1. Rueful (adj.)

The giver gave a rueful, anguished, empty laugh. (pg. 154)

My guess: sad

Definition: Expressing sorrow or regret, especially in a wry or humorous way

2. Hunched

The Giver rubbed Jonas’s hunched shoulder. (Pg 154)

Guess: uncomfortable

Definition: raise (one’s shoulders) and bend the top of one’s body forward.

3. Errand (noun)

When the driver and vehicle arrived, The Giver would send the driver on some brief errand. (pg. 160)

My guess: task

Definition: A short journey undertaken in order to deliver or collect something, especially on someone else’s behalf

4. Solace (noun)

Confronted by a situation which they had never faced before, and having no memories from which to find either solace or wisdom, they would not know what to do and would seek his advice. (pg. 161)

My guess: cheer

Definition: Comfort or consolation in a time of great distress or sadness

5. Meticulously ( pg.163 )

All of it-all the things they had thought through so meticulously-fell apart.

Guess: confused

Definition: fussy

6. Dwelling

Jonas would secretly leave his dwelling. (pg 158)

Guess: a place

Definition: a house, apartment, or other place of residence.

7. Frazzled (adj.)

They were really frazzled by the time I got to work. (pg.164)

My guess: complain

Definition: Completely exhausted

8. Condemned 

He thought of the rules he had broken so far: enough that if he were caught, now, he would be condemned. (pg. 165)

My guess: trouble

Definition: Sentence (someone) to a particular punishment, especially death

9. Transgression 

A major transgression. (pg. 165)

My guess: violent

Definition: An act that goes against a law, rule, or code of conduct; an offence

10. Taut 

His leg muscles were taut now. (pg. 168)

My guess: very hurt

Definition: (Especially of muscles or nerves) tense; not relaxed

 

For chapters 20-23, Lily asked us 5 questions:

1. What did The Giver and Jonas planned?

2. Who is The Giver’s daughter?

3. Why did Jonas brought Gabriel with him? What is the purpose?

4. Why did the landscape changed?

5. If you were Jonas, would you continue to go on or come back home? Why?

 

They were great questions and we kinda got similar answers to each other.

Kelvin, the Reflector, thinks that chapters 20-23 was kind of a twist, starting from the part where the author reveals that Rosemary, the previous failed Receiver, is The Giver’s daughter. And where Jonas and The Giver made a plan to flee away from the Community. Throughout the chapters, Kelvin said he felt kinda painful and sad. As Kelvin was reading through these chapters, he kept thinking of how much Jonas has grown and be more matured over time. Using clues from the text, Kelvin thinks that the ending is going to be a happy one.

This week’s connector is Meg. She says that the part where Jonas and The Giver planned to escape reminds her of when her dad told her and her sister to plan what to do for their summer. And when Jonas sneaked out in the middle of night and took Gabriel and his father’s bicycle with him, it reminds Meg of when she couldn’t sleep or can’t do any of her homework, she would secretly open the door and going out to take a bike ride.

For this week, Jessica chose 10 words that are great:

1. Rueful

2. Hunched

3. Errand

4. Solace

5. Meticulously

6. Dwelling

7. Frazzled

8. Condemned

9. Transgression

10. Taut

So chapter 20-22 in my opinion was a bit of twist and turn chapters… Starting with the little surprise that we had at the end of chapter 20, revealing that the previous Receiver (Rosemary) was the Giver’s daughter. We also found out that Gabriel was going to be released too and that Jonas is plotting to run away to Elsewhere. So much events! Anyway, this makes the mood of the last 2 chapters for me rather painful and sad because Jonas has to leave his closest friends (the Giver, Asher, Fiona…) behind as he goes on his perilous journey to Elsewhere. Also, as I read more about the details of his journey, I felt admiration and pity at the same time for Jonas, as he also took Gabriel with him to Elsewhere, a nearly fatal but brave task as it meant sharing his already meager food rations. I felt pity for Gabriel as he has to go through so much even when he’s barely a baby: starvation, coldness, weakness…

As I read through this, I kept thinking of how much Jonas has matured and grown, starting from the near emotionless, Community citizen to someone willing to break a lot of major rules to save another person and able to feel real genuine emotions about the world around him. It’s such a big and interesting change in the main character… Also as Jonas was on his journey, starving and weakened from the wild,  I kind of kept thinking of Bear Grylls and how easy he probably makes survival in the wild seems…

And finally, using clues from the text, I think that the ending of the book will be a happy one (also because I like happy endings in long books). Because he can hear music and singing, it is hinting to the fact that Jonas probably arrive at Elsewhere weak but alive, smack right in the middle of Christmas because it is winter and he left at the DECEMBER ceremony (pg. 158). Although it makes sense that because of the ending layout, some readers may think that the two of them died happily listening to music on top of a snowy hill. But even Lois Lowry (the author) in an interview at the back of the book said that she preferred to think that the two of them reached Elsewhere alive.

