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Jan 05, 2009

Kellyann rated it:

Recently re-read this, and found it again to be the rare kind of book that makes me want to work harder and be a better person (usually only George Macdonald can do that!). And it is a wonderful story from an excellent writer, one whose work mainly dealt with mysticism and the lives of certain Christian mystics. Furlong had a beautiful mind, and I wish she'd written more fiction!

3 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 05, 2011

Quinn rated it:

"Wise Child, come to me, over the land and hill and sea..." That simple line has become a haunting sing-song in my mind, and I've been unable to forget it ever since I first read Wise Child by Monica Furlong when I was younger.

It is not a difficult book to read, and it's easy to get wrapped up in Wise Child's story. With no one to turn to after her grandmother dies, she becomes the ward of the (rumored) witch Juniper. As she spends more time with the woman, though, she More...

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Oct 17, 2009

Finalefantasy rated it:

Wise Child has recognizably modern content but an old type of writing for a novel. While it's full of good scenes, it doesn't mesh much as a single volume.

Pros: Author Monica Furlong manages a convincing setting in terms of locale, culture, industry, and character. The main character is interesting and captures a striking feeling of truth in her narration. The book is full of interesting moments, as well, with some absolutely beautiful passages in the latter half. Overall, very uniqu More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 27, 2010

Sarah rated it:

I wish I'd found this when I was still little, because I think I would have absolutely adored it then. Coming to it as an adult, I didn't get quite so absorbed.

While I still very much enjoyed it, I didn't feel particularly connected to the text. Juniper at times seemed a little too idealized, and despite the fact it was told from Wise Child's first person POV, I felt a sort of odd disconnect between the narrator's voice and the actual tale. It is being told from the adult Wise Chi More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 08, 2011

Clara rated it:

I'm a pretty firm believer in "if the book art is stunning, the story will be also"...it's back-fired on me a few times, I'm sure, but in this case, it doesn't. If you're picking up Wise Child, go ahead and pick up Juniper. And while you're at it, find a copy of Colman too (the third book in the trilogy that came out 14 years after Juniper - side note: I only learned of this book the other day, so I have yet to read it).

Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, the village healer, w More...

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Nov 06, 2010

Mariel rated it:

I heard about Monica Furlong's Wise Child from fellow goodreader Ruby Hollyberry (shout-out!). She wrote that a friend of hers attributed this book making her a witch. And Ruby said that Margaret Mahy's The Changeover tipped her off to that she was one. I freaking LOVE that book. That's a neat as hell description of a book and of course I had to check it out. I feel some major digressions coming on... Wait, is it just gas? Nah that was my dog. He's a ventiloquist pooter. He throws his fart stenc More...

6 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 05, 2008

Laura rated it:

There is no book more central to my development as a human being than this one. I can't possibly review it critically.

Some good points include a lovely style of guardian/parenting and a true acceptance/tolerance of other faiths. I also appreciate that the herb references are accurate, but that's probably because I'm a little nutty.

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Apr 15, 2011

Danika rated it:

This book was recommended to me by one of my young friends. She said it was one of her favourites. I think if I had read it when I was younger first, I would have put it at the top of my list too. I probably would have dreamed of having a life like Wise Child.

It's a lovely coming-of-age story. A slower, softer kind of fantasy that explores how a young girl, over time, learns about witchcraft. I like the authenticity of Wise Child's struggles. She doesn't like the hard work, but slowl More...

3 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 09, 2010

Erin rated it:

Oh, Wise Child. You are so ornery and lazy and lucky. Re-reading this and Juniper for the first time in several years made me wonder if they had something to do with my desire to do nothing but milk cows and spin/dye wool and bake simple foods for the rest of my life. Oh, and do magic. Duh.

But in all seriousness: a quiet, calm book that I love to a ridiculous extent. I fear the day my copy falls apart and I can't find a new one because it's stupidly out-of-print. More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 30, 2008

Maria rated it:

In counterpoint to my harsh review of Great & Terrible, I offer up one of my all time favorite books. I am open to the possibility that this book may be every bit as insufferable to my friend as her favorite was to me. It is similar in may ways, a story of an outcast girl discovering her was and magic powers as well. Wise child speaks to me because I identify with her moods and process more than just about any character I have read. The life she leads with Juniper is a secret dream of mine. More...

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Jun 09, 2008

Natalie rated it:

One of my favorites fantasy books ever, hands down.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

May 06, 2010

Trista rated it:

I read Wise Child 15 years ago and loved it so much that I introduced it to our students and staff at our wilderness school, Hawk Circle. The Wise Child books have now become a must read for just about every one that comes through our programs. I especially love Juniper and her incredibly wise way of teaching and mentoring. The story of Wise Child and Juniper has become so potent at our place that I've started a Juniper Retreat where I will be teaching many of the herbal and healing skills tha More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 25, 2009

Hannah rated it:

This was my very favourite book for a while when I was around 9 years old, I must have read it at least 10 times in a few years' time. When a certain nostalgic mood strikes me I sometimes still read a chapter here or there, and I still know the story almost by heart. To me this is one of those few old favourites that can take me back to my childhood in an instant. You know the phenomenon. I wanted to be that girl so badly, being the pupil of a witch on a Scottish island (or no, not Scottish exac More...

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Mar 26, 2010

Suna rated it:

Ach, where to start.

I was about twelve when I first read this and it blew me miles into the stratosphere for several reasons: I knew there was more to life and it was frankly neither rigid Christianity nor fatuous candle-burning whilst chanting love and peace over a chunk of rosy quartz.

