Though Juniper enjoys the easy life of a medieval princess, she chooses to learn about herbs, healing, and the magic within nature from her strange and difficult godmother. As her training comes to an end, Juniper discovers that her power-hungry aunt is using black magic to seize the throne. Juniper must use her as-yet-untested powers to stop her—before the kingdom is destroyed!
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 5 Up-- A rich, deeply colored novel of a young girl's coming of age. Ninnoc is the indulged only child of King Mark of Cornwall as Christianity is beginning to overcome the ancient Celtic religion of the Mother Goddess. She has abilities as a healer and the ambition to rule her father's small kingdom. She is sent to her unusual and unappealing godmother, who teaches her to become a doran , a sort of wise woman or white witch. Euny is no fairy godmother--her lessons are hard, slow, and obscure. Ninnoc returns home to find her father's kingdom under her evil aunt Meroot's enchantment. She then realizes that she must use her new powers to save both herself and her cousin Gamal, the gentle musician whom Meroot is forcing to become a warrior knight. Furlong's story, the prequel to Wise Child (Knopf, 1987), is neatly constructed, with several interesting parallels embellishing the story line. Background details are vivid and smoothly incorporated. The feminist perspective is clear but not obtrusive; characters of both sexes are well drawn and balanced as to appeal and interest. The pace is sure and steady with light touches of humor. The action is quite believable given the beliefs of the time, and our own growing knowledge of psychology, herbalism, and pre-Christian religions. Historical fantasy of the calibre of Bradley's Mists of Avalon (Knopf, 1982), and just as satisfying. --Barbara Hutcheson, Greater Victoria Public Library, B.C., Canada
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
“This prequel to Wise Child recounts the childhood and spiritual initiation of Juniper, who will in turn pass down the secret teachings of the dorans to Wise Child. Readers will again enjoy the details of herb-gathering, spell-casting and mystic rituals. An atmospheric story that will both satisfy confirmed fantasy fans and involve readers new to the genre.”—The Bulletin
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Customer Reviews
“ Although this is the better book, I would still recommend you read Wise Child first, as it makes it more of a surprise when characters from there come up in Juniper. ”
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I'm a guy (you know the drill - testosterone has me rooting for the robots in the terminator movies) with 3 young daughters and so story time for me can be it's own kind of hell, overpopulated with too many thoughtful ponies, joyous princesses and other terrors from the Id.
Juniper at least is a story that can engross a child while being satisfying to the adult reader. I never once had the urge to plunge my head through the sheetrock in the bedroom whereas when forced to read stories like the Pony Pals, that's all I can think about. The wise women in Juniper are are a bit too knowing and all seeing, the plot a bit formulaic but other than that, it's a story of growing up, persistence against adversity good and evil, courage and adventure and some things in between. Same holds through the rest of the trilogy: Wise Child and Colman though they're not written in order.
I suspect that these stories catch the mind of young girls more than boys and are aimed more at a female audience. I don't know if I would have read it by myself, but with mission to read to my daughters, it was an enjoyable journey. I could see adult women enjoying this for it's own sake. In any case the books of this trilogy are well above the average children's fare for girls or for boys. Definitely worth the price of admission.
Juniper at least is a story that can engross a child while being satisfying to the adult reader. I never once had the urge to plunge my head through the sheetrock in the bedroom whereas when forced to read stories like the Pony Pals, that's all I can think about. The wise women in Juniper are are a bit too knowing and all seeing, the plot a bit formulaic but other than that, it's a story of growing up, persistence against adversity good and evil, courage and adventure and some things in between. Same holds through the rest of the trilogy: Wise Child and Colman though they're not written in order.
I suspect that these stories catch the mind of young girls more than boys and are aimed more at a female audience. I don't know if I would have read it by myself, but with mission to read to my daughters, it was an enjoyable journey. I could see adult women enjoying this for it's own sake. In any case the books of this trilogy are well above the average children's fare for girls or for boys. Definitely worth the price of admission.
