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Jonas: Curious, observant, approaching age 12

Lily: Jonas’s younger sister, talkative and blunt

Mother: Works in the Department of Justice, strict but kind

Father: A Nurturer, gentle and compassionate

Gabriel: Newchild who struggles to sleep, taken home by Jonas’s family

Asher: Jonas’s playful and careless best friend

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The story begins with Jonas, an eleven-year-old boy who is feeling uneasy as he approaches a significant event in his community: the Ceremony of Twelve. This annual ceremony marks the transition from childhood to assigned adult roles. One day, a mysterious plane flies over the community, and it causes widespread panic because such incidents are rare and strictly forbidden. That evening, Jonas’s family participates in their daily ritual of sharing feelings. Jonas expresses his apprehension about the upcoming ceremony. This chapter is an introduction to the controlled, rule-bound society in which Jonas lives, where every emotion, action, and decision is monitored and regulated.

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The day after sharing his feelings, Jonas has a conversation with his parents about the upcoming Ceremony of Twelve. While most people feel nervous about not knowing their assignment, everyone is ultimately expected to trust the wisdom of the Committee of Elders. Jonas's parents emphasize the importance of fitting into the community and accepting the path chosen for him. There is an emphasis on the community’s philosophy of eliminating personal choice in favor of social harmony and order. Jonas begins to wonder what his role will be and what the future holds for him.

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When his father brings home a baby named Gabriel for extra care, Jonas is surprised to see that the baby has light eyes just like him. In their community, most people have dark eyes, and pale eyes are rare. This similarity creates a mysterious connection between Jonas and Gabriel. Later, while playing catch with an apple, Jonas notices something strange, which introduces the idea that Jonas may be starting to perceive things differently from those around him, hinting at abilities he does not yet understand.

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Jonas spends time doing volunteer work at the House of the Old, where he helps bathe an elderly woman named Larissa. He enjoys this peaceful task and talks to Larissa about the recent Release of another elderly person, which raises further questions about how life and death are handled in such a controlled world.

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The fifth chapter begins with another family ritual: the sharing of dreams. When it is Jonas’s turn, he talks about a strange dream involving Fiona, a girl his age. In the dream, he has feelings of desire. His mother told him that those dreams are called the “Stirrings,” a natural part of growing up. In their society, however, feelings of attraction are suppressed with medication. Jonas is told to begin taking a daily pill to stop the Stirrings, and he agrees without question.