Furlong Books

Wise Child, a spoiled girl orphaned by the death of her grandmother and abandoned by her gorgeous and powerful witch mother, is taken in by the village witch and healer, Juniper. Wise Child quickly overcomes her fears and--despite the hard work--becomes Juniper's protégé. Wise Child is stuck between the pull of the easy life with her powerful mother and the love and satisfaction of life with Juniper. This simple and magical tale is powerful because of the beautiful prose and the well-drawn and fascinating characters. Wise Child's voice is clear and powerful. Grade: A-

Wise Child was one of my favorite books growing up. It is a simple, but powerful story that is really enjoyable for young adults and regular old adults. The characters are very unique and compelling. Monica Furlong has a great writing style that is enjoyable in itself.

Furlong's novel, set in medieval Scotland, is a hidden jewel, well-written and extremely descriptive. Wise Child's narration, though perhaps a little mature for her age, is believable and poignant, and the novel proceeds well from one event to the next. The author's portrayal of magic is unique and genuine, and historical details add credibility to the novel. I would definitely recommend this likable novel for all ages; 10/10.

There aren't any good books anymore; that's what I thought before Wise Child. This is my favorite book, it is so detailed that I could see the village and the white house in my mind.
The book starts off excellent; explaining what is going on.
It gets a tad slow at the very end, but I don't mind.
The cover is so beautiful as well; because you can see Junipers kindness right there.
Wise Child is great and I reccomend it for anyone!!!!!

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.

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. This novel definately molded my reading as a child and I can't be more thankful of it. Interesting and difficult to pull away from this book draws you in. I think I might go and re-buy both this book and Wise Child to read just for summer fun!

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. The story is well written like Wise Child. I recommend reading this book especially if you enjoyed Wise Child.

The prequel to Wise Child, Juniper is the story of Ninnoc, know as Juniper, a medieval princess sent to apprentice under her godmother. Juniper leaves her friends, family, and the comforts of her father's small palace to live with Euny, her grandmother, in a small cold shack on the edge of the kingdom. Under Euny's care she toils throughout the day, eats little, and sleeps poorly, all with the promise that, in time, Euny will teach her the knowledge and ways of a doran, the women of the world who live alongside the rhythms of nature and use their skills and magic to help others. While Juniper spends a year and a day at Euny's shack, her father's castle comes under attack by her aunt, and evil sorceress who wants the kingdom for herself. Juniper's first task as a doran will be to use her powers and what Euny has taught her to defeat her aunt and save her father's kingdom. While I prefer Wise Child, Juniper is also an engrossing, worthwhile read. Many of the same themes are present, especially the concept that nothing worthwhile comes without a price. Juniper's story is darker than Wise Child's: Euny is a tough task master and Juniper's aunt is a more immediate and threatening foe. In exchange, the elements of magic are larger and more visible. While perhaps not as enjoyable or as skillfully crafted as Wise Child, Juniper provides interesting backstory and continues to examine the path of a doran--how they learn, what their purpose is, and what trails they must face. I recommend this text, especially as a prequel to Wise Child.

Despite the similar storyline, Juniper is very different from its sequel, Wise Child. Both stories are about young women who live with a doran, working hard and suffering in order to learn from her and train to be dorans themselves. However, Juniper deviates from Wise Child's focus on the nature of love and family: unlike Wise Child, Juniper comes from a stable and loving home. Rather, Juniper's story is about assessing one's own skills and finding one's own path, even if that path takes you far away from the comfort and desires of your youth. This theme of self-discovery is worthwhile and interesting to readers of all age groups: it's instructive and comforting to the young, and reminds older readers that the sacrifice and reward of self-discovery is never really over.

Perhaps the biggest difference between Wise Child and Juniper is the role of magic in the books. In Juniper, magic plays a much more visible role and doesn't fit into the world as we know it quite as well as it does in Wise Child. Talking animals, transforming sorcerers, and magical items all transform the visibility and role of magic. While not as extreme as it could be (there are no dragons here), magic is more obvious and harder to explain in this book. As a result, the story is a little more distant and harder to identify with than Wise Child, making for a less sucessful book. Juniper's story is more exciting, with a more physical and exciting climax, but on the whole it isn't as successful or as enjoyable as Wise Child.

