Excellent book. This is my first experience with LeGuin's work and have since discovered she has a web site with other books like Gifts. http://www.ursulakleguin.com/

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Reviewed by Lynn Crow for TeensReadToo.com

In Ursula K. Le Guin's GIFTS, the gifts in question bring more trouble than happiness to the novel's main character, sixteen-year-old Orrec. Orrec lives in the Uplands, a rough landscape where small clans squabble amongst themselves to maintain their land holdings and cattle herds. The leader of each clan has a specific gift: a mystical power that allows them to call animals or twist human bodies with the force of their mind. Orrec is the next in line to lead his clan, and his family's gift is one of the most terrible: the undoing. His father can kill a man with a word and a gesture, and it is expected that Orrec will come into the same power. However, when Orrec's power arrives, it is wild and uncontrollable, and he must stay blind-folded to avoid harming those he loves.

The best thing about this outstanding novel is its premise. Everyone has wished at one time or another for a secret power. GIFTS forces the question: what if your having such a gift caused harm to the people around you? It gives no easy answers, exploring the issue with depth and feeling. The society and culture of the Uplanders is detailed and realistic, making the conflicts that much more powerful. Readers will quickly feel as though they've lived in this wonderful and terrifying world themselves.

As narrator, Orrec is thoughtful and questioning, with a rhythmic voice that recalls traditional story-tellers. He handles the tragedies and disappointments in his life with honesty and good humor. Despite being from a somewhat alien world, his view is very human and teens will find it easy to see through his eyes. When he is finally able to face the most disappointing truth of all, readers will cheer even as they share his pain.

GIFTS is an excellent read for teens of all interests. Fans of fantasy will be particularly drawn to it, but the world is grounded enough in earthly reality that it should appeal even to those who usually avoid the fantastical. Thought-provoking and suspenseful, with a dollop of action and romance, a novel like this is a gift to its readers.

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There is a whole trilogy: (Gifts, Voices, Powers). The concept of the gifts was enticing but it just wasn't developed. I know Le Guin is more interested in the characters' development, but I still craved hearing more about the other families' gifts. The book became quite tedious by the middle. And the ending thought a bit surprising, was not well devaloped. It just was. It was by far the worst book I have read by this author. Quite possibly because it was done in collaboration with someone else and it showed.

Voices is sort of a bridge between Gifts and Powers, like many middle books it suffers the fathe of the middle book in a trilogy. Its uncentered, it seems to go no-place, and really doesnt look like it has any deeper meaning. It is actually worse than the first.

And then Powers, I think the longest one in the trilogy. It is the culmination, bringing all the trilogy's characters together. It starts out really slowly, and takes time to get the end. It reminded me a bit of a David Copperfield. Only not so well executed. It is NOT an improvement. I dont fancy to be seriously lectured on slavery. My ansestors fought the muslims that stole our women to sell to breed them. Killed any man that stood uo to them. The skandinavians did the same to us. The Russians did the same to us. And I really do not want to amuse m self reading more about it in fiction. I can open our history books for that. Thank you very much.

But if you do like to read it I recomend that you read them in sequence.

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Upland's families are poor and uneducated for learning is not valued as it is in the Lowlands. But Upland people have treasured gifts. Some with a simply a glance, a gesture, or a word can summon animals, create fire, or move land. Others can twist a limb, chain a mind or inflict lingering wasting illness. The talents are passed from the parents - father to son and mother to daughter. Families live in fear, fear that another family might use its gift against others to control both people and land.

Relayed in first person, the story is told by Orrec who is talking to an unbelieving Lowlander. Orrec's family seems to have an intensely powerful gift - that of undoing or killing. His gift is wild and uncontrollable. Could he unintentionally kill those he loves by just looking at them? An emotional incident with his father helps him realize the dangers of using the gift. To avoid such an occurrence, Orrec covers his eyes with blindfolds. Gry, a close friend, helps him navigate darkness while she too, refuses to use her own gift - that of talking to animals and calling them to hunt.

In short, this novel focuses on small community politics where strong families have power over others. For Orrec, it means finding understanding and learning control his gift, exploring what happens when actions can lead to dangerous consequences.

A wonderfully clever story that won the 2005 Locus nomination for best fantasy novel, it is a quiet tale with introspective threads such as family pride in the children and love of one another, grieving and loss. Wonderful writing within a creative and thoughtful tale.

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A very well crafted Fantasy. Easy to read. I am now looking for the next one to find out what happens next. It was a coming of age among different circumstances.
I enjoyed it.

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