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Circle of Secrets [Hardcover]

Kimberley Griffiths Little (Author)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2011 | Age Range: 8 and up | Lexile Measure: 800L (What's this?)
Critically acclaimed author Kimberley Griffiths Little weaves a haunting story of friendship and family and the power of faith, once again set against the lush backdrop of the Lousiana bayou.

After her mother walked out on Shelby Jayne and her dad, Shelby thought she'd never speak to her mamma again. But with her dad leaving the country for work, it turns out she doesn't have a choice: Shelby has to move back into her mamma's house, deep in the heart of the Louisiana bayou.

Her new classmates tease and torment her, so Shelby's relieved to finally find a friend in Gwen, a mysterious girl who lives alone on the bayou. But Shelby can't help wondering if Gwen has something to do with the puzzling messages she finds hidden in the blue bottle tree behind her house. The only person who might be able to explain is her mamma -- but Shelby's not ready to ask. Not yet. It may take a brush with something from the beyond to help Shelby see that the power to put her own ghosts to rest is within her reach.

Kimberley Griffiths Little's haunting and powerful tale brings one girl's attempt to grapple with family, friendship, and forgiveness to beautiful, vivid life.

Frequently Bought Together

Circle of Secrets + The Healing Spell + When the Butterflies Came
Price for all three: $32.82

Buy the selected items together
  • The Healing Spell by Kimberley Griffiths Little Paperback $5.39
  • When the Butterflies Came by Kimberley Griffiths Little Hardcover $14.58

Editorial Reviews

Review

Praise for THE HEALING SPELL:

"An incantational tale of Cajun magic and gators in the bayou and of the love and silence between mother and daughter." -- Richard Peck, Newbery Award-winning author of A YEAR DOWN YONDER

"Kimberley Griffiths Little's THE HEALING SPELL is an atmospheric, affecting story of hope and devotion, as elegant and mysterious as bayou country itself." -- Cynthia Leitich Smith, acclaimed author of TANTALIZE and ETERNAL

"Little explores the extremes of childhood guilt and its consequences in this harsh yet well-crafted story about fully drawn people. The bayou, with its rich culture, is an atmospheric character that overlays the story with mystery and dread. A special offering for readers seeking a challenge of the heart as well as the mind." -- BOOKLIST

"Middle school readers will find a realistic yet haunting quality to Livie's life in the bayou. While there is an exotic feel to the description of the lush green and the cool swirling water, Livie's experiences are the universal experiences of growing up to face who you are and where you fit in." -- CHILDREN'S LITERATURE

"A wonderful coming-of-age story." -- SUNDAY ADVERTISER

Starred Review by School Library Journal

Gr 5-8–A story of loss, love, and forgiveness. When Shelby Jane’s father is sent out of the country for his work and her Grandma Phoebe must have an operation, she is sent to live with her mama deep in the Louisiana bayou. Because Shelby, 10, believes that her mother abandoned her, the start of this mother/daughter reunion is contentious, and Shelby seems determined to maintain her distance. Mirage is a traiteur, a healer who ministers to those in need with herbal remedies, prayers, and patience. Selby’s reluctance to give an inch at first makes her transition to life in the bayou that much more difficult. She can’t, however, squelch her fascination with the blue bottle tree in the backyard. Mirage explains that the bottles are supposed to capture spirits and that notes are put inside to send messages from the beyond. A mysterious tone permeates this gripping story. Shelby is a believable, fully developed character, as is Mirage. When the child starts at her new school, she is drawn into a frightening truth-or-dare challenge by the in crowd, which foreshadows future eerie, terrifying developments. Her strong friendship with mysterious Gwen dovetails with her determination to understand notes she takes from the blue bottle tree and Mirage’s references to painful memories she is trying to forget. Little’s rich, vivid prose and characterization create an intriguing universe in which realism and mysticism intertwine as the story’s secrets unravel. Fans of Little’s The Healing Spell (Scholastic, 2010) and Donna Jo Napoli’s Alligator Bayou (Random, 2009) will be well served by this selection.
–Renee Steinberg, formerly at Fieldstone Middle School, Montvale, NJ
School Library Journal, December 1, 2011

About the Author

Kimberley Griffiths Little is the author of THE HEALING SPELL and CIRCLE OF SECRETS, as well as dozens of short stories that have appeared in numerous publications, and the novels BREAKAWAY, ENCHANTED RUNNER, and THE LAST SNAKE RUNNER. She is the winner of the Southwest Book Award. Kimberley lives near the banks of the Rio Grande in New Mexico in a solar adobe house with her husband and their three sons.
See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

  • Age Range: 8 and up
  • Hardcover: 336 pages
  • Publisher: Scholastic Press; 1 edition (October 1, 2011)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 054516561X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0545165617
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1.2 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #890,200 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

› Visit Amazon's Kimberley Griffiths Little Page
Kimberley Griffiths Little
When I was a kid I read a book a day, scribbled stories, and dreamed about having my very own book on the library shelf. Let me tell you, it's a fun place to hang out.

