In this beautifully crafted novel, the first of the Annals of the
Western Shore trilogy, Ursula K. Le Guin writes of the proud cruelty of
power, of how hard it is to grow up, and of how much harder still it is
to find, in the world's darkness, gifts of light.
Scattered among poor, desolate farms, the clans of the Uplands possess
gifts. Wondrous gifts: the ability--with a glance, a gesture, a word--to
summon animals, bring forth fire, move the land. Fearsome gifts: They
can twist a limb, chain a mind, inflict a wasting illness.
The Uplanders live in constant fear that one family might unleash its
gift against another. Two young people, friends since childhood, decide
not to use their gifts. One, a girl, refuses to bring animals to their
death in the hunt. The other, a boy, wears a blindfold lest his eyes and
his anger kill.
"A brilliant exploration of the power and responsibility of gifts."
--*Publishers Weekly (*starred review)
"As always, Le Guin has delivered a story that captivates and draws the
reader in. Anyone who enjoyed her Earthsea trilogy will relish this
new work and fans of dark fantasy, such as Philip Pullman's The Golden
Compass, will want to check out this title as well." --BookPage
"In this moment in history, as well as in the current political climate,
perhaps it's impossible not to see commentary behind every character in
a young adult fantasy novel. But Le Guin's detailing of the consequences
of greed, bullying and misused power is timeless as well as timely, and
has the deep, lasting ring of truth that makes for well-loved, enduring
young adult literature." *--*Erin Ergenbright, The Oregonian
"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." --Lynn Crow, TeensReadToo
The Annals of the Western Shore Trilogy includes:
