Author Lois Lowry's modern despotic tale written specifically for a younger audience takes place in a future where all the unpleasantries of life have been taken away; even color became a thing of the past. The story's main character is a boy chosen to become the Receiver of Memory -- the only person who can recall what life was like before all of these changes occurred. But as he begins this process, he realizes things aren't exactly as they seem and decides to take measures into his own hands for the sake of good.