Friday Spines Book Review Number 15:
Juniper is book two in the excellent Doran series. I read it before book one (called Wise Child) as it's actually set before Wise Child. This might also have something to do with the fact that I didn't actually own Wise Child at the time...who knows? They can be read in any order.
Juniper follows a girl, called Ninnoc. Her father is the king of Cornwall, a place that should be peaceful and happy, but the serene beauty of the land and its inhabitants is being thwarted. The slightly vain and spoiled Ninnoc doesn't pay much attention to the situation in the Wooden Palace until a harsh, dirty-looking woman named Euny comes to consult with her father. Ninnoc is bothered by Euny, and throws several tantrums when she learns that, in a year's time, she is to live with the woman--her godmother, much to the girl's shock--for a year and a day. She will not be forced to go, but when the time comes, she somehow feels the unease floating about her home and decides that leaving it is the right thing to do.
Life with Euny is hard for the young girl. Her powerful godmother scorns her naiveté, refusing to help her dress, find food (Euny barely seems to eat) and call her by her childhood nickname, as "Ninnoc" turns out to be. Juniper, as she is called now, must memorize endless lists of useless-seeming herbs, clean the tiny cottage and prepare meals for the two of them. She becomes used to the work, and even comes to enjoy the solitude that at first tortures her. A stay with Euny's gentle friend Angarad, frightening ceremonies and the acquisition of an owl companion named Moon are in Juniper's year and a day with her godmother, and when she returns to the Wooden Palace, she discovers a childhood enemy who may have grown as much as she.
The story of Juniper is as mesmerizing as the writing. This is a book you'll want to read alone at home, preferably when it's raining and you have access to unlimited tea. Juniper is written in a way that will stay with you for years afterward, giving you quiet strength as you remember Juniper's story.
Girls may especially enjoy this book, as there are many strong female characters in the story, but men are represented as well. It's recommended for ages 10 and up, as younger readers may find it harder to identify with Juniper's newfound awareness of herself at the end of the story. There's no inappropriate content--the book contains magic (not the Harry Potter sort, more of the kind you'd find among the women of King Arthur's time) but does not disrespect any religions.
Other things I liked about this book:
Juniper follows a girl, called Ninnoc. Her father is the king of Cornwall, a place that should be peaceful and happy, but the serene beauty of the land and its inhabitants is being thwarted. The slightly vain and spoiled Ninnoc doesn't pay much attention to the situation in the Wooden Palace until a harsh, dirty-looking woman named Euny comes to consult with her father. Ninnoc is bothered by Euny, and throws several tantrums when she learns that, in a year's time, she is to live with the woman--her godmother, much to the girl's shock--for a year and a day. She will not be forced to go, but when the time comes, she somehow feels the unease floating about her home and decides that leaving it is the right thing to do.
Life with Euny is hard for the young girl. Her powerful godmother scorns her naiveté, refusing to help her dress, find food (Euny barely seems to eat) and call her by her childhood nickname, as "Ninnoc" turns out to be. Juniper, as she is called now, must memorize endless lists of useless-seeming herbs, clean the tiny cottage and prepare meals for the two of them. She becomes used to the work, and even comes to enjoy the solitude that at first tortures her. A stay with Euny's gentle friend Angarad, frightening ceremonies and the acquisition of an owl companion named Moon are in Juniper's year and a day with her godmother, and when she returns to the Wooden Palace, she discovers a childhood enemy who may have grown as much as she.
The story of Juniper is as mesmerizing as the writing. This is a book you'll want to read alone at home, preferably when it's raining and you have access to unlimited tea. Juniper is written in a way that will stay with you for years afterward, giving you quiet strength as you remember Juniper's story.
Girls may especially enjoy this book, as there are many strong female characters in the story, but men are represented as well. It's recommended for ages 10 and up, as younger readers may find it harder to identify with Juniper's newfound awareness of herself at the end of the story. There's no inappropriate content--the book contains magic (not the Harry Potter sort, more of the kind you'd find among the women of King Arthur's time) but does not disrespect any religions.
Other things I liked about this book:
- Juniper's struggle (the want for power against what she knows is right) is not depicted in black and white. We can empathize with her no matter what side she takes, and will leave readers questioning other simpler stories. Also, this angle of the age-old conflict is not often discussed, and is an interesting take on a seemingly simple question.
- The imagery is stunning: Even when Juniper fails to notice a cloud formation or particular plant, it is pointed out to us in vivid but not overly detailed language.
- Symbolism is explained to the reader in the book. You'll get more out of it when read with similar stories (see the bottom of my post), but a detailed knowledge of symbolism isn't needed to appreciate the author's adept use of it.
Other books you may enjoy: The Mists of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley; Ten Queens, by Milton Meltzer; and Women of Ceamelot, by Mary Hoffman.
Happy reading!
M. Gabrielle
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