Chapter 5

Characters:
Jonas
Jonas’s Mother
Lily
Jonas’s Father
Fiona

Plot:
At breakfast, Jonas and his family talk about their dreams. This seems to be another rule. Jonas usually
forgets what he dreams. However, this time it was different. He says that he dreamed he was in a
bathtub – like the ones at the house of the Old, basically naked, with Fiona. He tried to convince her to
get in the tub with him. He claims that he felt like he wanted that but knew he shouldn’t. Whenever you
share a dream, you are thanked by your family.

As his father took off with Lilly to school, his mother asks him to stay behind. Jonas’s Mother tells him
that these feelings are called “Stirrings” and they must be reported every time they happen. His Mother
gives him a pill that will help him fight this “urges”. He is to take one each day, every day, until he ends
up in the House of the Old. This seems to be a common practice among the people.

Jonas bikes off to school, tempted to feel the good sensation the “Stirring” caused. He wants to feel like
that again. However, he takes a pill and the urge is lost.

General Idea:
It seems that some of the rules (talking about your secrets, sharing your dreams) were made as a way to
watch over the inhabitants of the town. It’s still unknown as to why it’s like this but it’s also implied as
they try to control something as private as sex. Why is it forbidden? What’s the reason behind it?

Chapter 6

Characters:
Jonas’s Father
Jonas’s Mother
Jonas
Lily
Gabriel
Asher
Fiona
The whole town

Plot:
It’s time for this year’s Ceremony. Jonas and his family show up to the Celebration and the entire
Community is there. Jonas’s Mother takes a seat while Jonas’s Father takes part in the naming of the
Ones. It seems like Gabe isn’t there with the other Ones as he was deemed “not healthy” and “not
grown enough” to be placed with a family. This means that he should be released. However, Jonas’s
Father managed to win another year for Gabe, on the condition that Gabe is to be assigned to them.
They are told to not get attached to the Baby, though as he might be released later on. The Ones are
assigned to their families and that’s it for the firs day of the Ceremonies. Tomorrow, the Ceremony of
Twelve takes place.

It is day two and bicycles are presented to the Nines, the Tens get their hair cut, and the Elevens get
new clothes. Jonas is still nervous and uneasy about this whole profession thing. Asher worsens the
situation by telling the story of a boy who thought he was going to be an Engineer, but who was later
assigned to be a Sanitation Laborer and swam away across the river to another community.

Jonas comforts himself by stating that he doubts that the Elders could ever make the wrong decision.
The way spouses are matched up – after years calculating all sorts of compatibility factors – is a proof
of that.

General ideas:
In this chapter, other 2 rules are presented:
1. When children turn Seven, they get a front-button jacket. Before turning Seven, they are given Coats
that fasten in the back. It’s done this way to teach young children “interdependence” upon buttoning
each other up.

2. When a child passes away, everyone must partake in the Ceremony of Loss, where they repeat the
name of the dead child softer and softer until everyone forgets about them. In this community it seems
like mourning and grieving must be quickly overcome.

We are also introduced to the idea that Jonas might be one of the few people whose curiosity and
common sense cannot be as easily controlled. Soon enough, he might start questioning the rules and the
whole idea of this place.