also read what others have written.
Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school). Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school). Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school). Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school). Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school). Your society cares about you and has the best interests of your future in mind when it makes you do things (e.g. like school).
It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people. It is okay to lie to people.
We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain. We would be better off without pain.
Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities. Small communities are better than super large communities.