From Library Journal
Found in a survival pod in space by prospectors, the infant Acorna soon exhibits the ability to analyze deficiencies in plants by taste, purify water and air, and heal. Taken to the planet Kezdet to avoid scientists who want to study her, Acorna discovers barbaric child-labor practices and vows to rescue the children. McCaffrey and Ball have created a magical alien in this fantasy/science fiction story. Recommended for sf collections.Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Three crusty young space prospectors recover a small survival pod containing a toddler with strange hands and feet, silvery curls, and a tiny horn in the center of her forehead. They name her Acorna and learn she has some unusual powers, such as abilities to purify water and air, to make plants grow, and to heal injuries. When the three take her "planetside," Acorna is commandeered by scientists who want to study her as an anomaly. With some help from sympathizers, the prospectors manage, however, to whisk Acorna away to the planet Kezdet--"a known cover for all sorts of thieves, desperadoes, con men, and cheats"--where questions are not asked. But they soon discover Kezdet secretly deals in child slave labor, a practice Acorna determines to stop. Combining colorful characterizations, lots of fast-paced action, and a decided sense of menace, all leavened by a heavy dose of humor as the three "uncles" try to keep a rein on and protect their charge, this is entertaining fare, indeed, for sf fans. Sally Estes


From Kirkus Reviews
First of a projected series from the authors of a previous collaboration, PartnerShip (a 1992 mass market). Three space miners, Gill, Calum, and Rafik, find a survival pod drifting in space; inside sleeps Acorna, a furry, unicorn-like humanoid infant. Young Acorna, who grows--and learns--swiftly, soon manifests the ability to purify air and water, and heal injuries with her horn. When the miners return to base, though, some scientists try to snatch Acorna for study, so she and the miners retreat hastily into space. Bargaining with Rafik's uncle Hafiz, they arrange to switch their ship's registration and start new careers as space traders. But Hafiz also covets Acorna, so they flee again; one thing leads to another, and eventually they end up on planet Kezdet, the last place they wanted to go. Vengeful Security Guardians hope to nab the miners for previous indiscretions; Hafiz's agents are hot on the trail; and Chinese mystic and enlightened businessman Delszaki Li wants to catch Acorna, since he's convinced that she's the key to overthrowing Kezdet's vicious and thoroughly entrenched system of child slavery. More fantasy than science fiction with a bustling yet flimsy plot, lots of scene-shifting, stereotyped characters, and the McCaffrey hallmark to pull in the crowds. -- Copyright ©1997, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.


Book Description
"Something's Alive In There!"

She was just a little girl, with a tiny horn in the center of her forehead, funny-looking feet, beautiful silver hair, and several curious powers: the ability to purify air and water, make plants grow, and heal scars and broken bones. A trio of grizzled prospectors found her drifting in an escape pod amid the asteroids, adopted her, and took her to the bandit planet Kezdet, a place where no questions are asked and the girl might grow up free.

But Kezdet has its own dark secret. The prosperity of the planet is based on a hideous trade in child slave labor, administered by "The Piper" -- a mystery man with special plans for Acorna and her powers. But free little girls have a way of growing into freedom-loving young women, and Acorna has special plans all her own. . .


About the Author
Anne McCaffrey is considered one of the world's leading science-fiction writers. She has won the Hugo and Nebula awards as well as six Science Fiction Book Club awards for her novels. Brought up in the United States, she is now living in Ireland with her Maine coon cats, her piebald mare, and a silver weimaraner and declines to travel anymore. She is best known for her unique Dragonriders of Pern series.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

She was just a little girl. With a tiny horn in the center of her forehead, funny-looking feet, beautiful silver hair, and several curious powers: the ability to purify air and water, make plants grow, and heal scars and broken bones. A trio of grizzled prospectors found her drifting in an escape pod amid the asteroids, adopted her, and took her home to sizzling controversy. Officious bureaucrats wanted to put Acorna in a home and cut off her "deformity." Ambitious scientists wanted to isolate and study the "unicorn girl." Which was worse? Acorna's rough-and-ready "uncles" weren't about to hang around long enough to find out. They took their foundling back at knife point, airlocked out, and ran with her - all the way to the bandit planet Kezdet, where no questions are asked, and a girl might grow up free. But Kezdet has its own dark secret. The prosperity of the planet is based on an unseen horror - armies of pale, silent children toiling in the factories and mines; unnamed, unseen, and unloved. A hideous trade in child slave labor, administered by the mystery man known as "The Piper." The Piper has special plans for Acorna, whose shining horn promises wealth and power. But free little girls have a way of growing into freedom-loving young women. And Lukia, Lady of Light, is about to teach the Piper and his minions a much-needed lesson about honor, liberty - and the precious value of childhood.

