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How do you train a heart to love what is right, pure, and true? The Wise Woman enchants readers while it contrasts the ugliness of pride, selfishness and conceit with the beauty of humility, sacrifice, and compassion.

One of the themes that left the deepest impression on me as I read The Wise Woman was, “Nothing we can do can make us Somebody.” The Wise Woman by George MacDonald is the story of two little girls, neither of whom are happy with their lives. One lives in a castle, the other lives in a cottage. But the reality is that both live in a prison, the prison of pride and selfishness. It was very easy for me to start reading the story and think I am nothing like either girl. They were most despicable. (Wait, is that pride I hear?) But George MacDonald has a masterful way of pulling out the subtle thoughts and motives that each of us, as fallen, broken human beings have, that make us all so very much like the two little girls. By the time I was nearing the end of the story, I found myself praying, “Please don’t let me be like Agnes.”

I like to take notes when I read, or flag favorite passages with sticky notes or pieces of paper. I had printed out a copy of The Wise Woman to read and found myself reading it with pen in hand. I don’t remember when I’ve read a book of fiction and found so many favorite passages. The pen came in handy for other reasons, too. The copy I read was the version from Home School Adventure Company that came with literary analysis questions at the end of every chapter. The questions make you pause and think about what you have read–which is extremely difficult to stop and do when all you want to do is find out what happens next! The questions are more than worth the time, however. They cause the reader to look deeper, to understand the literary techniques George MacDonald used, and to explore the spiritual truths that he wanted to convey.

This is such a wonderful story to read together as a family! And let me assure you, this story is not just for girls. The qualities the girls possessed, and the struggles they faced, are truly universal and timeless. And as it is in the story, it is true in reality–the only way to be free of the prison of pride and selfishness is with the help that can only come from God.

Check out The Wise Woman with Literary Analysis Journal Questions today!

Disclaimer: I received a free electronic copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.