Exchange of Gifts

Very good book for kids - and quite pleasant for adults but If I had understood it was a kids book I might not have bought it.

This is one of McCaffrey's shorter stories for juveniles. It is about a princess who runs away to avoid an arranged marriage with a much older man. The princess uses her knowledge of flora and fauna in order to escape and survive - but her knowledge is all gleaned from books, so it is more difficult than she believes. However, she perseveres, and she is joined by a waif of a boy who has been beaten and starved. They form a friendship that enables them to survive in the woods on their own - but without either knowing the other's past. I took this to be a story about trust, faith, and love.

I think this was an enchanting and charming short story. I normally don't read short stories, but the description was quite intriguing. It a little over 90 pages so I finished it rather quickly, but I loved it nontheless. I bought the book as soon as I had put it down. I admit MeAnn and Wisp's characters could have been expanded to make them more realistic, but the setting was beautifull described and the plot was completely original. This was the first Anne McCaffrey book I ever read, although some of my other family members have read many of her Dragonrider series. This book got me interested in her as an author and her other works. I wish the story could have been longer, but it stands out as it is. I highly recommend it to anyone.

I think it's wonderful book I,m not a reader but this was a wonderful love story of life I could not put it down. My daughter read it also and felt the same way.

What a good book! It was so neat, two people living alone in a cabin in the woods away from people and their expectations. Meannie (yes that's her name.) faked her death in order to leave home and live her own life and to be able to use her gift. The fact that they both have gifts (Meannie has a gift with growing things, I won't tell you what Wisp's gift is) is really interesting. The size of the book surprised me- I didn't expect it to be so small or so short. It was expensive for such a small book, but it was worth every penny I paid for it. It was great.