The Giver, written by Lois Lowry, is a timeless classic that has captured the hearts of many readers worldwide. The novel features a dystopian society where emotions and colors are unknown, and the government controls everything. It tells the story of a young boy named Jonas and his journey towards finding his identity and discovering the truth. If you are a lover of The Giver and want other captivating books like it, you’re in the right place. In this blog post, we discuss five books like The Giver to get your reading (and heart) pumping.
The Maze Runner by James Dashner – dystopian YA similar to The Giver
Ever see the movie of this epic book. This might sound like a cliche, but the book is WAY better. A group of teenage boys find themselves trapped in a maze and must discover an escape route. Suspense, and unexpected twists keep you on your toe. It speaks to the same themes as The Giver in struggling to find your identity and discovering the truth. Run into the Maze here.
1984 by George Orwell – a classic book like The Giver
The government controls everything and eliminates individuality in this classic masterpiece set in a totalitarian society. The story follows the journey of Winston Smith as he starts to question the society he lives in. 1984 is dark, intelligent, and more relevant than it’s ever been . It speaks to the same themes as The Giver in regards to the struggle for individuality, discovering the truth, and rebelling against the government.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins – books like The Giver #4
This book started the smash hit movies starring Jennifer Lawrence. Society has been divided people into districts and compels children to participate in a fight to the death. The story follows the journey of Katniss Everdeen as she fights for survival and discovers the truth about her world. It speaks to the same themes as The Giver in regards to the struggle for individuality, finding allies, and overthrowing the government. We recommend listening to it on Audiobook. An absolute cracker!
The Selection by Kiera Cass – our #1 alternative pick for books like The Giver
In this NYT best-seller, society is divided into castes. The ruling monarch selects their spouse from a pool of candidates. The story follows the journey of America Singer – lower caste girl chosen to compete for the prince’s heart. The Selection speaks to the same themes as The Giver. In it you’ll find the struggle for individuality, finding love, and living in a restricted society. A slightly lighter read than The Giver, this romance with dystopian undertones is an absolute heart stopper. Find it here!
Divergent by Veronica Roth
This book is set in a society where people are divided into factions based on their personality traits. The story follows the journey of Tris Prior as she struggles to fit into her chosen faction while discovering the truth about her society. It vibrantly explores the same themes as The Giver. These include, the struggle for individuality, fitting in, and overthrowing the government. Read it here.
Lois Lowry’s The Giver is a captivating book that has inspired many other dystopian novels. If you are a lover of The Giver, these five books like The Giver are sure to capture your heart. Each of them speak to the same themes. Each will also leave you on the edge of your seat. Try them out and discover a new world of dystopian literature.
