 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Gifts
- By Ursula K. Le Guin
- Genre: Fantasy
Common Sense Media says
Slow but rich book of fantasy, feuds for tweens.
Parents say
Kids say
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that, as fantasies go, this one doesn't have much violence, though an aura of dread hangs over it, and there's a small battle near the end.
What's the story?
In the harsh and barren Uplands, isolated clans possess a variety of magic powers to protect themselves from other clans in their constant feuding that goes back for centuries. Orrec's father, the Brantor, or leader, of his clan, has the talent for "unmaking," a deadly gift he expects his son to inherit.
But Orrec's gift seems to be wild and uncontrollable, and so he is forced to be permanently blindfolded lest he accidentally hurt those around him. Meanwhile Ogge, the bullying leader of a neighboring clan, is threatening theft, destruction, and conquest.
Is it any good?
Ursula K. Le Guin, author of the beloved, classic Earthsea Cycle, took a 14-year hiatus before beginning this series. As in her earlier work, she creates a strange and somewhat mystical world, without the epic sweep and bombast of high fantasy, and without the breakneck pacing of much of the genre since Harry Potter.
Instead, Le Guin takes the time to lay the groundwork for this story about feuding magic clans. Readers may get confused by the profusion of names and relationships, but they will be fascinated by the well-drawn world, and find meaning and resonance in Orrec's story of shame and fear and self-imposed blindness. This is clearly the work of a master, though it may not be to the taste of many fantasy fans weaned on plot-driven, action-oriented fantasy. For those for whom "quiet" and "slow" are not terms of criticism, though, it's a rich and meaty tale.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about the relationship between gifts and interests. What obligation do we have to our gifts? What responsibilities do they impose on us? More discussion questions are listed at the back of the book.
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| Author: | Ursula K. Le Guin |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Genre: | Fantasy |
| Publisher: | Harcourt |
| Publication date: | April 12, 2006 |
| Number of pages: | 274 |
| Hardcover price: | $17.00 |
| Paperback price: | $7.95 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 12 - 17 |
| Read aloud: | 10 |
| Read alone: | 11 |
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