Wise Child

Reader reviewed by Mairi

For her wide eyes and arrogant manner the girl is known as Wise Child, much as Juniper is known by the name of one of herbs she uses- when people are being nice. When they are not, people in Wise Child's small village call the dark-skinned healer on the hill cailleach, witch. Juniper is feared, but respected.

This is a beautiful combination of historical fiction and fantasy, well loved by both myself and my friends- even those who do not like to read. Something about it simply cannot be ignored. What I like about it, apart from the time period and Juniper's gentle wisdom is hard to say, but I doubt those two things alone could have led me to read it again and again.

Most libraried classify this as a children's book, but it has no childish silliness- despite the nine-year-old protagonist, it could be read and enjoyed by anyone, anywhere.