Nonetheless, Furlong writes in a clear, readable style, her characters are realistic and easy to identify with, an the lessons contained within the book are worthwhile and personal. It is a fitting companion to Wise Child and contains many of the concepts and themes that make that book so wonderful. As a prequel, this book successfully provides backstory and characterization that should interest anyone that has read Wise Child. I do recommend this text, primarily but not only as a sequel, and I like to come back to it every couple of years.

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. The books are imaginative and fun to read, and I'm not even a kid anymore...she just makes them fun for all ages to read...I highly recommend this book...

I hope this helped you...

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.

Mary - thank you for writing this book. It has been a terrific read and extremely applicable to my life in venture capital. You have an amazingly comprehensive view of the Boomer market and I appreciate you sharing it. I found myself making notes in the margins with thoughts to share with our portfolio companies.

I read Mary's book in response to a suggestion from a friend. I plan on creating a distribution chain based out of South America obtaining ophthalmic and optometric diagnostic equipment which is to be manufactured in China. As many of you know due diligence is the key to launching a tennable startup and I found Mary's book to be helpful in putting a name and face to my largest customer base, which is of course the boomer generation. Mary is able to effectively describe this all too often over looked demographic in a manner that is both informative and entertaining. Her insight on the subject matter is profound. After researching her qualifications and past business ventures this comes as no surprise. Throughout the chapters business oppurtunities are explored with exellent case studies presented as guiding lights. I recomend this book to anyone who is planing on understanding and consequently captializing on this limitless demographic.

Furlong's book helped us develop our company's strategy for tapping the boomer market in our backyard. Her insights, supported by concrete examples, have guided us to specific target markets that make sense for us to pursue. The book saved us endless hours of research and experimentation.

Turning Silver into Gold is the most marked and noted book I own.

It explodes with ideas that inspired me to expand my vision of my business and its mission. Dr. Mary Furlong provides specific companies -both large and small, links, and steps that had me immediately clicking, reading and signing on to be able to meet the industry innovators at her "What's Next Boomer Summit".

Glad I read the book, thrilled I attended the Summit.

The Boomer Generation, were it a country, would be the sixth largest economy in the world. Targeting this market can mean the difference between success and failure for a business, particularly small businesses that cannot afford to wait out economic down times.

Every page in this book, whether it is stats to be used for a business proposal, or a feel/tone for what works in marketing, can be used to increase your bottom line and sense of doing a good job.

Get this book about selling to boomers! It will never be far from your desk.

TWELVE-FURLONG MILE AND OTHER WORKS OF SHORT FICTION was a departure from my usual reading realm and a wise choice of entertaining reading material! What an ability Steve Scott has to captivate ones interest in a short venue with likable, clearly defined characters and some disturbing situations. There's comical bantering, effortless enlightenment of subject matter (i.e. gambling formulas & baseball cards), surprises galore and shock value! My heart was touched and ached for the 8th grader in "The Adventures of Dan Wetmeyerbent". My favorite was the beautifully written "Closing Arguments" which had me feeling I sat on the witness stand, too! Tied for second was: "Wingman", "Ken and the Princess" and "End of Latency". Too outstanding, I couldn't just pick one! I hope Steve Scott is planning on sharing more stories. I want more! more! more!

Definitely, this book was Right Up My Alley! The perfect solution for a busy person obsessed with finishing what they begin when it comes to reading is to select short stories! A bonus here: 10 short stories in one book! And, these stories were interesting as well as fast-paced. "Twelve Furlong Mile" and "Friendly Wager" would be my top picks, but I enjoyed each one and eagerly await another volume. Next book Mr. Scott?!

What a great collection of stories. There was a story for everyone! My personal favorite was "Wingman" because it draws you in with the characters and then the ending is unpredictable. A story that takes your emotions for a ride. "Ken and the Princess" is also a personal favorite. Great job with the details in each story! Looking forward to what comes out next by Mr. Scott!

