Customer Reviews

Wise Child

5 star:		(74)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Wise Child is a beautifully written book for younger readers. It contains colourful historical detail and paints a vivid picture of the magical, mystical story of a childs life with a solitary witch or 'Doran'. Wise Child becomes orphaned and in the village auction it is decided that she should live with the local wise woman, Juniper, whom the villagers rely on in times of sickness. However the local Priest, Fillan, has the power to turn the villagers against Juniper in a time when suspected witches were often tortured and killed... It is obvious that the beliefs/cultures included in this book have been well researched, understood and brought to life by Furlong. Of all the books I have ever read, I can truly say that Wise Child is my favourite. I have read this book four times and am now 16 - too old for it really but the story and setting is so rare that I can only hope Furlong will write an adult version for me. Five Stars for a book which has provided much enjoyment as well as influencing my own views and interests through the years.

I really regret not being in the age group this book was written for when it first came out. Think of all the extra years of dreams and imaginations it could have inspired! I'm sure _Wise Child_ would have become one of those very few books that I read until the bindings fell apart, then had to buy a fresh copy as an adult. As it was, I didn't run across the book until I was "all grown up", but that didn't stop me from loving it immediately, nor from buying a copy for my best friend.

When Wise Child's grandmother dies, she is taken in by Juniper, a very wise and gentle woman who is rumored to be a witch. In truth, Juniper is a *doran*, a person who takes her power from the natural world and works magic only for the good of all. With Juniper, Wise Child learns the ways of such magic, and begins to understand her own inner powers. Then the black sorceress Maeve appears...

Magic and adventure is written into _Wise Child_'s every line. But there's a lot of wisdom too. Tolerance for diversity is a big theme, as well as respect for nature. And Juniper is about as good a role model as a young woman can ask for. If you're a parent, buy this book for your child and borrow it when they're not looking-- there's a lot in it; you won't regret it. If you're a kid, trust me, this book really is worth spending your allowance on. (You'll want to make sure your flashlight has extra batteries.) And for everyone else who loves a good fantasy, _Wise Child_ is as good as it gets. I hope you'll give it a try.

Then you would have to hold this one to your heart and have an all out debate with yourself it you could part with it. This story never gets old. No matter how many times you read it, there is always a phrase, a sentence, a moment where you are taken to another place and you feel love. Thank you Monica Furlong for such a gift.

To begin, I direct you to the original cover. Let's take a gander at the beauty of this cover, ladies and gentlemen. First of all, it's beyond beautiful. It's stunning. Two women, one grown and one small, gaze coolly at the viewer. They are surrounded by the elements of their trade, namely herbs with a pistle & morter. I salute the cover artist in this case. Both characters are unaccountably and undeniably right.

Wise Child lives in an early Scottish community. Her mother left her long ago and her father is a shipman, ever away at sea. When her grandmother dies of old age, Wise Child is nine years old and utterly alone in the world. Taken in by the local witch, Wise Child is initially reluctant to live with someone potentially evil. In time, however, she comes to love her guardian, Juniper, and the two become close. Even as Wise Child's mother, an evil sorceress, lays claim on her child and the villagers grow restless at having a witch in such close proximity the two stick together. This is a story about finding the person who loves you and bearing with them through thick and thin. It's about love.

Furlong's an elegant writer, and this was an amazingly well wrought tale. Juniper is almost without fault, though she is by no means unlikable because of her perfection. Certainly I felt the woman's hands off approach towards raising a willful child was a little bizarre. Juniper is almost never angry with the initially spoiled Wise Child, and one has to wonder what a less well-behaved tyke would have done in her place. Wise Child herself is entirely human and full of the kind of flaws that make her real and interesting. She's rarely in complete control of any situation, but she knows her own mind. The book itself is very appropriate for younger viewers. There's relatively little violence and zippo inappropriate language. Even Wise Child's flighty parents were married when she was born. You probably would have a hard time finding a book more appropriate for those kids that want a fantasy but are also attached to stories with a good solid grasp on reality. I myself was drawn to the idea of the strong wise woman raising a girl child on her own. The book works best when it recognizes different points of view and calmly points them out without screaming or battering you over the head with the moral. In fact, even as I write this, I realize that this is a story about morality in the finest sense. It's about accepting others and being true to what is good and pure in human beings, regardless of religion or beliefs. And in today's madcap world, that's exactly the kind of message we should be striving to get out there more and more. A gem.

When I read this book, I could not put it down! From the rich details to the fascinating plot, Wise Child is by far the most excellent children's story I have ever read! It was an instant classic in my house, and as soon as I finished I had to run right out and read Juniper!

