In The Giver, Jonas grows up in a so-called perfect community. There is no war, pain or sadness. His world is plain, with no color. Everything is the same until he is selected to be the Receiver of Memory. He now gets memories of happiness, joy and love. But he also gets memories of pain, death and war. Then he learns the dark secret of his community. Jonas runs away with the baby Gabe. Jonas uses his memories of pleasure and happiness to lead them to freedom through the hardships of their long, cold, wet and hungry journey.