16. Wise Child

by Monica Furlong (240 pgs)

This is a story about a child who's parents, while not dead, have left her a virtual orphan. Set in Middle Age Scotland, Wise Child is taken in by Juniper, the local herbwoman or witch, depending on who you talk to. Juniper begins to teach Wise Child her art and a sudden renewed interest in the part of Wise Child's mother begins to cause a great deal of strife.

There is a pervasive moral discussion going on here about idleness and sloth and I found as I read I was much more inclined to do housework (which is....just weird.)