In Chapter 9, Jonas realizes that his life will never be the same as a result of having been selected as the new Receiver of Memory. At the conclusion of the December Ceremony, Jonas immediately feels "separate, different." People move aside for him to pass, and his peers are unsure of how to act toward him. Even his best friend, Asher, appears uncomfortable in Jonas' presence. His peers' reactions cause Jonas to feel very much alone and isolated. For the first time in his life, Jonas does not feel the same as everyone else. Lowry describes Jonas' demeanor as uneasy, nervous, and worried, suggesting that he is quite unhappy.
Jonas questions his parents about the last person who was selected to be the Receiver of Memory. They tell him that the person was a female, but they don't know what happened to her, only that her name is "Not-to-Be-Spoken." Jonas knows that something terrible happened to the girl because a "Not-to-Be-Spoken" name means total humiliation and dishonor. Jonas' parents become silent, making no further comments about the previously selected Receiver. Jonas now seems isolated even from his family.
The only similarity between Jonas' Selection and everyone else's Assignment is the folder of instructions that each Twelve receives for his or her lifelong career. Lowry uses rhetorical ques-tions — questions to which oftentimes there are no answers — to portray Jonas' feelings of disbelief after he reads his list of instructions. For example, Jonas wonders, "What would happen to his friendships? His mindless hours playing ball, or riding his bike along the river?" He has no choice but to do what is expected of him, but he feels that his childhood is slipping away.
