The Night Gift Author:Patricia A. McKillip Patricia McKillip is best known for her delicate, ornate fantasy novels. But early in her writing career, she also took a side-trip into young adult fiction in "The Night Gift." It's a bittersweet little story about friendship, love, and the lives of a small group who are changed as they work for a friend. — The ugliness of his life -- and his ro... more »om -- prompted Joe Takaoto to try to commit suicide. Now he's returning home from the hospital. His sister Barbara teams up with her friends Josclyn and Claudia to help make sure he doesn't harm himself again. When they stumble across a decrepit old house, they know what to do -- they will beautify a room in the house for him, painting it and filling it with fish, shells, and other things.
When the girls sneak a baby redwood down from the Basin, they meet handsome Neil, who gives them a ride back. Josclyn nurses a secret crush on Neil, and for awhile, she believes that he likes her too. But when he learns who Neil really likes, a rift is formed in their group. And when Joe returns to see the room, the group learns the truth about friendship and giving -- and receiving -- love.« less