From: K.T. Horning <khorning>
Date: Sat, 18 Jan 1997 09:02:21 -0600 (CST)

I, too, would be very interested in hearing what StuAll (or anyone else) has to say about the associations between the storylines in "Number the Stars" and "The Giver." I have never thought before about them being connected, other than the fact that they were written by the same author, have eerily complimentary jackets in their hardcover editions, and both won the Newbery Medal. But StuAll (sorry to be using your email name -- you didn't give your full name) has raised a provocative point for discussion.

One of the things I came to appreciate about "Number the Stars" after discussing it with children who had no prior historical background for it whatsoever (they'd "sort of heard" of World War II but didn't know when, where or why it took place) was the way in which Lowry integrated historical details into the narrative without calling attention to the fact that she was creating a context. She used these same skills to create the futuristic world of "The Giver." After you've read either book, you can go back and extract details of time and place but you're not really aware of them while you're reading. That's the mark of a really fine writer of either historical fiction or science fiction.

At 12:52 PM 1/16/97 00, you wrote:
Received on Sat 18 Jan 1997 09:02:21 AM CST