Customer Reviews

Circle of Three #8: The Five Paths

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is the best book in a great series.

Very realistic. Presents both sides of the argument. Doesn't make any false promises that magick will fix every problem in your life or make it go away with a snap of the fingers--but does show that through magick and faith, good things can be accomplished. The girls face very realistic hurdles due to their Wiccan involvement.

Re: the prior review--I don't think all the difficulties came about solely due to the necklace. Kate had hidden her Wiccan involvement from her parents until this issue made them ask questions. Annie's family already knew and didn't care, but she had not told her boyfriend yet, then chose to come out Wiccan in the school paper. All these experiences are quite realistic and young Wiccans may have to deal with one or all of them at some point.

I have such a boring job this summer that I was able to finally pick up this book and read it. I started reading this series because it was on display at the bookstore where I worked, and before it went out of business, I bought the first 3 books. At first it was nothing spectacular, but I was hooked all the same. It is your basic teenage novel, except that the teenage heroines are studying wicca. I enjoy fantasy novels, and therefore the supernatural, but this series is different. It looks at wicca as a religion, and also investigates magic. This book takes a look at what happens to these three teenagers as they admit to their society that they are studying wicca. Cooper decides to wear a pentacle necklace at school, which causes an uproar. Cooper faces suspension, and her freedom of speech is questioned. Her two friends and fellow wicca-studiers, Kate and Annie, are dragged in with Cooper. Should they admit to studying wicca? Annie faces the judgement of her boyfriend, and Kate the judgement of her family. But what got to me about this book is not so much the issue (is wicca/witchcraft evil?), but the issue of freedom of speech in schools. I suggest this series to anyone who is interested in wicca, or anyone who wonders about it. A fantastic story.

Updated review: January 24, 2012

Freedoms of expression and religion are challenged when Cooper wears a pentacle to school. Some teachers and students find it offensive and complain to the principal, who tries to see both sides of the sensitive issue.

Most of this series, so far, has dealt with its characters individually as each of them adjusts to their new beliefs. While 'The Five Paths' appears to be about Cooper's challenge, Kate and Annie feel it hit them too--especially Kate, who has just renewed a friendship with Jessica and Tara.

Isobel Bird hits as close to home as possible with this book! While the book deals with being Wiccan, religion happens to be more of a subtext here. Anyone who has suffered discrimination will find this book relatable.

I did some research after reading this book. Wicca has been a federally recognized religion since 1986, but it remains oppressed. Most people do not even know that Wicca is protected under our laws; it has been twenty-six years.

Just because the pentacle/pentagram really is used by Satanists and other cultures does not mean that molehills have been turned into mountains. Ms. Bird--while writing fiction--is trying to educate the rest of us about how things have remained the same because biases have kept the truth hidden for over two decades...I mean millennia.

I must say, I rate all of these books with five stars, this one should get a 10! I found it correct on how it can feel to be studying wicca in school. I've never had to go through all of what Cooper did, but I've had about my fair share in the past year. This book was well written, and at sometimes over whelming as Kate, Annie, and Cooper's lives are all spinning out of control, but it had to happen sooner or later. MIght as well be sooner, right?

The Circle of Three Series takes a new personal step in this novel. In The Five Paths, Cooper, Annie, Kate, and Sasha all return to school with new fears and apprehensions. Annie wonders how the school will accept the new her and worries if Brian will still like her without Freya. Kate knows she has to tell her parents about wicca and when she reconnects with some of her old friends she has more people that she's lying to about. And when Cooper where a wiccan pentacle to school she starts an uproar. Other people who don't know about the craft are scared by it. The school Principal even orders to take it out. Soon everyone in the school is somehow involved with this battle of free speach vrs. student's apprehensions. And by the end of this book a member may be forced to leave the circle. This book was much more personal then the rest of the series because instead of focusing on magic it forcuses more on the elements surrounding it. Kate, Cooper, and Annie learn that Junior year is much more complicated than they ever thought. I think this is one of the best books in the series thus far. I swear they just keep on getting better and better. THe next one, Above the Veil, looks amazing too. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I reccomend it to anyone who loves the series.

After reading this far in the Circle of Three books I've seen the exampls of witchcraft and the effects they have on people. This book has opend the eyes of people including me. In the book Cooper decides to show her belifes freely by wearing her pentacle star which is one of the greatest symbols involved in the Craft. Most are very unconfortable when they see her star. Will Cooper have to give up the pentacle? Meanwhile Kate is haveing trouble telling her parents about her involvement in witchcraft. Will she lose all she's worked so hard for? Also Annie decides to express her belifes in witchcraft freely. Will
her decision bring her world crashing down on her?
I rated this book a five because even though these books are about the girls and their expieriences this one really opened my eyes. And I'd just like to say that Cooper, Kate,and Annie are right, most don't truley know what witchcraft is and what it stands for... it's completely harmless unless you don't know what you're doing. And I know that some wish to make sure their children aren't invovled with the Craft, and I respect that but sometimes the best way to "protect" something, is to set it free.

School is starting back and Cooper thinking nothing of it wears a necklace with a pentacle on it. Other students and teachers feel threatened by the pentacle, they see it as a sign of evil or satan. The principal ask Cooper to stop wearing the necklace. When Cooper refuses she is suspended from school. Cooper and her father, who is a lawyer, decide to take the matter up with the school board. Annie is now assistant editor of the school newspaper. She decides to write an article on her belief in wicca and what an injustice it is to not let Cooper wear a necklace that shows her dedication to the craft. Annie, Cooper, and Kate have been talking for a while now in the past couple of books about coming out to everyone, especially to Kates parents, about their beliefs in wicca. Now that Cooper has started an uproar about her wearing her necklace, everyone is asking the girls questions about what is going on. Will Kate be honest with her parents and her other friends at school or will she just lie and act like Annie and Cooper are the only ones involved? You will have to read the book to find out and you won't be dissapointed. They deal with alot of issues and learn how to stand up for what they believe in through the good and the bad. It is one of my favorite books in the series. A must read!!

Definately the best book in the series. In this book, a ton of things happen. Kate finally reveals her involvement in Wicca to her parents, and the blow a fuse!! While she's telling this to her parents, Cooper's going through a rough spot too. She's suspended for coming to school wearing her necklace that has a pentacle on it. She takes the problem to the school board, but they tell her that she can't wear it. She gets a petition signed to get a revote, and with a little help from Sophia, she wins and is alloud to wear her pentacle. This book was definately the best in the series, and I've read them all. I would definately read this book! Not just this book, the whole series!!!!!!! They're the best!!!!!!!

This book is about the contraversy of the pentagram and religious freedom and freedom of speech. This hit very close to home for me. I deal with this contraversy everyday and the book pointed out quite a few details about both sides of the story. It went into detail about the kind of things kids now deal with and the kind of persucution people like me face. So, it wasn't just fiction, it was fact. It's a must read!! It was by-far the best book written and I give it 5 stars.

this was a really good book because it really show how certain people not into the wicca religion can be really harsh on those who are part of this unique world of witchcraft. i would recommend this book to any one who have a desire to learn of conflict between wicca and people who don't understand it.