The Giver by Lois Lowry

From the Paperback:
   Jonas's world is perfect. Everything is under control. There is no way or fear or pain. There are no choices. Every person is assigned a role in the Community.
   When Jonas turns twelve, he is singled out to receive special training from The Giver. The Giver alone holds the memories of the true pain and pleasure of life. Now it's time for Jonas to receive the truth. There is no turning back.

"...Jonas had experienced real sadness. He had felt grief. He knew there was no quick comfort for emotions like those." 

    The Giver is a dystopian novel focusing on a world made perfect. Every child belongs to a age group, every December each group gains a year. Each year a child gains a milestone, a bike at age nine, free time (to volunteer) at age eight, and their place in society, their jobs, at age 12.
   Life is very organized, peaceful, each family unit talks about their dreams every morning, they speak of feelings at dinner, they talk about everything, no secrets. Life is a closely followed routine. Jonas is happy in this life, then in his twelfth December he is chosen to be The Receiver. There is only one Receiver and it is very seldom is a receiver chosen. Jonas is the the Receiver of memories. Memories of a time before sameness.
  This is a book that made me ponder the things that are taken for granted. To have almost every minute of your life planned out takes away most decisions. What kind of life would it be to not feel pain? What kind of life would it be to not feel anything? No decisions, no pain, no love, no choice. When Jonas learns the truth of the past he finally has a choice to make.