 

1. What did The Giver and Jonas planned?

2. Who is The Giver’s daughter?

3. Why did Jonas brought Gabriel with him? What is the purpose?

4. Why did the landscape changed?

5.  If you were Jonas, would you continue to go on or come back home? Why?

The discussion director asked us the following questions :

1.  What is release in actuality? How do you feel about it now?

2. Who was the previous failed Receiver? Why was she a failure?

3. Why was Jonas in such distraught when he saw his Asher playing his war game?

4. Why do you think the videos of release are only available to the Receiver and Elders?

5. If you had to bear all these memories of pain, terror, war, loss, and loneliness, do you think you could have kept going or applied for release? Why?

So far, only me, Jessica and Mickey answered the discussion director’s question. Jessica did a really awesome job on connecting the part Jonas and Asher argued about the video games to the part when Jessica yelled at Tommy – her younger brother while he is playing on his video game. The connections were very realistic. The visualizer didn’t do his/her job yet.

1.So after Jonas see his father release a baby(Killing it), Jonas get upset with his father and decide to never see him again. So instead he gonna stay with the Giver until they found a solution to stop all of this. After 1 hour, the Giver told him that baby Gabriel will be release tommorow. Jonas was very worried about Gab(Gabriel) so he prepared to leave the city.  Jonas keep thinking about the release and why is his father kill an innocent baby. Instead of running away Jonas try to reasoning with him and try to tell him that he just kill an innocent baby, but it turn out his father does not believe in Jonas reason. His father tell the Elder that Jonas been acting very strange and decide to capture him. But that won’t stop Jonas from running away. Later that night, while Jonas been hunt, he came in Gab room and grab him and run away. The Elder see him and try to send guard after him. Finally Jonas has lost the guard and sneak around to find the elsewhere. The Elder would suspect the Giver try to hide him so they prison the Giver. As the Giver in prison, Jonas has go pass the security and made it through the Elsewhere.  He’s have to travel through the rocky mountain and snow to cross the boundaries of the memories. Everyone get their memories back and Jonas instead of going back, he travel to find other thing.

2.When i read this section i feel sorry for the kid that got release by the father. I also feel very angry and sad for her too.

3. I think that his father should get arrested for murdering the children and Jonas should calm down instead of panicking.

4. Jonas, he’s a a very calm boy in the beginning of the book, and then after receiving the memories, his personality change a lot.

5.The big ideas in this chapter that explain Jonas what is releasing like and what is it look like.

6. It make me feel nervous for Jonas because i don’t know what he’s gonna do next. Is he gonna attack his family or just run away.

7. I think that Jonas gonna grab Gabriel and run away after he begin to calm down.

 

1) The part when Jonas and Asher argued about the video games make a big connecction to me. It reminds me of tommy when I yelled at him while he’s playing on his video game.

2) At home tommy and me argued of video game like Jonas and Asher argued because of video game.

3) A character that makes me remind of is Harry Potter because Harry Potter like to discovered new things like Jonas.

4) Jerry Spinelli is the author of Manic Magee and Lois Lowry is the author of the The Giver they have the same in common because they enjoy writing adventure book and journey book.

5) It related to the chapter before because they talk about the friendship between Jonas and Asher.

Here are the words for this week:

 

1. Realm (p.131):

Sentence – “And his new, heightened feelings permeated a greater realm than simply his sleep.”

Guessed Definition – A thought.

Dictionary Definition – A field or domain of activity or interest.

 

2. Exasperation (p.132):

Sentence – “But Lily had not felt anger, Jonas realized now. Shallow impatience and exasperation, that was all Lily had felt.”

Guessed Definition – Desperation of some kind.

Dictionary Definition – A feeling of intense irritation or annoyance.

 

3. Strewn (p.132):

Sentence – “Nearby, other bikes were strewn about on the ground.”

Guessed Definition – Laid out in a messy way.

Dictionary Definition – Scatter or spread untidily over a surface or area.

 

4. Ambush (p.133):

Sentence – “”Blam! You’re in my line of ambush, Jonas! Watch out!””

Guessed Definition – A dangerous area.

Dictionary Definition – A surprise attack by people lying in wait in a concealed position.

 

5. Suppressing (p.133):

Sentence – “They dropped to the ground and lay suppressing giggles.”

Guessed Definition – Stay still in a position.

Dictionary Definition – To put an end to something forcibly.

 

6. Dejected (p.139):

Sentence – “Jonas said in a dejected voice.”

Guessed Definition – Heavily spoke.

Dictionary Definition – Sad and depressed.

 

7. Serene (p.140):

Sentence – “”She was a remarkable young woman. Very self-possessed and serene. Intelligent, eager to learn.””

Guessed Definition – Careful and cautious.

Dictionary Definition – Calm, peaceful, and untroubled.

 

8. Luminous (p.141):

Sentence – “”The explanations are difficult. The whole thing is so beyond one’s experience. But I tried. And she listened carefully. Her eyes were very luminous, I remember.””

Guessed Definition – Beautiful.

Dictionary Definition – Full of or shedding light; bright or shining, especially in the dark.

 

9. Ruefully (p.141):

Sentence – “The Giver chuckled ruefully.”

Guessed Definition – Full of happiness.

Dictionary Definition – Causing sorrow or pity, in a manner of expressing pain.

 

10. Faltered (p.141):

Sentence – “His voice faltered and trailed off.”

Guessed Definition – Slow down.

Dictionary Definition – Speak in a hesitant or unsteady voice.