The Giver

Chapter 1.

Reminds me of the Sci-fi movie Serendity. The movie showed the failed attempt by a group known as the Alliance that set out to build a Utopian society made up of compliant people. They chose to gas the populace on earth-like planets that had been terra-formed to achieve this goal. However, it all goes horribly wrong when 90% of the 30 million people on the planet die literally on the spot. The plot thickens when investigations show that the remaining 10% due to aggressive genes they possess, mutate and become an unstoppable rabble of ferocious cannibalistic nomads not unlike Genghis Khan's Mongols. They do retain the capacity to operate sophisticated spaceships and devise strategies to wage war with the Alliance. They are given the name Weavers

The Giver has some in-house language like "released" where one is cast out into oblivion for not toeing the line or a major infraction. In the first chapter, this happens to a rookie pilot who actually flies over the community which is a 'No Fly'zone twice.

There is some ironic wit in this chapter with regard to the pilot's infraction 'NEEDLESS TO SAY, HE WILL BE RELEASED' (page 2)

There is a mandatory sharing of feelings in Jonas' family made up of exactly two parents, a boy and a girl. This family setup is mandated by law. At least the authorities in the book got it right about the importance of family when it passes into law that all families are to share their feelings among themselves every day. It is interesting way to gain insight into the Jonas' family. His father is a Nurturer who is disturbed that a child who seems to suffer from developmental delay might be turned out. The mother is highly placed in the court system and actually presides over cases. She seems rather despondent that a man was willing to be released despite being given a second chance. Lily, her younger sister, relates an incident in her playground where visitors did not queue to use a particular playground equipment. This became a teachable point that her parents used to show tolerance for differences in practices and perspectives. For Jonas, it was a feeling of uneasiness and apprehension of having been selected over many others to came under the tutelage of the Giver. This sets things up quite nicely for Chapter 2 to explore Jonas' sense of uneasiness.