In a dystopian society based on sameness and lack of emotion, a boy named Jonas becomes the receiver of all mankind's memories. Through these memories he is able to see what mankind has been robbed of and can no longer stand by and allow it to happen. Working with the Giver (the one who tranmits the memories) he contructs a plan to fake his death and give all of the memories back to the community so that they can live freely and with love.