Someone I know and admire posted this on FB today, and I really want to share: Why do I love writer Zenna Henderson? My dad introduced me to her, and, "Most of her stories focus on the theme of [the dangers] of being different[, ] exemplified by the phrase 'Different is dead.' They often feature children or young people [ (The People) who originated from another planet and are] set apart by their desire to preserve their home culture, including their religious and spiritual beliefs[, which they usually only discover, for the first time, is their true heritage in their adolescence]. Their unusual abilities ('Gifts') include telepathy, telekinesis, prophecy, and healing[.] The stories describe groups of The People, as well as lonely isolated individuals, most often as they attempt to find communities and remain distinct in a world that does not understand them [and fears them if their differences are discovered]. This aspect of individuality was a common theme in most of Henderson's writing. She touches on mental illness in several tales, including obsessive-compulsive disorder in 'Swept and Garnished,' and agoraphobia in 'Incident After.' "
http://www.amazon.com/Ingathering-Complete-People-Stories-Henderson/dp/0915368587
