In essence, the leaders are unable to completely control their populace, primarily because this level of individual control is impossible. Son follows the journey of Claire, a young girl on a quest to regain her son who has been taken from her. It is the conclusion to The Giver Quartet, which includes The Giver (1993), Gathering Blue (2000), Messenger (2004), and Son (2012). However, the reality of the situation is apparent here: even though these girls are under constant surveillance, their conversations still veer towards things that they are not supposed to talk about. Son is a young adult fiction novel written by award-winning author Lois Lowry. Lois Lowry This Study Guide consists of approximately 27 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of Son. Of course, the community believes that this will ensure peace among community members and prevent unrest from growing in the populace, allowing leaders to control the people. Son speaks of the struggles a mother faced to retrieve her son from society and back into her arms.

These girls are constantly monitored in a fashion that resembles many dystopian novels: all talk in the community is listened to, presumably by similarly nameless individuals, so that people feel as though their actions and speech are under constant surveillance. In the first chapter of the book, the audience does not know Claire’s name until the very end of the chapter previously, she is referred to exclusively as “the girl,” as though she is interchangeable with any of the other girls in the community.

When she turns twelve, Claire receives her work assignment, which is to be a birthmother. She lives in an isolated village that is strictly controlled by those in power. In this novel, Claire is a twelve year-old girl. In Claire’s original community, there is a complete lack of both individuality and privacy. Son is the conclusion of the novel The Giver by award-winning author Lois Lowry.

Son by lois lowry