We are introduced to the new child in Chapter 1, when Jonas's father is talking about his inability to grow at a normal rate and that he is not sleeping well. We understand from the very beginning of the book that he needs "supplementary nurturing" and even that is still not helping him to grow. So, physically he is different from the beginning.
In Chapter 14, we learn that he is able to receive memories, just as Jonas can. Jonas accidentally transmits one to him as he is patting his back to put him back to sleep. This tells us that Gabriel might have the same abilities as Jonas.
"He was not aware of giving the memory; but suddenly he realized it was becoming dimmer, that it was sliding through his hand into the being of the new child" (Ch. 14).
He also has fair colored eyes like Jonas and the Giver.
All of these differences tell the reader that it is likely that Gabriel is special. He probably has the same abilities as Jonas and the Giver, and had Jonas and Gabe stayed in the community and Gabe not been scheduled for "release," he quite possibly could have been named a Receiver of Memory later in life.
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