I wrote two of these reviews for a course on young adult literature. The Giver and The Owl Service were classified as classic young adult novels for the purpose of that course. I read The Hero and the Crown earlier this year as part of Julie @ Smiling Shelves’ Newbery Challenge. I thought that meant it would be middle grade, but it felt the most young adult of these three books. The line between middle grade and young adult has shifted some since these books were published. I have noted my own opinion on age suitability below.
The Giver by Lois Lowry
Format/source: Hardcover/Library
Published: 1993
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Length: 208 pages
Genre: Dystopian
Target Age: Middle grade (suitable for 10+)
#OwnVoices: N/A
Content Warnings: Infant euthanasia
★★½
Jonas has lived a comfortable life, governed by a planned life cycle, routine, and rules that everyone follows without problem. Now that he’s about to turn twelve, he’s excited to received his Assignment – the job he will train for and undertake for the rest of his life. Jonas does not receive an ordinary assignment, however. He has been selected to become the Giver, a mysterious yet highly honoured role. As Jonas undertakes his training, he begins to learn unsavoury truths about the community in which he lives, because he is now one of only two people in the community who experience feelings because of the memories he’s received from the Giver. With the help of the Giver, Jonas undertakes a plan to restore the community’s memories.
I finally understand why this text was so lauded when it was released. Tension builds as Jonas’ world begins to seem less and less idyllic to the reader, particularly when the truth of releasing is finally revealed. Jonas’ community exemplifies what might happen when humanity goes too far in protecting itself from negative feelings or experiences. This slow build to horror may capture readers’ curiosity. The ambiguous ending may frustrate readers like myself, though it leaves room to exercise one’s imagination.
When compared to the dystopic young adult novels available in today’s market, The Giver may seem like light reading, but it remains a solid introduction to the genre and a way to open up explorations of authority, obedience, and the necessity of pain.
The Owl Service by Alan Garner
Format/source: Hardcover/Library
Published: 1967
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Length: 240 pages
Genre: Speculative fiction
Target Age: Young adult (suitable for 12+)
#OwnVoices: N/A
Content Warnings: N/A
★★½
Allison and her stepbrother Roger are holidaying at their family cottage in Wales, where they also play with Gwyn, the caretaker’s son. When they discover a dinner service in the attic, Allison begins to make paper owls from the design on the dinner service – owls which mysteriously vanish. The discovery of the dinner services sets off a series of supernatural events that strain the relationships between the trio as they discover they are cursed to re-enact a doomed love triangle.
The Owl Service had been on my to-read list for many years, and I looked forward to reading this notable work of fantasy for young people. Unfortunately, The Owl Service proved to be a frustrating read for me (this coming from a serious Tolkien and middle grade fantasy fan). I never felt a clear sense of what was going on between the mythology-inspired love ‘triangle’ and the class tensions between Gwyn, Allison and Roger. I would have missed the nuances of those concepts had I not known about them ahead of time. Possibly this is my failure as a reader who had hoped for a different kind of story. I’m inclined to agree with the Kirkus review that calls The Owl Service “an uncommon book for uncommon readers of some maturity”. Some young readers may appreciate the dramatic mythological backdrop or the fraught relationships between teenage friends, but I felt the dated dialogue and lengthy reveal prevented me from connecting with this book.
While this book may have been notable for its depiction of Welsh mythology and class differences, removed from its original context, I don’t think it holds much appeal for teen readers today.
The Hero and the Crown by Robin McKinley
Format/source: eBook/Library
Published: 1984
Publisher: Puffin Books
Length: 246 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Target Age: Young adult (suitable for 13+)
#OwnVoices: N/A
Content Warnings: N/A
★★½
I read this book earlier this year for my personal ‘enjoyment’ so I haven’t written as neat an annotation as those above. I wanted to include it in this post because of how neatly it fits alongside The Giver and The Owl Service. As my ratings betray, none of these books clicked with me, primarily because of their prose and plots.
I struggled with The Hero and the Crown in a different way than I struggled with The Owl Service. I didn’t intend to review it because I skimmed the later half of the book. At about 60% of the way through, I noted “This book is somehow a lot different than I expected…but I think it might be good??” Unfortunately, it never hooked my attention. A good book perhaps for other readers. The structure and pacing in particular didn’t work for me. Also, I found the implied relationship between Aerin and Luthe uncomfortable. This was the first McKinley novel I’ve read. It didn’t endear me to her, though I might try another one of her books in the future.
What books do you consider to be classic young adult? Have you read any of them?
I read The Hero and the Crown as a child in school. I had a major report to do and somehow misunderstood the teacher’s directions 🙈 it was a nightmare, I don’t think I hated the book though. It was the first time I analyzed a book. Something I love to do now. I have no interest in The Giver. It sounds boring 😅 Great reviews Jenna
Oh no, too bad about The Hero and the Crown! I feel like it has a lot to analyze but most floated over my head, lol. And yeahhhhh, I somehow managed to avoid reading The Giver up until I took this class 😛 I guess I’m glad I read it so I know what it’s about but I would never have read it by ‘choice’.
We talked about McKinley (The Blue Sword) and Garner when I wrote about the question, “What is a children’s book?” I don’t know how I would feel about either of the Damar books, if I read them for the first time as an adult. I just loved being in that world as a teenager. (McKinley herself says Blue Sword came out of her preteen fantasy of the perfect life.)
The Owl Service is a very complex and often baffling book, and while it is about young adults, I think it takes the perspective of adulthood to make much sense of it at all. (I’m still trying.) Young adults who love this book, please correct me.
I have not read The Giver for so long….it was not a fave when I did, but I’ve never been a dystopia fan. I wonder what I would think of it now.