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Circle of Three #8
The Five Paths
The five-pointed star is the Wiccan symbol of the Spirit, and that's how Cooper wears it. Those not versed in the ways of the Craft find it unsettling, however. Will Cooper, Annie, and Kate be able to withstand the tide of controversy bearing down upon them?
240 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2001
8 people are currently reading
309 people want to read
About the author
Isobel Bird
27 books102 followersThis is a pseudonym of Michael Thomas Ford.
Isobel Bird has been involved in the world of paganism and witchcraft for many years. She lives and dances beneath the moon somewhere in New England.
Isobel Bird has been involved in the world of paganism and witchcraft for many years. She lives and dances beneath the moon somewhere in New England.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
March 30, 2024
It's interesting that this series came to my mind almost 20 years after the first time I picked up the third book off the shelves. But perhaps I was meant to read it in such a time as this.
This book in particular deals with freedom of religion and freedom of speech, as well as what children should be exposed to or what they shouldn't. And honestly, if you don't pick up any of the other books out of the 15 in the series.... Maybe everyone should read this one before November because just like the school board and the town of Beecher Falls.... Everyone has a decision to make and a side to choose.
This book in particular deals with freedom of religion and freedom of speech, as well as what children should be exposed to or what they shouldn't. And honestly, if you don't pick up any of the other books out of the 15 in the series.... Maybe everyone should read this one before November because just like the school board and the town of Beecher Falls.... Everyone has a decision to make and a side to choose.
September 26, 2018
This one.....really hit home. Hard.
As someone who has been been on a long winding journey with religion, this pushed out into the open alot of things that I tend to keep in the back of my mind. Pride in belief, joy in finding connection, stubborn defiance in the face of ignorance and a very real fear of what others might think or do in response. It's never easy standing up for your truth.....but it is something you must do, as Cooper did.
Something tough to keep in mind, especially now.
As someone who has been been on a long winding journey with religion, this pushed out into the open alot of things that I tend to keep in the back of my mind. Pride in belief, joy in finding connection, stubborn defiance in the face of ignorance and a very real fear of what others might think or do in response. It's never easy standing up for your truth.....but it is something you must do, as Cooper did.
Something tough to keep in mind, especially now.
November 19, 2018
Amazing. This book shows how crazy people can get when they don't understand something. I was on the edge of my seat through the whole book. Annie has her first heart break, Cooper is attacked, and Kate finally comes out of the broom closet. Her parents reaction is heartbreaking and terrible. I hope they can come to terms with Kate. The girls have faced off another store. With about 6 months left of their year and a day study, things may tense up again. Looking forward to finishing the rest of the series.
January 29, 2023
Probably one of my favorites of the series so far. This one had me in tears in some parts - sometimes tears of sadness and sometimes tears of happiness. It really hit home with me and how much I fought for my own beliefs during high school and how hard that was. I’m just happy to continue to be fighting and having not given up. I’m excited to see where the story goes from here 🖤
December 6, 2019
I liked the story, once again written as if it was an episode of a teenage drama, with a dea ex machina at the end.
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August 12, 2021It reads like an after school special.
Read
March 5, 2017The Five Paths is the eighth Circle of Three novel by Isobel Bird. This book starts a new school year for Annie, Kate and Cooper. Things are looking good for Annie, she has a senior boyfriend and a new outlook on life, thanks to channeling Freya for a while. That is until Cooper decides to start wearing a pentacle to school in honor of the path that they are on. The principal suspends her when other students complain that it makes them uncomfortable. Her father decides to fight for her right to free speech and freedom of religion, and Annie publishes an article to support her. This leads to Annie’s boyfriend dumping her and Kate’s parents freaking out on her when she admits to them that the witchcraft was her idea. They make her see a psychologist and their local priest and she is grounded indefinitely from anything involving Annie and Cooper. Meanwhile the others of the group deal with hateful words and actions directed at them when they are out in public. T.J. gets in multiple fights for Cooper, even though he wanted her to keep all the witchcraft stuff quiet so she wouldn’t get hurt by closeminded idiots. Cooper’s own mother refuses to support her fight for her rights because she doesn’t think it’s worth the fight. Finally after weeks of insults and attacks, trying to get signatures to have the school board look at her case again, Cooper gets it, but they say they are not going to change their minds. Until a witchy lawyer comes in and starts citing legal precedent for a lawsuit (one of which uses my own alma mater!). This book raises a lot of questions about freedom of speech and freedom of religion, and what gets to be covered and why. Definitely a good read!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 4, 2016
If you are an opponent of Wicca, then this is absolutely a series you will want to stay away from, especially this volume of the series.
