Voices

Voices by Ursula K. LeGuin

Sequel to Gifts

4.0 Stars

This sequel to Gifts takes place on the same world but in a different city. Memer is a young girl of the city of Ansul. She has grown up in a conquered city, never knowing the city before its occupation. She is a child of that conquest, as her mother was raped by the soldiers overtaking the city. Memer knows the way into the secret room of her house where the books are kept. Books have been banned by the conquerors and death is the result of being caught with one. Regardless, she wants to learn to read and is taught by the Waylord, head of her house.

Orrec and Gyr, main characters of the first book in this trilogy, appear in this book. However, one does not have to have read Gifts to follow the plot of Voices.

Voices is an excellent Young Adult novel. The main character, Memer, learns and grows in the story. She will be a leader of her people. What is important to her is her family, her city and her people's traditions. Memer doesn't stop in the midst of an important event to swoon. Unlike so many Young Adult novels, this one is well written (one expects no less from Ursula LeGuin). More books for young people should be this well written.