This was a revisiting of my teenage years. I read this book when I was around 13 and it left a huge impression on me. It was probably the book that nudged open the door to loving science fiction and dystopian literature. The book takes place in a community that is dominated by rules and roles, with each child being given a specific role or career to pursue from the age of 12. The protagonist of the story is given the role of 'the receiver', the person in the community who receives memories, not only the memories of the community but also of the outside world but also of the generations that came before. Receiving the memories throws Jonas' whole world into disarray and forces him to question everything that he had assumed to be true.
This was a really quick read, probably partly as I'd read it before. I was surprised at how much I remembered, which shows how much of an impact the book made on me. I've now passed it on to a friend to see if her son would be interested in reading it. I'd be really interested to hear whether the book still has an impact on a young person or whether it has dated a little.
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