A Brief Introduction

Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go follows the story of Kathy H’s current job as a “carer” and her frequent flashbacks to her childhood at the Hailsham boarding school in rural England. Kathy and her best friends, Tommy and Ruth, are quick to pick up on the strange rules, traditions, and adult interactions that occur at Hailsham, suggesting that there is something be kept from the children. We are not given much background on the society they live in, for instance the terms “carers” and “donors” have not been explained but are casually mentioned as typical careers. I chose this book because I love science fiction and dystopias. I’m excited to learn just what exactly will unravel about the history of Hailsham, and what it means for Kathy’s future.