I adore Louisiana, Paris, Bulgaria, England, Scotland, Egypt, and anything old and musty with a secret story to tell.

I grew up in San Francisco, but now live in an adobe house on the banks of the Rio Grande with my husband and sons. I think I've drunk so much Land of Enchantment water that some of that ancient magic got into my blood and now spurts out my pencil--I mean ergonomic keyboard.

Customer Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
(11)
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See all 11 customer reviews
“ I'd recommend this book for children and adults alike. ” Meg Spooner  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
“ I just loved it and am passing along the word along with everyone else I know that has read it. ” Panther Teacher  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Cajun Ghost Story Spooky, But Heartwarming October 26, 2011
By S. Jensen
Format:Hardcover
I agree with the reviewer who said she thought nothing could top THE HEALING SPELL - until she read CIRCLE OF SECRETS. This one's got the same Cajun charm as Little's debut, as well as an added magic. That supernatural touch gives the story a unique depth, making it more than just a creepy ghost tale and more than just a coming-of-age tale. It's a perfect blend of both. I loved this shivery (but not too shivery for middle graders) tale with its exotic setting, its flawed characters, its mystery, its everything. I've been recommending this one to everyone I know! Seriously, that's how much I enjoyed it.

Susan
[...]
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Magic on the Bayou December 18, 2011
By Vonna
Format:Hardcover
I have literally been carrying this book around and showing it to people. Not just one of the best MG books I've read this year--it's one of the best MG books I've read, period! This is a magical, mystical, and haunting story of a girl, a ghost and a mother who people say is a swamp witch. Kimberly Griffiths Little's beautiful writing and outstanding storytelling swallowed me whole from the first page. I could not put it down.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Mysterious Family Drama Blending Past and Present July 16, 2012
By Cheryl C. Malandrinos VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
Circle of Secrets by Kimberley Griffiths Little is a family drama filled with secrets, mystery and ghosts of the past. In this haunting tale, Little has blended a superb plot, rich descriptions and well-developed characters to come up with a page turning middle grade novel. For me, Circle of Secrets started off a bit slow. I wasn't truly captivated by the story until some of the pieces started to fall into place. Young people, however, will find Shelby Jane a relatable character whose strained relationship with her mother propels the plot forward during the first half of the book. Shelby is dealing with her anger over Mirage abandoning the family. She certainly has no desire to live with her, but it's entirely out of her control because her father is temporarily out of the country. This speaks so well to how a young person can feel about the lack of control she has over her own life.

From the time Shelby first meets Gwen, mystery surrounds the girl. The more time they spend together, the more questions Shelby has about Gwen's ties to the blue bottle tree behind Mirage's house and why her mamma refuses to go near it. What I truly like about this book is how well Little tied the past to the present, and sometimes in unexpected ways. Little brings everything together nicely, leaving the reader satisfied.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars compelling, intriguing.
Depicts a way of life not in the experience of most people. Unusual setting, unusual sequence of events keeps you wondering and turning pages. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Linda Rock
5.0 out of 5 stars awsome book
this was a really good book because this girl is going though so much like having to live in her mothers house even though she mostly have knew her father because her mother have... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Hernandez Family
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this Book!
The Healing Spell (a previous middle grade written by Kimberley Griffiths Little) had personal meaning for me because I also had a strained relationship with my mother and she... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Theresa Milstein
5.0 out of 5 stars A hauntingly beautiful tale
With details of the Louisiana Bayou as the backdrop, Little tells a heart-wrenching but beautiful tale of friendship, family, and forgiveness. Read more
Published 14 months ago by E Cruz
5.0 out of 5 stars A page turning ghost story that makes you feel warm all over
All of the other posted reviews capture the story of Shelby which Little writes with perfect authenticity. Read more
Published 14 months ago by Panther Teacher
5.0 out of 5 stars Hooked!
If anyone reading this has never known what it feels like to be "hooked" on a story from the very beginning, I suggest that they learn the concept by reading this book. Read more
Published 15 months ago by Barbara B. Wallace
5.0 out of 5 stars Courtesy of Mother Daughter Book Club. com
When Shelby Jayne's mamma, Mirage, left their family, Shelby swore she'd never forgive her. Now it's a year later, and because her father will be out of the country working for six... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Cynthia Hudson
5.0 out of 5 stars Just beautiful, and nostalgic in the best way possible.
I pre-ordered this book after I read The Healing Spell, Little's first book set in the Louisiana bayou. Read more
Published 19 months ago by Meg Spooner
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