I found this book on a discard table (sorry, David) at a U.S. Army library. Free? Well, why not.
I went home, read it at one sitting, and at the age of sixty-eight was as frightened and uplifted as if I was eight. Wonderful, restrained, letting the imagination help the story along. It reminded me of The Earth Sea Trilogy in the sense that I can't understand why some books are labeled "Children" or "Young Adults" when they are just as valuable and enjoyable for "Grown Ups."