TWELVE FURLONG MILE IS...10 GREAT stories...10 unpredictable endings...very enjoyable reading. The stories are clever and imaginative and it was so easy to relate personally with the characters. I'm hoping that Steve Scott has more stories coming soon. I have recommended this book to my friends and have had great feedback from them, as well. Do yourself a great favor and GET THIS BOOK!

Reading is a quiet pleasure. When a story causes me to gasp out loud, as in 'End of Latency,' the story has to have taken me by surprise. When a story causes me to laugh out loud, as in 'Two Jokers,' it's an added bonus. This reading is a not-so-quiet pleasure. The stories are absorbing, thought-provoking, and entertaining -- just what good writing is supposed to do. In our quick-paced lives, it's invigorating to become absorbed in a story that doesn't take days to unfold.

I was able to have less pain because of this book. In six weeks I have to undergo another surgery. I am less afraid and I think this helps me heal.

I found Going Under filled with useful information that helped me get through my recent hernia surgery. Sometimes you get skeptical about relaxation techniques, but the ones given here really worked for me. I also like the tone of the book. It is respectful yet informative.

This is the rare no fluff fat free book that gets right to the point.

I want to commend Dr. Furlong for her unique contribution to books on healing. The techniques she outlined were excellent and helped me get over a lot of my apprehension before my surgery. A thorough book like this in this area was needed.

I have enjoyed Dr. Furlong's television show on public TV for some time, especially because she shies away from easy answers to tough health questions. Going Under is a book without the usual fill. Even though mind/body techniques seem to be paramount in Dr. Furlong's philosophy, she is not afraid to bring up the issue of the appropriate use of narcotic drugs for surgical pain. I understand pain issues better now that I have read this book.

I recently stumbled upon these books. I bought this one as well as a few of the states ones (H is for Hoosier, C is for Cornhusker, B is for Buckeye). I think these books are really cute. I am a huge book person when it comes to children's books anyway. I thought this S is for Star book would be a neat tradition to start with our children to read each Christmas season.

This book is very informative and would be wonderful to read one letter each day leading up to christmas with a school age child. I bought this book for my 7 month old nephew and while it is nicely illustrated, I don't think it will hold his attention very well as it is much better suited to an older child. I would not suggest this book for children under 5, simply because of the reading level.

As an elementary teacher, I loved the layout, illustrations and information in this book. It reaches across age and learning ranges by having two levels of information - a shorter rhyming stanza and then extremely detailed information in the margins. The illustrations were beautiful and engaging even for children below the recommended age range - a book that will truly grow with your children! Also, it addresses Christmas traditions from cultures around the world and represents an evangelical Christian viewpoint of Jesus Christ.

I picked this up in person at the bookstore, and I bought 4 copies. We are using them for gift exchanges as well as a copy for ourselves. I homeschool two young children and decided to do two letters a day from this book and came up with a coordinating activity for each letter. There is a plethora of Christmas information within these pages. You can use it just for the rhyming portion, or go more in depth and study the margins which have everything from Bible verses to explaining the origins of certain traditions, and all sorts of interesting tidbits. The illustrations are beautiful as well. We are really enjoying it!

This book solidifies why I love Sleeping Bear Press.

The illustrations are wonderful, but the extra facts about the traditions of Christmas are just great. I learned so much just by reading this book, such as "X is for Christ." I never realized why we abbreviated Christmas, at times, for Xmas, but now I know because of this book. The book talks a lot about Christian traditions, but tells of other traditions all over the world, such as what other countries eat for their "feast."

This book is great for anyone who wants to learn more about Christmas traditions!

What a delightful book! Beside including some hiliarious recipes like "Susan Silverman's Boiled Water" from Robert B. Parker, there are interesting recipes from a number of mystery writers and places associated with mysteries. I plan to try the Tea Scones from Brown's Hotel (Agatha Christie's Bertram's Hotel) first. This is a must for mystery readers.

