Book Review: Hidden Passages by Villa SpiderHawk

Title: Hidden Passages: Tales to Honor the Crones
Author: Villa SpiderHawk

 Summary: "Brimming with hope and beautifully written, these eight stories of women helping women and girls through the challenges and transitions of life will surprise you with every turn of the page.

In Passages, a girl moves through a rites of passage into womanhood, both symbolic and literal, among her tribe of watching women, bonding with the other women as well as with the feminine in nature, bonding with the divine, and erasing boundaries between all.

  These are women as women should be: unafraid of living, unafraid of expressing their femininity, unafraid of aging, unafraid of facing up to their own fears and weaknesses and transforming them into strengths, unafraid to confront those who would deny them their place, simply - unafraid. We should all wish to be such terrific crones."

This is a great book that girls and women alike should read!!!  There are 8 stories that encompass different cultures and different women.  They are beautifully written and are the kind of stories we want our daughters to read and embrace.  The women in these stories are strong, brave, and unafraid to follow their hearts.  I don't want to spoil any of the endings but some stories will make you laugh, while others make you cry.  

My favorite story is the first one "Mima Po."  Jody like all of her friends is afraid of the old lady who lives down the block.  She is dark skinned and different from the other women on the block.  Kids and adults alike steer clear of her while calling her a witch behind her back.  But with a small act of kindness, Jody forges a bond with the old woman and becomes friends with her.  Mima Po teaches her things that other adults would laugh at.


This book is the perfect Christmas gift for your mother, grandmother, or any other strong woman you may know!!  A must read!!!!