This particular volume basically defends a person's right to practice Wicca moreso than any other volume in the series. The arguments in favor will come as familiar words to those who already are open-minded; they will come as utter nonsense to those who are intolerant of those who follow the Wiccan path.
The basic problem stems from Cooper's desire to wear a pentacle necklace. She wears it to school, and there's where the problem is. She's called into the principal's office, and the principal tells her that she needs to remove the necklace, that it's presence is something some other students and teachers find upsetting.
In fact, the story, around p. 57, has the principal saying how the teachers had attended a workshop that “was a program designed to help educators identify students who might be...having personal problems or who might be potential threats to the other students.” In other words, wearing a pentacle was being interpreted as making Cooper a potential threat to other students in the school, the teacher's and students associating the necklace with Satanism or, perhaps even worse, as a sign of a possible school shooter/killer/major troublemaker.
She refuses to stop wearing the necklace and, as a result, she is suspended. She's allowed to get a petition up to present to the school board to get them to reconsider her suspension, but another student who hates her gets up a petition to force the board to keep Cooper suspended.
Her father tries to argue for her, pointing out that students are allowed to wear crosses, Star's of David, or head-coverings as part of their religion, so why shouldn't Cooper be allowed to wear her necklace as part of hers. The principal's response is that Wicca is not an “established, official” type of religion.
The rest of the book continues Cooper's battle to protect her right to wear the necklace, the tremendous opposition she gets from some adults and students, and her ultimate confrontation with the school board.
The book is excellent in how it shows that Wicca is thought of by many people as not being a “real” religion since it doesn't have an established text of beliefs or a hierarchy of priests/ministers/rabbis who direct the religion and serve as go-betweens between the “faithful” and the “god” that they worship.
This particular volume basically defends a person's right to practice Wicca moreso than any other volume in the series. The arguments in favor will come as familiar words to those who already are open-minded; they will come as utter nonsense to those who are intolerant of those who follow the Wiccan path.
The basic problem stems from Cooper's desire to wear a pentacle necklace. She wears it to school, and there's where the problem is. She's called into the principal's office, and the principal tells her that she needs to remove the necklace, that it's presence is something some other students and teachers find upsetting.
In fact, the story, around p. 57, has the principal saying how the teachers had attended a workshop that “was a program designed to help educators identify students who might be...having personal problems or who might be potential threats to the other students.” In other words, wearing a pentacle was being interpreted as making Cooper a potential threat to other students in the school, the teacher's and students associating the necklace with Satanism or, perhaps even worse, as a sign of a possible school shooter/killer/major troublemaker.
She refuses to stop wearing the necklace and, as a result, she is suspended. She's allowed to get a petition up to present to the school board to get them to reconsider her suspension, but another student who hates her gets up a petition to force the board to keep Cooper suspended.
Her father tries to argue for her, pointing out that students are allowed to wear crosses, Star's of David, or head-coverings as part of their religion, so why shouldn't Cooper be allowed to wear her necklace as part of hers. The principal's response is that Wicca is not an “established, official” type of religion.
The rest of the book continues Cooper's battle to protect her right to wear the necklace, the tremendous opposition she gets from some adults and students, and her ultimate confrontation with the school board.
The book is excellent in how it shows that Wicca is thought of by many people as not being a “real” religion since it doesn't have an established text of beliefs or a hierarchy of priests/ministers/rabbis who direct the religion and serve as go-betweens between the “faithful” and the “god” that they worship.
December 17, 2013
Cooper, Annie, Sasha and Kate decide to do a ritual before going back to school after the summer holidays it's a simple Ritual for help with there schooling but what decides to bless in the Ritual causes all sorts of trouble at school, How will things work out will everything be alright. Another excellent read cannot wait to the next one.
August 29, 2012
Another good and soft book for reading. I found it interesting to see Kate's parents reaction to her envolvement in Wicca. And, to be honest, it didn't surprise me and it is much more common that one would think.
Reccomend it.
Reccomend it.
April 22, 2014
This is the least favorite of mine in the entire series. I feel that this book, while touching upon some valid concerns and information, was uneccesary. Perhaps with a third reread I might appreciate it before, but as of now, I read it only for completion purposes.
January 13, 2015
The book centers around the reactions the girls get from family / friends / school after they tell them they're involved with Wicca. It's a good book but not the best of the series, although it touches upon important matters.
July 25, 2008
*BIO*
November 20, 2016
Aww, look, we've all come out of the (broom) closet, and I want to be cynical about the ridiculously over-the-top happy ending at the end of the book, but I can't. Awwww. You tell 'em, Cooper.
September 29, 2018
Best book since No.2 in my opinion.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews