content: From Oscar Wilde's Preface to The Picture of Dorian Gray: "Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril. Those who read the symbol do so at their peril."A good pick for readers at both the middle-school level and the high school level, Lowry's prize-winning novel takes her audience beneath the surface of Jonas' world. When he begins to see beyond and beneath the perfect exterior of the Community, Jonas as well as the reader must make a difficult choice.This is a very good book to spark discussions about our society today, our future, and our choices. I would wholeheartedly recommend this book, especially in a classroom setting. Lowry's gifts of characterization, symbolism, and emotion make this a truly great find.