Set against a futuristic backdrop where things are no longer rosy for the United States, Sandra McDonald‘s overly long "A Lock of Ra" centers around a mother, Ann, and Lindsay, her terminally ill daughter whose hospital stay is brightened by the gift of a locket from her grandmother. Unfortunately, such a heart-wrenching situation is portrayed in little more than a few set pieces recognizable from any tear-jerker and so fails to emotionally engage the reader. There are, however, bright spots such as the father’s emotional state, Lindsay’s reaction when she finds out what the locket is made of, the cynical use of celebrity, and Ann’s discovery that gifts from the public are not necessarily what they seem. Oddly, the ending is both surprising and unsurprising, though its cheesiness does meld well with the overall feel of the piece.