Messenger 

• Genre: Fiction; young adult fantasy
• Originally Published: 2004 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 720L; grades 5-9 
• Structure/Length: 21 chapters; approximately 169 pages; approximately 3 hours, 44 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The story features Matty, a young boy with a gift of healing in a utopian community known as Village. As Village begins to close itself off to outsiders, Matty’s world is turned upside down. The central conflict revolves around Matty’s journey to deliver a message of openness and hope, and his discovery of the true nature of his gift amidst the growing hostility and fear in the Village. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of exclusion and community breakdown; moral dilemmas; mild fantasy violence; exploration of societal change and individual responsibility

Lois Lowry, Author 

• Bio: Born 1937; acclaimed American author known for her versatility in writing for children and young adults; often tackles themes of ethics, dystopia, and human connections; winner of numerous literary awards; a prominent figure in children’s literature 
• Other Works: Number the Stars (1989); The Giver (1993); Gathering Blue (2000); Son (2012)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• Honesty, Openness, and Secrets
• Selfishness Versus the Collective Good
• Identity, Diversity, and Difference

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the literary and social contexts regarding Lois Lowry’s The Giver Quartet, the role of setting in literature, and characteristics of utopian and dystopian societies that drive conflict and events in the novel.