13 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Ninnoc finds herself caught in a web of love, friendship and magic. Her life at the palace is interupted by her having to go to her god mother's house to learn to defeat her evil aunt using her own good magic against her aunt's bad. Mainly, this is a story of love, friendship and magic, all tied into a beautifully written prequil to Monica Furlong's Wise Child. I have enjoyed reading Wise Child and Juniper over and over agiain since fourth grade, this is truely a book for all ages so i'd say forget that young adult stamp there and buy this book! It is amazing!
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
A Kid's Review
Format:Mass Market Paperback
What would you do if you, the princess of Cornwall were tolld to live with your disgusting, peasant of a godmother in a tiny shack on the outside of town? this is what happened to Juniper. She had always known there was something special about her since the day she picked up a stick and it wiggled about like a snake. She had a great life with her cousin, Gamal,her parents, and her friends. When she moved in with Euny everything changed. She was underfed, dirty, tired, and had to sleep on the floor. And when the year was over, she found out her wicked aunt Meroot had put a curse on her country, her unborn brother is going to rule the county in her place, and Gamal has been frozen in a trance by Meroot, too.
Monica Furlong writes with so much detail, and everything is full of so much color and can be pictured in your mind. It is almost as if you're in the book, living in Euny's house, walking the long tiring journies, and learning the ways of the Doran yourself.
If you like enchanting stories about magic and the struggles between good and evil you will like this book. I did, and I couldn't stop reading until it was over. I went on the read the sequels Wise Child and Colman, and I hope you will too and like then all as much as I do.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
:)
I had this book as a child and lost my copy, I couldn't find it anywhere until I finally found it here, shipped quick
Published 2 months ago by Melissa
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Mythic Fantasy For All Ages
"Juniper" has been one of my favorite novels for many years, and I was shocked when I first learned that it was considered a "young adult" book! Read more
Published on February 26, 2011 by Naomi
4.0 out of 5 stars
"Good dorans are made by good teachers..."
In 1991, Monica Furlong completed a prequel to her novel Wise Child, detailing the childhood and apprenticeship of the previous novel's wise woman, Juniper. Read more
Published on November 18, 2010 by Rahina McWethy
3.0 out of 5 stars
alot thrown together into the cauldron of a magical read
As one who enjoys fantasy, I found Juniper a fairly satisfying and magical read. I thought the beginning third of the book was very strong. Read more
Published on July 6, 2009 by Katherine M. Spada-basto
5.0 out of 5 stars
Timeless
This is book is at the top of my all time favorite books as a child(I'm 21 now). I read this book a million times over and if I could find it I'd do it again. Read more
Published on May 17, 2008 by Revenant
4.0 out of 5 stars
A journey of self-discovery. Not as good as Wise Child, but...
The prequel to Wise Child, Juniper is the story of Ninnoc, know as Juniper, a medieval princess sent to apprentice under her godmother. Read more
Published on August 22, 2006 by Juushika
5.0 out of 5 stars
the story of juniper.
After reading Wise Child I was very happy to discover Juniper. It is the story of Juniper and how she became a doran after enduring her teaching from Euny. Read more
Published on August 9, 2006 by C. Ordonez
5.0 out of 5 stars
Definately read this...
If you have read Wise Child...(I don't know, I read Wise Child first--I don't know if that's out of order or not)...anyway, this is a great book to go along with Wise Child. Read more
Published on February 20, 2005 by Raven
4.0 out of 5 stars
zen
I picked up 'Juniper' in my local used bookstore a few years back, in the mood for a simplistic YA fantasy. I had never heard of Furlong, nor had I read 'Wise Child'. Read more
Published on October 26, 2004 by Chalice & Codice
5.0 out of 5 stars
Magical and Everlasting.
When I was in elementary school I read Wisechild and loved every word in it. Then when I was in my 20's I discovered Juniper the pre-quel. Read more
Published on May 4, 2004 by Hsin-yi Wang
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