Helpful Score: 4
Wise Child, a yong spoiled Scottish girl, is left parentless after her
grandmother passes away and the only villager who will take her in is
Juniper, the village herbalist and healer -and evil Witch- according
to Father Fillan. Scared, but secretly curious, Wise Child begins her
new life as a "Doran", where she learns how to live in rhythm with the
earth, according to the stars, the plants, and the energy and patterns
of nature. Life with Juniper is not easy, growing plants, and making
potions is hard work, and she is tempted by the offer of an easy life
from the powerful Sorcerer Maeve who is known to cause harm to anyone
who gets in her way. This sorcerer also happens to be Wise Child's
mother, who had abandoned her many years ago. Not sure who she should
live with, Wise Child is torn, but far more serious is the sickness
that comes to the village, and the rumors that Juniper is the cause of
this plague. Will the Dorans escape the dangerous situation? Although
this story is a "historical fiction" I can imagine that this is how
Witches may have lived a few hundred years ago. I would also recommend
this book as a simple way to introduce a positive and realistic
concept of Witchcraft, and the misunderstandings and intolerance that
surround it, to a curious individual of any age.
grandmother passes away and the only villager who will take her in is
Juniper, the village herbalist and healer -and evil Witch- according
to Father Fillan. Scared, but secretly curious, Wise Child begins her
new life as a "Doran", where she learns how to live in rhythm with the
earth, according to the stars, the plants, and the energy and patterns
of nature. Life with Juniper is not easy, growing plants, and making
potions is hard work, and she is tempted by the offer of an easy life
from the powerful Sorcerer Maeve who is known to cause harm to anyone
who gets in her way. This sorcerer also happens to be Wise Child's
mother, who had abandoned her many years ago. Not sure who she should
live with, Wise Child is torn, but far more serious is the sickness
that comes to the village, and the rumors that Juniper is the cause of
this plague. Will the Dorans escape the dangerous situation? Although
this story is a "historical fiction" I can imagine that this is how
Witches may have lived a few hundred years ago. I would also recommend
this book as a simple way to introduce a positive and realistic
concept of Witchcraft, and the misunderstandings and intolerance that
surround it, to a curious individual of any age.
Helpful Score: 1
Anyone into fantasy or lore will love this book. Its a must read taht goes fast. The last page will make you need toread teh next book. Counting the the pre book this is the second book.
Helpful Score: 1
This was a pretty good book about magic and witchcraft. Fans of fantasy should like it.
Helpful Score: 1
A treasured series in our household. Beautifully written and filled with magical insight. Waiting till our daughter is old enough for us to read it to her.
Lots of people I've known have really loved this book, but something about the writing style just felt a little "off" to me. I'm hoping it will find a home with someone who falls in the camp of loving it and will appreciate it more than I do. :)
Great book!
This book is hard to categorize. The main character is young, so it does fall in YA. The book is set in fairly realistic old Scotland, where there is still a memory of old magic, but the new Christian religion is taking over. But in this book "magic" actually does exist. The main character is taken in by a "doran" which is something like a druid, someone who feels the pattern of all life and finds their place in it. But her mother is still living, though she abandoned the child years ago. For some reason, she tries to take the child back, and almost succeeds, because she is a sorceress. So we have a sorceress, who is truly cruel, an intolerant priest, and a pagan who believes there is no conflict between appreciating the pattern of all life and belief in Jesus. Interesting to see how the girl makes choices as she grows up in this setting.
From Publishers Weekly
"In this exciting, well-written fantasy, the setting (Britain in the Dark Ages) is as much a character as Wise Child and her guardian Juniper. Orphaned by the death of her grandmother and her sailor-father's disappearance, Wise Child chooses to become the ward of Juniper, the village wisewoman who is healer, midwife and witch. Under Juniper's kind but stern tutelage, Wise Child thrives, learning herb lore, reading and basic survival in those difficult times. Wise Child manages to live between the Churchrepresented by the grim village priestand the witchcraft that Juniper would have her learn. This delicate balance is destroyed by the coming of Maeve, Wise Child's mother, who had abandoned her. Her evil awakens the real power of Wise Child as well as the superstitions of the village, rendering the trial of Juniper for witchcraft inevitable. Self-realization enables Wise Child to save both herself and Juniper in an exciting climax. Though the ending may strike some as too easy, this is an intriguing portrayal of an ancient way of life, and Wise Child is an engaging heroine." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
"In this exciting, well-written fantasy, the setting (Britain in the Dark Ages) is as much a character as Wise Child and her guardian Juniper. Orphaned by the death of her grandmother and her sailor-father's disappearance, Wise Child chooses to become the ward of Juniper, the village wisewoman who is healer, midwife and witch. Under Juniper's kind but stern tutelage, Wise Child thrives, learning herb lore, reading and basic survival in those difficult times. Wise Child manages to live between the Churchrepresented by the grim village priestand the witchcraft that Juniper would have her learn. This delicate balance is destroyed by the coming of Maeve, Wise Child's mother, who had abandoned her. Her evil awakens the real power of Wise Child as well as the superstitions of the village, rendering the trial of Juniper for witchcraft inevitable. Self-realization enables Wise Child to save both herself and Juniper in an exciting climax. Though the ending may strike some as too easy, this is an intriguing portrayal of an ancient way of life, and Wise Child is an engaging heroine." Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc.
In a remote Scottish village a girl called Wise Child is abandoned by her parents and raised by a sorceress.
