In Lois Lowry’s The Giver, children are assigned their lifelong occupations at the age of twelve.
The assignment occurs during the December Ceremony of Twelve, a major public event in the community. Instead of choosing their own careers, children receive placements selected by the Committee of Elders. The committee has observed their interests, behaviour, and abilities over many years before making its decisions.
Jonas, the novel’s protagonist, expects to receive an ordinary job with his age group. Instead, he is selected as the next Receiver of Memory, a rare and demanding position that separates him from his classmates. His unusual assignment begins the central conflict of the novel.
The age is sometimes confused with earlier ceremonies. Infants are named and placed with family units, while younger children receive bicycles and other privileges as they grow. The Ceremony of Twelve is specifically the point at which occupational roles are announced.