This is not a culinary murder mystery. Instead this tome lives up to its title as a mystery lover's cookbook. The recipes come from a cross section of some of the great genre authors either what they ate while solving an impossible puzzler or what their hero or another character cooked. The topics include what one would expect in a mystery cook book such as Dressed to Kill, Quick and Painless, Pasta Mortem, Secret Meat-ings, and Just Desserts, etc. The compilers Jo Grossman and Robert Weibezahl provide companion wit about the contributor, their sleuth, and/or the recipe.

The recipes are fun, but like some inquisitive reviewers I tested a few of the recipes on my sidekick though I allowed him to "Choose your Poison" within genre (house) rules. He enjoyed "Fowl Play", the non murder by chocolate "Just Deserts", and Millhone's "Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich", etc. However, like most sidekick sleuths he remains clueless as to why he mysteriously has received a few cooked meals from me. Don't worry he is back to the microwave (I'll use the kid to star in the sequel). Genre fans who enjoy items about their heroes or just appreciate a delightful cookbook will want to test the recipes of A TASTE OF MURDER: DIABOLICALLY DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM CONTEMPORARY MYSTERY WRITERS and follow up with the equally tasting and tasteful A SECOND HELPING OF MURDER: MORE DIABOLICALLY DELICIOUS RECIPES FROM CONTEMPORARY MYSTERY WRITERS, the next book in the series (what did you expect with a mystery you always get act two)

Harriet Klausner

Great recipes from great writers. You simply must try Patsy Ward Burk's Taco Soup. You can't get thru the winter without it!

What great fun it was to participate in this very worthwhile project and to discover that my fellow mystery writers are such fantastic cooks. The recipes are varied, well presented, and easy to follow. But even if you're not interested in stirring up something diabolically delicious, "A Taste of Murder" also serves up entertaining vignettes and bits of insider information with every recipe.

Mysteries and menus go hand in hand. Just picking up A Taste of Murder and quickly wading through it, I knew it was a recipe book that would never leave my kitchen.

Readers and chefs can expect great recipes, informative thoughts, witty remarks, and bits and pieces from Jo Grossman and Robert Weibezahl, who created the wonderful book, and the mystery writers themselves. An impressive introduction tells readers about the relationship between mysteries and menus, and each chapter adds a little more a long with the recipes. Under the chapter headings of First Instincts, Choose Your Poison, The Pot Thickens, Dressed to Kill, Kneadless Violence, Quick and Painless, Pasta Mortem, Something's Fishy, Fowl Play, Secret Meat-ings, No Place to Meat, Faithful Sidekicks, Revenge is Sweet, and Just Desserts, you will find some delicious, tempting meals. Expect to find recipes like, Bill Crider's manly recipe of Sausage-Cheese Appetizer, Cathie John's tasty Cincinnati Chili recipe with a dash of chocolate. Peter Robinson's tempting taste of Warm Pear and Stilton Salad, Sara Hoskins Frommer's bread recipe called Fred Lundquist's Sourdough Oatmeal Bread, Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone Peanut Butter and Pickle Sandwich recipe, Parnell Hall's Stanley's Head Pesto pasta, Anne Perry's Fish Pie, Leslie Glass's April Woo's Crispy Hacked Duck, Penny Warner's Hangtown Fry, Kate Charles's recipe for Quick Vegetarian Cassoulet, H.R.F. Keating's side dish recipe of Carrot Haliva, L.L. Thrasher's Boiled Cookies, and Jonathan Gash's British cake recipe called Parkin.

If you own one of those rare Bed & Breakfasts that includes live mysteries in the vacation weekend package, or know anyone who does, this is one recipe book that will add to the fun. It's a wonderful grouping of talent and taste. The recipes are worthy on their own, but it's nice to have a little mystery with one's meal - don't you think? Others must agree because it been nominated in the Anthony Mystery Awards for Best Non-Fiction.

You can't go wrong spending the dough on this one.

This is my fovorite book of the series, I like the art subjects a little better than the N.H. book, but it is great too. This really tells you a lot about the state and the art is so nice I want to cut out the pages and hang them on the wall. It uses ryme, yet ends up giving you more of a feel for what Vermont is all about than many other larger books like travel guides. These books in this series are a great way to teach kids about the states.

