| Millicent McCool has known about her magic and her Gift for as long as she can remember. Her father left her family because of it. Her sister died because of the magic. As much as she loves her life, she wonders whether or not she really wants to receive the culmination of her talents, her Gift, on her fourteenth birthday. With this Gift she can make one wish, but only if she is approved for it and if she never tells a lie until after she has used it. She has always longed for this magic, but she struggles with whether or not to take it: Her older brother, Mac, who is more like a father than anything to her, encourages her not to take it and to live a normal life, because everyone in their family has had their lives ruined through the magic. Her mother and Aunts Mercy and Melanie encourage her to do what she knows is right for her, and she finds herself intensely longing for the gift.
The fall brings her first year in real school, and she struggles to uphold the friendship she formed with Naomi, a girl from the wrong side of town, over the summer. She quickly comes to the realization that her family has always sent tongues wagging when all of a sudden, tons of the kids from her high school start bombarding her with requests, asking the to use her Gift to help one of them. A dangerous robber comes to town, and her brother, the police chief, is constantly on the lookout. When the robber's identity is revealed, Millicent struggles with the moral implications of using her gift: can the use of it save her friendship? | ||
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Plot & Themes Tone of book - sensitive (sigh....) FANTASY or SCIENCE FICTION? - fantasy story on current Earth Coming of age Yes Youngster becomes - a powerful magician Inner Struggle Yes Is this an adult or child's book? - Kid's book (ages 7-14) Family relations Yes Descript. of chases or violence - 10 % planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzles/motives - 30 % Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 50 % Descript. of society, phenomena (tech), places - 10 % Main Character Identity: - Female Profession/status: Age: - a teen If magical mental powers: - can grant wishes Main Adversary Identity: - none Setting Terrain Earth setting: - current (early 21st century) Takes place on Earth? Yes Writing Style Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog |
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