This coming of age tale about paganism in early Christian Scotland hit me right between the eyes in all its' richly evocative yet very matter of fact glory.
And I have to say, having More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Dec 31, 2009

Magda rated it:

This was a wonderful book, making me, besides enjoying it, think about housework and religion.

pp. 36-37; "After breakfast Juniper began to wash up the dishes, and she asked me to sweep the floor. I fetched the broomstick to humor her, but I thought I'd better have the housework problem out with her right away.

'I don't like cleaning or dusting or cooking or doing dishes, or any of those things,' I explained to her. 'And I don't usually do it. I find it boring, you More...

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Jul 13, 2011

Synesthesia rated it:

I love this book. I first read it when I was in 7th grade and my paradigm was being shaped. It was a soft as new cement at the moment.
This book reminds me of Boulder Coaster by Acoustic Alchemy. it brings back memories of nicking chamomile tea from my grandmother's cabinet, drinking it and thinking about life and such.
In this book, Wise Child finds herself living with the compassionate Juniper who treats the ailments of people in a Scottish village even though they look at her with More...

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Apr 25, 2008

Juushika rated it:

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 h More...

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Sep 02, 2009

Ann rated it:

Hands down, all time favorite book growing up. I still read it on average once or twice a year even now. If you know any kids around fourth or fifth grade that somehow haven't read HP yet, get this to them first! It can't compare with the blatant magic/high-fructose energy of HP. This is a more natural setting where the magic/otherworldly happenings sometimes have a more 'real' explanation, but it's up the reader to decide what to believe. Loves!

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Apr 30, 2010

Nicole rated it:

I may or may not have picked up this book simply because of its cover. Who can resist the Dillons? But I really enjoyed the story. It's just my kind of fantasy, not too involved or harrowing, with a child protagonist that is flawed but intensely loved and lovable. Honestly, not a whole lot happens but I happily turned page after page.

Plus, the whole feminist-leaning, mother earth, holistic healing push was fun.

4 comments like

Jun 20, 2011

Bronwyn rated it:

I read this book when I was 10 and it has stayed with me ever since. The writing must have been incredibly evocative because I can still remember the way I visualised the story with references to where I lived at the time. I really want to re-read this plus finally look at the books that followed. I'm not a fan of the cover art - I think the Australian edition may have featured different imagery.

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Jan 28, 2011

Jillian rated it:

A lovely lovely book. This a calming and peaceful novel about Wiccan women in old Ireland. While the plot is full of Events and Challenges and Devices, the writing style is such that the story is a cool breeze blowing across my mind. This is a good time for me to read about women listening to Nature and just Being (and also avoiding being captured by arch-enemies or burned at the stake and such).

1 comment like (1 person liked it)

Jul 04, 2009

Lindsey rated it:

This story, and its pre-qual Juniper are the stories of girls learning the healing arts from other strong women. Its about becoming steeped in ones own personal power.

Lots of magic! Adventure! And pretty fabric and jewels and castles! (and food- which always makes me happy).

This is another set of books that I read and reread every few years.

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Mar 27, 2009

Ruby rated it:

Set in a small scottish village, the story of a unwanted girl going to live with the village cailleach (single woman/witch) and learning how to cast aside the village prejudice and instead become a doran, worshiper of the land. The lessons Wise Child learns should be taught to everyone to male this world a better place.

2 comments like

Apr 03, 2011

Noortje rated it:

An amazing book. I read it in Dutch originally and it used to be one of my favorites as a child. I read it in English recently and I still love it. A must read especially if you're interested / love to read about witchcraft. But even if you don't it's still a good story about an amazing woman and little girl :)

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Sep 27, 2010

weehideyhole rated it:

A very smooth, beautiful, magical read. I believe this book is viewed as a children's book, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it ~ had it finished in no time. It is a great teaching and reminder of how social norms are oftentimes unhealthy and absurd, and those viewed as "strange" are actually vibrant, amazing souls!

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 13, 2010

April rated it:

There is an interesting adventure part of the story (3 stars), but my FAVORITE parts- the 5 star parts- are the domestic scenes where they are describing the cooking, cleaning, and baking. I found that part of the book to be incredibly comforting- like drinking a cup of hot tea- and life affirming.

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Feb 12, 2012

Vikki rated it:

This is one of my all time favourite fantasy reads for children. Monica Furlong's story about a young girl learning to become a witch is a sensory, haunting, and unforgettable reading experience. The magic in this book feels plausible and is tied to physical, earthly things. This is a book of tree roots and mead, sweat and tears. A perfect coming-of-age tale for a strong reader.

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Sep 04, 2011

Brittney rated it:

Interesting read and I like the writing. A young adult/children's book set in the Middle Ages about a supposed witch and her young apprentice. Some sage words of wisdom about love, life, and how to treat others. Don't take the historical value of it too seriously and it's a great read.

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Aug 03, 2009

Ashley rated it:

I have read this book so many times, and I love it! A great story dealing with growing up, acceptance, and learning to care about/accept people as they are and look for the best in everyone. There is so much that this book has to offer! I love that there are follow up books also.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Feb 05, 2012

Liz rated it:

My Aunty bought this book for me when I was about 9 years old and I still love it as much now as I did then. I believe it's not entirely historically accurate, but the characters and messages are so beautiful and so clever. If I could rate this more than five stars, I would.

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