Gifts, written by Ursala K. La Guin, is about a boy named Orrec who lives in the "Uplands" with his family and fellow townsfolk. These people are different than normal people though, they have gifts. From setting things a flame to talking to animals, these people are pretty gifted. La Guin has a great way of using her imagination to tie this concept into a great novel. She throws in twists and turns along the way right when you think you know what is going on. This book taught me something, never fear a gift that you have been given. Even though it might not be fire-throwing, a gift is a special and unique thing, and that is what this book told me when I read it. Even thought it is kind of hard to understand at the beginning, the book makes sense and flows great after you understand what is going on. I give this book a 4 out of 5, and I highly recommend it for anyone that enjoyed Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.

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.

Reviewed by: Lynn Crow

Having read the follow up to this first (reading the second book first wasn't a problem for the second book--but I think it gave me some dissapointed expectations for this one). So trying to push those aside for a moment, another amazingly written tale from Le Guin, the way she writes is so organic, the stories seem to sort of tell themselves, just growing and wrapping themselves around the reader.

This book (like its follow up) does have a theme on the importance of reading and storytelling. In reading Orrec is able to connect to parts of his ancestory he had no other way of knowing, his mother is able to continue to care for him--he can see aspects of her he wasn't allowed to see when alive. This story reminded me of an old fairytale about the evil eye, but Le Guin of course puts her own twist on it. It seems to be very much a coming of age book (the male version to the female version in the sequel).

The narration seems to capture the emotional turmoil of being a teenager. Orrec only knows what he feels in moments of stress, but often not why, his mind not ready to deal with certain possibilities.

Its a book about expections for oneself and becoming ones own person, I would say good for someone who enjoys fantasy but enjoys good storytelling even more, probably someone on the more mature side of 13 or so.

Gifts is a good book in Le Guin's usual spare prose. The book is about a boy and a girl with magical gifts passed down through their families. It is also about families and the struggles that go on within families and between families. It is also a story of friendship and bravery and of overcoming obstacles.