Found as an infant drifting in space, Acorna, the Unicorn Girl, has become a young woman. She still has her tiny, translucent horn, and her "funny" feet and hands. And, she still has her miraculous ability to make plants grow and heal human sickness.
But Acorna has strange dreams of a gentle folk who mind-speak by touching horns. With her "Uncle" Calum, one of the three grizzled asteroid prospectors who rescued, protected, and raised her, she sets off to find her people. No sooner does she leave than a mysterious craft appears, piloted by the Linyaari, a gentle race with telepathic powers.

The Linyaari are roaming the galaxy, spreading the alarm about the deadly Khleev--And searching for a beloved little girl they had given up for lost, long ago... ( )

Acorna goes to find her homeworld. 4 linyarri find humanity. Humanity meets, fights and sends packing, the kleevi. Done with this series. ( )

I see that Anne McCaffrey's website classifies this book as YA and I guess I can see that since many of the characters are teenagers, including Acorna herself. However, this isn't juvenile fiction and even though I am far from young I found lots to enjoy.

Acorna was found by three asteroid miners in a suspension pod. Her translucent horn and unusual hands and feet made it clear she was from an alien race. She also matured much more quickly than humans reaching full growth in three years. The three miners raised her at first and then turned her over to others to further her education. At the opening of this book Acorna and one of the miners, Calum, are wanting to set out to find her people but others who care for Acorna keep coming up with reasons for delay. Finally Calum and Acorna steal away in their ship only to find that there is a problem with the hydroponics system that means Acorna will starve unless they get new seeds and plants. They head to a planet which is agriculture based, Rushima. When they get there they find that the planet's crops have been decimated by floods and drought brought on by a starship that can manipulate weather systems. The starship is in the control of a group of refugees from another planet who are holding Rushima to ransom. Before they can escape the area and let others know of the settlers' plight Calum and Acorna are captured by the starship. Meanwhile back home a mysterious craft has appeared and it contains four beings of the same race as Acorna. They bring news of another alien race that overran their planet and are coming to human space specifically to the planet Rushima. Some great space opera ensues.

This is the second book in the Acorna series and I have not read the first one. However, there is enough reference to the first book that it doesn't really make a difference. Not sure if I will read the rest of the series but if I do I think I will try to read them in order. ( )

really 2 1/2 stars ( )

really 2 1/2 stars ( )