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Millicent's Gift
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Plot Summary of Millicent's Gift
"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? "

Rachel Knorr, Resident Scholar



Review Analysis of Millicent's Gift
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot

Composition of Book
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%




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

Main Character
Identity: - Female
Profession/status: - scholar
Age: - a teen
Has magical/special powers? Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character: - can grant wishes
How sensitive is this character? - middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence - Average intelligence
Physique - very athletic

Main Adversary
Identity: - none

Setting
Terrain - Forests
Earth setting: - current (early 21st century)
Takes place on Earth? Yes

Style
Person? - mostly 1st
Accounts of torture and death? - moderately detailed references to deaths
How much dialogue? - significantly more descript than dialog
Most similar books to Millicent's Gift
Charlie Bone and The Time Twister by Jenny Nimmo
The Blue Boa by Jenny Nimmo
The Wizard’s Dilemma - Young Wizards 5 by Diane Duane
The Tenth Ghost by Jennifer St. Clair
Shadowland - Mediator 1 by Jenny Carroll


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Ann Rinaldi Resident Scholar Profiles

TOP SCHOLAR:
  
Rachel Knorr  

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