FROM THE CRITICS

VOYA - Margaret Miles

An alien infant, jettisoned in an escape pod shortly before her parent's spaceship is attacked, finds a new home with three itinerant asteroid miners. Though baffled by her physical appearance-she has a small horn in the center of her forehead, and strangely shaped hands and feet-and her amazing capabilities-she grows far more rapidly than a human infant, can purify the ship's air, and is a whiz when it comes to learning just about anything-Gill, Calum, and Rafik are immediately charmed by their young "niece." It is a good thing they're so besotted, because before long they are on the run from just about everybody, trying to save young Acorna from being analyzed to death by corporate scientists, being "collected" by Rafik's conniving Uncle Haviz, or being exploited and misunderstood. When the four arrive at the planet Kezdet, infamous for its exploitation of child labor, the reclusive Delszaki Li wants to acquire Acorna too; he believes she is a ki-lin, the unicorn of Chinese mythology whose presence augurs great things for the humans it visits. Sure enough, Acorna becomes the catalyst for planetwide change. McCaffrey at her best has created some of the most remarkable and well-loved worlds of modern science fiction. Pern and its dragons still catch and charm the imagination, even though recent novels lack the imaginative power of the older titles such as Dragonflight (Ballantine, 1968) or Dragonsong (Atheneum, 1976). The Ship Who Sang (Walker, 1969), powerful McCaffrey vision, has led to some successful collaborative sequels, including ParterShip (Baen, 1992), the previous McCaffrey/Ball collaboration. Ball also has produced memorable solo work, from the mystical Tibetan Flameweaver (Baen, 1991) to recent comic fantasies such as Lost in Translation (Baen, 1995/VOYA April 1996). It is a pity, then, that Acorna is so bland, not showing any real distinction in plot, characters, or setting. But most McCaffrey fans will not particularly mind, nor will readers who enjoy light, undemanding science fantasy with a romantic touch. VOYA Codes: 2Q 4P S (Better editing or work by the author might have warranted a 3Q, Broad general YA appeal, Senior High-defined as grades 10 to 12).

AudioFile - Joyce E. McCarty

A young unicorn-like human infant is discovered in a survival pod by three independent space miners. Anna Fields, as always, vividly portrays a wide range of characters with great facility. Their distinct personalities are clearly reflected in their speech patterns and inflections. Fields conveys the strong emotion that runs through the book. The deeper modulations are a little murky at times, but Fields's clear articulation still comes through. A sequel, ACORNA'S QUEST, continues the story. J.E.M. ￯﾿ﾽ AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Kirkus Reviews

First of a projected series from the authors of a previous collaboration, PartnerShip (a 1992 mass market). Three space miners, Gill, Calum, and Rafik, find a survival pod drifting in space; inside sleeps Acorna, a furry, unicorn-like humanoid infant. Young Acorna, who grows—and learns—swiftly, soon manifests the ability to purify air and water, and heal injuries with her horn. When the miners return to base, though, some scientists try to snatch Acorna for study, so she and the miners retreat hastily into space. Bargaining with Rafik's uncle Hafiz, they arrange to switch their ship's registration and start new careers as space traders. But Hafiz also covets Acorna, so they flee again; one thing leads to another, and eventually they end up on planet Kezdet, the last place they wanted to go. Vengeful Security Guardians hope to nab the miners for previous indiscretions; Hafiz's agents are hot on the trail; and Chinese mystic and enlightened businessman Delszaki Li wants to catch Acorna, since he's convinced that she's the key to overthrowing Kezdet's vicious and thoroughly entrenched system of child slavery.

More fantasy than science fiction with a bustling yet flimsy plot, lots of scene-shifting, stereotyped characters, and the McCaffrey hallmark to pull in the crowds.