Great book, quick and adventurous with a surprise ending. Nice when you need a shorter book for a shorter month.

While I can't say I liked this book at all, this still remains the book our book club talked the most about because of the interpretable ending....so although I wouldn't read it again, I did enjoy talking about it. Sometimes books that aren't liked can make for some interesting discussions.

Great book. It is typically a children's book - usually 5th grade and above but, like many children's books, it is thought provoking and really makes you think!

I really, really liked this book. It is another “Big Brother” story similar to Fahrenheit 451 or 1984. Scary, scary.

Jonas is eleven years old. When he is twelve, he will receive his “assignment” or job from the Elders of his community. Everything is decided by the Elders. Who marries whom. Which occupation you will have. Which children you will raise. And even who has to be “released” from the community. When Jonas is selected for a special position that only one other person in the community has, it is considered a very high honor. What Jonas discovers about this “honor” changes his life completely.

I read this for the Banned Book Challenge. I’m not sure why it would be contested. Perhaps because there is some talk about the “stirrings” of beginning s* x u ality in Jonas. I didn’t have a problem with this, but I’m really glad I read it before I gave it to my 13 and 12 year old sons to read. This book will make for a great discussion.