Best books by Lois Lowry

Lois Lowry has penned many award-winning books in children’s literature. Find your next favorite read from our list of the best books by Lois Lowry.

Lois Lowry is a renowned children’s books author, recognized for her ground-breaking work that introduces children to challenging and intricate subjects with a delicate touch. Their books challenge young readers to approach weighty topics such as war, political oppression, poverty, and death with sensitivity and understanding.

The best part? Lois Lowry does a fantastic job of addressing these sensitive subjects in a manner that’s both impactful and understandable for children. From the morally driven The Giver to the thought-provoking Number the Stars, here’s a deeper look at some of Lois Lowry’s best books you should add to your children’s book list.

Who is Lois Lowry?

Lois Lowry was born in 1937 in Honolulu, Hawaii. In 1939, Lowry’s family moved to Brooklyn, New York. Throughout her childhood, the family moved to various places worldwide because of her father’s career as an army dentist.

Some of the places that Lowry lived include Carlisle (her mother’s town), Pennsylvania, and Tokyo, Japan.

After finishing high school in 1954, Lowry joined Brown University but dropped out at 19. She married Donald Lowry, and they gave birth to four children. Lowry and her family moved around a lot because her husband was also in a military career.

Some of the places they lived include Connecticut, San Diego, New London, and Portland,

Lowry went back to school, and in 1972 received a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of Southern Maine in Rhode Island. After graduation, Lowry became a freelance journalist and later started writing professionally.

Lowry’s literary career started quite late, after submitting an adult-oriented piece from a child’s perspective to a magazine. An editor suggested that Lowry had a talent for children’s books, which could be marked as the beginning of her career.

In 1977, Lois Lowry published A Summer to Die, a novel aimed at older children and young adults that won the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award. In 1993, she published the Newbery-Medal winning The Giver.

Other notable books that Lowry has published over the years include:

• Find a Stanger, Say Goodbye (1978)
• Autumn Street (1980)
• The Silent Boy (2003)
• Messenger (2004)
• The Willoughbys
• Like the Willow Tree (Dear America)
• Anastasia Krupnik series (1979)
• Gooney Bird series (starting with Gooney Bird Greene)
• Gossamer
• The Son
• Sam Krupnik series

Over the years, Lowry has written more than 40 books in different styles and subject matters. However, one consistent theme is the importance of human connections, especially in young adults.

Her books are also acknowledged as one of the most influential children’s books authors of the past century. She was also a skilled photographer, and some of her work appeared in her own publications. Even in old age, Lowry continues to write and publish thought-provoking books for young people.

As of 2023, Lory has settled in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and has several properties there. She also has additional properties in Maine. She is also an avid public speaker and continues to grace the world with boundless imagination and great poise.

Best Lois Lowry books

The Giver

The Giver is one of Lois Lowry’s most famous books. It is a dystopian novel that explores themes around freedom, individuality, and, most importantly, the indispensable role of human emotion and memories. The story represents a young boy Jonas, who lives in a perfect society devoid of pain, suffering, and war.

As Jonas begins training as the Receiver of Memory, he discovers the dark secrets underlying this ideal community and the false narratives perpetuated to maintain its perfect illusion.

With the truth laid before his eyes, Jonas is faced with two decisions: to let his community continue to live in the “perfect” but blunt world or show them a new world that’s beautiful but imperfect.

Number the Stars

Number the Stars explores the story of a young girl named Annemarie Johansen. Annemarie and her family helped Jews escape from Nazi-infested Denmark during World War II. The novel won the Newbery medal in 1990 and is considered one of the major contributions to American Literature, especially in the young adult genre. Simply put, Number the Stars highlights the implications of war from a child’s perspective.

Gathering Blue

Gathering Blue is the second book in The Giver quartet. It is set in the same world as The Giver but features new characters. It was published in 2000.

It highlights the story of Kira, a young orphaned girl with a disabled leg living in a society that shuns the sick and those living with disabilities.

Gathering Blue explores themes surrounding self-worth, fighting for what’s right, and determination.

Anastasia Krupnik 

This book explores the story of Anastasia Krunik, a 10-year-old girl who has a seemingly perfect life. However, as she grows older, she starts experiencing challenges like all teenagers.

This book highlights the transition from childhood to adulthood. But most importantly, it highlights the growth and development of a child’s character.

The book series on Anastasia contains nine titles, including Anastasia Again and Anastasia, Ask Your Analyst.

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FAQ

What makes Lois Lowry famous?

Lois Lowry is most famous for writing children’s books that address the world’s complexities in a way that’s gentle, sensitive, and easy to understand. Lowry has explored various subject matters, including freedom, war, death, political oppression, human emotions, and poverty.

Did Lois Lowry like The Giver movie?

Yes, Lois Lowry liked the movie The Giver. In fact, she was pleased with some of the changes in the movie and even wished she could go back in time and rewrite some portions of the book as the film explored the subject matter better.

What is the first word in The Giver?

The first word in The Giver is “it.” The first sentence reads, “It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to be frightened.”