It is the future. There is no war, no hunger, no pain. No one in the community wants for anything. Everything is provided. And at 12 years old, each member of the community has their profession carefully chosen for them by the Committee of Elders. 12 year Jonas has never thought there was anything wrong with his world. But from the moment he is selected as the Receiver of Memory, Jonas discovers that their community is not as perfect as it seems. It is only with the help of the Giver, that Jonas can find what has been lost. And it is only through his personal courage that Jonas finds the strength to do what is right.