12 years and upwards. Anne Gray creates a fascinating alternative world where the descendants of interplanetary colonists have built their society in a rich fusion of advanced technologies and ancient traditional ways of life. Sixteen-year-old Dovella is a Village engineering apprentice of great potential and talent, though her true vocation is for healing, for which she has a rare and extraordinary Gift. When she undertakes a journey to save her people from devastating political upheaval, she must travel through the lands of ancient enemies to fulfil her quest. But as Dovella comes into contact with the people of the hills, she begins to discover that the Village history books tell but one side of the story. As she struggles to overcome her own prejudices, and forfeits her life's dream in order to remain true to herself, she learns that within great sacrifice the seeds of fulfilment may be found. Engaging, fast-paced and wholly absorbing, "Rites of the Healer" masterfully explores the importance of facing one's fears, the necessity of resisting oppression and the inescapable burden of making hard choices. Gray captures perfectly the dilemmas and joys of the contemporary teen in this thought-provoking allegory for modern times.