"Those who want slavery should have the grace to name it by its proper name." -Ayn Rand In a dark, terrifying, and backwards future, people have no names and are taught never to think of themselves. Everything is subordinate to the all-powerful World Council. Individualism is illegal; as is love not authorized by the World Council. Just using the word "I" is a transgression punishable by death. Fear of innovation and change has stifled humanity...

Having learned to be creative in drawing pictures at home, young Tommy is dismayed when he goes to school and finds the art lesson there much more regimented.

Tricia tries doing many different things until she finally finds the activity for which she has the most talent.

Spoon's always been a happy little utensil. But lately, he feels like life as a spoon just isn't cutting it. He thinks Fork, Knife, and The Chopsticks all have it so much better than him. But do they? And what do they think about Spoon?

"Grady the goose is left behind when her family leaves to fly to a warmer climate, but a helpful farmer finds her and reunites her with her parents and siblings" --

Living in a "perfect" world without social ills, a boy approaches the time when he will receive a life assignment from the Elders, but his selection leads him to a mysterious man known as the Giver, who reveals the dark secrets behind the utopian facade.

Why do people-even identical twins reared in the same home-differ so much in personality? Armed with an inquiring mind and insights from evolutionary psychology, Judith Rich Harris sets out to solve the mystery of human individuality.