My 5 yr. old granddaughter requested this book for her birthday! When it can, I, of course, read it through. I like the double format very much. For a young reader there are simple explanations and for a more advanced reader there is more information. It definitely isn't your run-of-the-mill alphabet book. I'm will certainly give her more in this series.

I am an elementary school teacher and found this book to be a great way to introduce Vermont to my students as part of our fifty states theme unit. We've had fun learning new facts about each of the states and this book, as part of the Discover America Alphabet Series, is an ideal way to share the diversity of our states, their traditions and to learn interesting facts about each one. The pictures in this book are vivid and are great for sharing a special viewpoint of Vermont. The facts are interesting and encourage and promote a child's interest in the state. I highly recommend this book!

I ordered the series, Discover America State By State for our primary school library. When the books arrived, I couldn't give them up! I had to own them myself! So I paid for this set and ordered the second set for the library. The publishing company claims the books are intended for children ages 4-8 years. However, my husband and I were awed at the beautiful artwork representing each state and the wealth of information to be gained, some obvious, some very trivial but nonetheless interesting. I teach second grade. Many of my students have never been outside our state. What a fantastic way to introduce them to the beauty, contrasts, and wonder of our very own nation! I could spend the whole school year teaching language arts, social studies, and science using this set as my textbook.

This is the book! If you are the person in your organization who needs to get the job done, not just discuss the theory, then this is the book. The authors tell how a Lean Enterprise looks, how to get there and the pitfalls to look for along the way. They tell you where you will find the most benefit, and where you will find the money when you become a Lean company. It is readable, understandable and it is excellent. The pages in my copy are marked up in yellow, underlined and dog-eared. If you were afraid to try Lean before you read the book, you will put this down at the end thinking, "I must do this." And, having read the book, you will say, "And now I know how."

This is a very easy read but is packed with everything you need to know to go through the lean transformation AND avoid the mistakes many make.

I would highly recommend this book!

I have just finished this book and it is excellent! This is not just another book on Lean. This is an indictment of executives, managers and concrete heads in organizations that aspire to mediocrity.

These authors have obviously been in the trenches and understand what most of us go through as we try to implement this process. There is great advice and hard-hitting commentary on why companies are failing to get the full benefits of Lean. Check out the Lean Math Chapter where Offshore Outsourcing is compared to a Lean alternative.

Executives and managers have a huge responsibility and they are not (from what I exerience) living up to it. The authors explain why engagement is critical as well as commitment. Management should read this book and then ask themselves a lot of tough questions. Also, the whole discussion on education and institutionalization is right on the money.

This book shows why you need to change and how to do it. It focuses on the whole Enterprise and not just Manufacturing and explains why Lean is not a new fad and why it will not go away.

You are going Lean or you are not going anywhere, and this book shows why you need to do it before you are forced into it by your customers or your competition.

I hope these guys write another book. This is a breath of fresh Lean air.

I, too, read this book by Ms. Furlong some years ago in its galley proofs, no less! In my view, it is even a better intoduction to Merton's life than the Seven Storey Mountain. Read Merton's autobio, by all means, but read Furlong first. She situates Merton in his place and times, and although not a Roman Catholic, is very understanding of the monastic life,discipline and spirituality. Furlong apparently didn't have access to as many primary sources as Merton's later biographer, Michael Mott, but she does a splendid job with what documents she had in hand. She is especially compassionate, and forgiving, with Merton's love affair with his nurse. Mott goes into more detail on this interesting chapter of Merton's life, but it is easy to understand - reading both authors - why it happend and how it gives him an even greater appeal as an authentic American mystic and saint to the rest of us poor Christians. Although this will never be recognized, unfortunately, at the Vatican. Well worth reading as an introduction to the life of a great American Catholic and mystic. Read about Merton in this order: Furlong, Merton & Mott!

For anyone interested in the spiritual development of Thomas Merton, this is an excellent book. Furlong tackles her subject with sympathy and insight. Like Merton, she writes clearly, directly and truthfully. A gem.

I read this book some years ago. I feel in love with the book: from beginning to end. I strongly recommend it to the fun-loving spiritual minded.