Given the number of books I have read it's surprising I'd never read anything by Danielle Steel. My mom recommended I read The Gift, so I picked it up, and two days later I had finished the book. I found myself surprisingly gripped by the story, which is set in the in the United States in the1950s, when life was simple, when people believed in dreams, and when family was everything. A happy home is shattered by a child's senseless death. A stranger arrives—a young woman who will touch the lives of the family before she moves on. The love of this young woman and young man of the family, so innocent and full of hope, helps to restore a family's dreams, changing all of their lives forever with the precious gift she leaves them.

In Omaha, the Whittakers are your everyday family. Elizabeth Whittaker, the mother, cares for and loves her children, Tommy, seventeen, and Annie, five. John Whittaker, the father, is strong and provides for the family. He owns his own business, yet always manages to find time to spend with his family. Tommy is involved with sports and loves spending time with his sister, Annie, who isn’t just your ordinary five year old. Annie was the glue that held the family together. Anyone that met her instantly fell for her blonde curls, blue eyes, and warm hearted smile. However, around Christmas time, Annie becomes terribly sick from Meningitis. Two days later Annie passes away and slowly but surely, the family falls apart from the loss of their beloved little girl.

Next, the story takes us to Onawa, Iowa where the Robertson family lives. Mr. Robertson owns the best car shop business in the city. He was a very boastful, opinionated man. Mrs. Robertson stays home, cleans, cooks, and listens to whatever Mr. Robertson has to say. The Robertson’s had one child, Maribeth, a beautiful and intelligent red-head, of sixteen years. Maribeth dreams of going off to college one day, however; on the night of the Spring Dance, everything changes as Maribeth is swept off her feet by Paul Browne, the high school’s most handsome and popular jock. Later that night, Paul seduces Maribeth and rapes her. Two weeks later Maribeth discovers she is pregnant and scared and lost, Maribeth tells her parents. Shocked and devastated, Mr. and Mrs. Robertson send Maribeth away with only three hundred dollars. Maribeth boards a train and travels all the way to Omaha.

In Omaha, Maribeth meets Julie, a waitress, who helps Maribeth get a job at a local restaurant, where she works as a waitress, while the life inside her continues to grow. One day Maribeth meets Tommy Whittaker, a local customer. Tommy and Maribeth realize they have a lot in common and deep feelings start to emerge. Tommy, who is still recovering from the loss of his sister, finds comfort in Maribeth. Maribeth teaches Tommy that even though Annie is gone, she will always remain in his heart. She shows Tommy some people come through our lives to bring us a gift or blessing. At the same time, Tommy helps Maribeth with her pregnancy. He helps her find a doctor and lets her stay with his family. Maribeth brings Elizabeth and John Whittaker back together, from a relationship that has grown distant. Maribeth acts like an angel from heaven sent to help the Whittakers out of the mist, and back into the sunlight. At the same time, Elizabeth, who is a teacher, continues Maribeth’s studies. Also, Tommy and Maribeth slowly fall in love.

Then finally, on December 25, 1950, the baby that everyone had been waiting for arrived-a sweet, dimpled, strawberry blonde haired girl, named Kate, was born. However, as much as Maribeth loved Kate, she knew she could never provide the life and love she wished she could. Maribeth knew it would be the hardest thing she would ever have to do, but she also knew that sometimes life makes you do things you don’t want to. So, Maribeth decides to put Kate up for adoption, but she already knows a family that would love Kate, and provide happiness and a healthy future for her, John and Elizabeth Whittaker.

Although she loved spending time with the Whittakers, Maribeth realizes it’s time for her to go home. Even though she knew she would miss them, especially Tommy, she knew she had to go. She says goodbye and promises Tommy someday they would be together. Her parents, have truly missed Maribeth, and are ashamed of their actions, and come to pick Maribeth up. With one last kiss to Kate’s adopted family, Maribeth drives away, somehow knowing someday she will be with them and the one precious gift she had left them.


After finishing, The Gift, I found myself amazed at how much I had learned from the story. I learned everything that happens in man’s life happens for a reason. Just as it was with Maribeth who was sent to the Whittakers to bring them back together. I learned that man can’t always have what he wants. Sometimes life makes man make tough decisions man doesn’t want to make, but man realizes that it’s what’s best. Even though Maribeth loves Kate and doesn’t want to give her up, she knows it’s the right thing to do. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. I feel all of us could learn about love, faith, and strength from this book. Overall the book is very simple to read, but the only question I have and other’s might have is whether or not Tommy and Maribeth get back together. I really feel that Steel should have mentioned something about that. The Gift will take your breath away. It tells a haunting and beautiful truth about the unpredictability—and the wonder—of life.