The Giver books in order

Q: "How many books are in the The Giver series?"

"There are four books in the The Giver series, published between 1993 and 2012."

Q: "What is the first book in the The Giver series?"

"The first book in the The Giver series is The Giver, published in 1993."

Q: "Do The Giver books need to be read in order?"

"The first three books each stand alone with different protagonists and settings. However, Son (2012), the final book, brings characters from the earlier novels together. Reading in publication order provides the best experience, especially for the conclusion."

Reading order

#	Title	Published	Author	Buy on Amazon
1	The Giver	1993	Giver Quartet	Buy
2	Gathering Blue	2000	Giver Quartet	Buy
3	Messenger	2004	Giver Quartet	Buy
4	Son	2012	Giver Quartet	Buy

The Giver series begins with Lois Lowry’s 1993 novel about Jonas, a boy living in a controlled society who learns the truth about his community when he is chosen to receive the memories of the world before Sameness. Gathering Blue (2000) shifts to a different community and a new protagonist, Kira, while Messenger (2004) connects threads from the first two books.

Son (2012) concludes the quartet by following Claire, a young woman from Jonas’s original community, as she searches for her child across the landscapes of all three previous books. The series works both as standalone reading and as a connected whole, with the final book rewarding readers who have followed from the beginning.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many books are in the The Giver series?

There are four books in the The Giver series, published between 1993 and 2012.

What is the first book in the The Giver series?

The first book in the The Giver series is The Giver, published in 1993.

Do The Giver books need to be read in order?

The first three books each stand alone with different protagonists and settings. However, Son (2012), the final book, brings characters from the earlier novels together. Reading in publication order provides the best experience, especially for the conclusion.

Reading order#

Frequently Asked Questions

Reading order