Customer Reviews

The Gift

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4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David has always had the gift, even before he found out what it was. Sometimes when he relaxes and lets his mind wander, he gets a picture in his mind of what someone else nearby is thinking. His sister thinks it's a creepy gift, and he tries not to read her thoughts or those of the rest of his family. His grandmother warns that the gift runs in the family and has brought nothing but trouble. She also warns that it might not always be accurate.

There is enough trouble in David's life. His mother takes off from time to time, leaving David and his older brother and older sister to take care of themselves and their father. Their father is always involved in some scheme, mostly bad ideas he thinks will finally make him rich.

Now David is in high school, his father has a job that seems steady, and things seem to be going well. But then he starts picking up frenzied crazy thoughts from some source. These thoughts are so strong and so upsetting that he can't block them out except by careful concentration. With a little investigation, David finds out that these thoughts are coming from a man who works with his father. It becomes obvious to David that his father is involved in something really bad, maybe even criminal. Will he be able to use the gift to help his father, or is his grandmother right that it brings nothing but trouble?

I liked the close relationship David and his siblings had with their grandparents and with each other. I also liked the descriptions of the pictures David got in his mind, especially the ones that came from Wolf.

David's descriptions of his school and his project with Sonia were so passionless, though, that I had a hard time even remembering the details of what was going on.

Peter Dickinson's amazing book is absolutely amazing! Davy has a gift passed on by his ancestor - who has done a great deed for this certain man. As a reward, he was given a wish. He wished that he could read other people's minds. It is extremely scary when Davy discovers that he and his family are in serious danger because this man, who Davy had named "WOLF" is trying to kill them!