One of my favorite books from my childhood and still a joy to reread, Wise Child is the story of one magical child's coming of age. Spoiled but abandoned at a young age, Wise Child is taken in my a woman named Juniper. Juniper lives apart from the small, poor Christian village that Wise Child comes from, and she is a fair but tough mentor, making Wise Child work hard and learn much. In her house on a hill, Juniper teaches Wise Child languages, math, and astronomy, how to grow, harvest, and use herbs, and how to heal the sick in the village below. Slowly, Juniper begins to initiate Wise Child into the way of a doran, a class of magical women who live in the rhythm of nature and use their magic to help those around them. Wise Child's powers blossom, but dark shadows hang over her peaceful life with Juniper: her beautiful, powerful, dangerous mother calls to her from afar, and the close-minded town threatens their safety up on the hill. The book is a magical story of the hard work of coming of age and the love and power than can result from it. Wise Child must find confidence in herself, faith in her future and her powers, and love for her others in order to grow, creating a life-affirming, strong, true message. Furlong's writing style is smooth, her characters are easy to identity with and to love, and the magic in her story is both realistic and exciting. I highly recommend this book to readers of all age groups, and I love coming back to it myself.

The best thing that a coming of age story can do is show us not only the trails and tribulations of adolescence but also the good things about it and the wonders that we reap from it. This book does exactly that. In Juniper's house, Wise Child works hard, learns to do things she doesn't necessarily want to do, and is tested, but her abilities and successes are also celebrated. Juniper is perhaps the idea parent-figure: she coaches, supports, loves, but also forces Wise Child to be strong and stand on her own two feet. As such, Wise Child's story is easy to identify with but also uplifting and promising--the reader comes away knowing that they are not alone in their difficulties, but also that there is something to be gained from it all. The balance between sacrifice and gain is perfect, making this a wonderful read for adolescents and the still-maturing of all age.

Not only is the basis of the story a strong one, the actual aspects of it, including characterization, writing style, and details such as the role of magic are all incredibly well done. Juniper is a mysterious, open-hearted, independent woman, a real role model and inspiring character. Wise Child is realistically selfish and doubtful, but also shows realistic growth and strength that the reader can imitate. Wise Child's POV is in character without being limited, aggravating, or immature, and the overall writing style is smooth, clean, and incredibly fluid and easy to read. The role of magic in the story is well thought out: Furlong makes it quite clear, through Juniper, that there are different realms of what it means to be "real," and her conception of magic manages to make sense in the visible world while still containing enough fantasy and originality to sweep the reader away. Truly this is a skillful book, perhaps the most skillful that Furlong as written. In holds up well when reread and works well for any audience.

I highly recommend Wise Child. To the adolescent, it is a story they can identify with and be inspired by; to those chronically out of adolescence, it is a way to look back and reassess our own journeys, and also a reminder than learning, maturity, and increasing strength is a never ending, never easy, entirely worthwhile journey. The book is a quick read, engrossing, and enjoyable. I'm happy to own it and return to reread it every year or two.

I absolutely love this book. I am quite grown up these days and have been for some time, but I never fail to be literally drawn into the world of Wise Child. Furlong is a fantastic and colourful writer, and I am there with the action every step of the way.

I have an old copy and I loved the cover more than the updated version, but that's just cosmetic.

I would say this book would be perfect for any Wiccan parent who wished to explain to their child about the laws of Wicca. It is full of divine imagery and colour, I wish I had have had it as a child. I will certainly be recommending it to my own daughter when she is old enough to read.

I give this book 6 stars, well I would if I could !

I loved it! I especially liked how the character Juniper was someone that was easy to look up to and like.There are so many novels when that just isn't true about the main character. It was also so imaginiative and fantastic,but in a gentle way,it eased you into the story first.

I love this book, and its prequel, Juniper (which I acually read first). I believe this is an amazing story.

It is about a girl nicknamed Wise Child who lives in a Scottish village. Her mother left her, and her father went out to sea. When her grandmother dies, the only person who will take her in is the village witch, Juniper. However, when she goes with Junipers, her eyes are opened to amazing new things to learn. But when her real mother returns offering Wise Child a life of leisure, will Wise Child go with her and forget Juniper's kindness?
I will only comment on this because others have: When I first read the book, I did not detect the Paganism implications. If it would bother you for such to be implied, you might not even notice. This book will not turn someone away from church, though it might open eyes to Nature-based religions (which, contrary to many beliefs, is not evil, just different than some other belief systems).
If you read this book, be sure to read its prequel, "Juniper" as well.

Something in Monica Furlong's rich imagery and clear love for the characters draws the reader into the story. It re-connects you to the magic that is in daily life. The characters are full and very human, not the stark good and evil that so many authors expect children to buy into. When I read this book in my early teens, I knew I'd found something special. Through much effort and pleading, I somehow managed to convince my younger sister (who doesn't like to touch books that aren't assigned for school) to read it. She read it once, and again, and again, and then she moved on to Furlong's other book, Juniper, which my sister only read twice. Wise Child was a door for her. It not only opened her mind to books, but it gave her a knowlege of some of the beauty and magic that women can possess.