Jonas has a good attitude about volunteer hours. He works hard and tries different jobs to see what he likes. He doesn’t complain and follows the rules. This shows he is responsible and wants to help. It also shows that his society is very organized and wants everyone to do their part.

The Ceremony of Nine is when children get their first bike. It is important because it shows they are growing up and becoming more independent. In Jonas’s community, riding a bike means you can go places by yourself. When Lily had her Ceremony of Nine, her family celebrated by talking about how she was getting older. They were proud of her. This shows that even in a strict community, families still care and want to make special moments.

We learn that families in Jonas’s community are not made by love. Parents ask for a spouse, and later ask for a child. Babies are born by Birthmothers and given to families by the Committee. Families are matched to go well together.

Petulantly

Bewildered

Tunic

Mystified

Dwelling

Sollem

Jonas lies on a bed in the Annex and the old man places his hands on his back to give him a memory. He feels cold air and snow, sees a sled, and slides down a hill even though he has never seen those beforeAfter the memory ends Jonas asks why there are no snow or hills in his world, and the man says they removed those things when they chose Sameness and used climate control. Next the man gives a memory of warm sunshine, and Jonas says the word sunshine for the first time. Then the man gives him a sunburn memory so that Jonas feels pain and knows that more pain will come in his training. At the end the man says Jonas is now the Receiver of Memory and he must call him The Giver.