Jonas is the one most foremost character in the book because he has been selected to be the next receiver of memory. He is an eleven year old who is good hearted and lives with his father and mother. He cares for his friend Gabrial who is not like the other children who are eleven. He has trouble sleeping and he has problems with thought and daily life. Jonas cares for him alot and spends the night at his house to help him sleep alot better. Meanwhile in the assignment ceremony Jonas was frightened when he was not given an assignment. He thought to himself that he was skipped and felt extremely embarrassed. But in the end he was not given an assignment he was chosen to be the next receiver of memory. He was well aware of the cautions of this assignment and that it is extremely rare to be chosen for this assignment.

When he first started his training he started to have a very close relation ship with The Giver. He first started receiving the feeling of pain and harsh memories. Started receiving memories of happiness and sadness.