As his Ceremony of Twelve approaches, Jonas is apprehensive because he has no idea what Assignment he will receive. His parents try to allay his fears by explaining that the committee takes Assignments very seriously, so they rarely make the wrong choices. Meanwhile, Jonas' family begins temporarily caring for a newchild, or infant, named Gabriel. Gabriel is lagging behind the other newchildren in development, so Jonas's father, a Nurturer, decides to care for Gabriel in his home at night in the hopes that it will help Ga

Meanwhile, he learns that a Birthmother is due to have identical twins and that his father will have to choose which of the newborns to "release." The Giver allows Jonas to watch a videotape of the Ceremony of Release. Jonas is horrified to discover that "release" is a euphemism for killing.

When the day of the Ceremonies arrives, Jonas discovers that he has been selected to be the next Receiver of Memory, the position with the highest honor in the community. Ten years before, a girl named Rosemary was chosen, but she failed to live up to expectations. Jonas learns that it is now forbidden to even speak her name aloud. He learns that his training will involve great pain, but that the current Receiver is sure that Jonas is strong enough to endure it. Jonas receives a sheet of instructions informing him that he is not allowed to discuss his training with anyone. He is also exempt from the rules regarding rudeness; he is allowed to ask a question of anyone and receive an answer. He is also permitted to lie. Jonas is both proud and afraid to have been chosen for such an honorable role.

If Gabriel fails to meet the standards of normal development, he will have to be "released." Release of a newchild is a sad event because Jonas' father and the other Nurturers feel that they ha

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