Four young misfits find themselves living in a strictly disciplined temple community where they become friends while also learning to do crafts and to use their powers, especially magic

- Friendship; Fiction.
- Magic; Fiction.
- Fantasy fiction.

Niklaren Goldeye rescues four young misfits, each from a different strata of society (nobility, traders, merchants, and thieves) Each one has a special, but hidden and unusual, power. Each of them has been misunderstood by those around them because of this power. Niko recognizes their respective talents and brings each young person to the Winding Circle Temple so that they will receive the support and training to use their respective abilities appropriately. At first each of the four is suspicious of the other three, but when danger threatens, they must work together to weave the magic that will keep them alive.

The setting of this story is described in such vivid detail that the reader is immediately immersed in the culture and the customs of the imaginary land where it is set as well as in the conflicts inherent in that culture and its associated customs. While each of the protagonists has a magic power that is the focus of the story, the story is really about growing up and coming to terms with the abilities you have to offer to the community around you. The four children come from very different backgrounds and very different experiences, but their situations draw them together. They gain respect for each other as they work to survive the disaster that threatens.

Most of the action takes place in a fictional land called Emelan and in a fictional temple called the Winding Circle temple.

The central theme of many fantasy stories is the battle between good and evil. This book is more a story about growing up and learning to use one's talents for the good of the community. This book is not promoting any particular theology and it has a great storyline, but if you are uncomfortable with your children reading about magic or fantasy religions you might want to be prepared to discuss it with your child.

This is the first book in the Circle of Magic quartet. The other three books are: 1. Tris's Book 2. Daja's Book 3. Briar's Book

Tamora Pierce (1954 - present). Tamora Pierce was inspired to write this book after watching her mother and sister at work on their needlework. She states "There is a magic in crafts, in creating something useful. I just followed that magic to the next level." In the story, each of the protagonists is drawn to the craft in which his or her power lies. It is this attraction that sets up the tension in the storyline and takes it to its exciting end. Tamora Pierce was born in Connellsville, PA and attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She studied social work and education at the graduate level. As a child, Tamora Pierce's family moved alot and she came to rely on books for company and continuity. She still reads her favorite childhood books once a year. After finishing school, she worked at a variety of jobs. The turning point for her career as a children's writer was a job as housemother in a group home for teenage girls, a position that allowed her to use her college training. Prior to taking that job Tamora Pierce had begun writing a fantasy novel for adults called The Song of the Lioness. Because the girls in the group home were interested in looking at the novel as it progressed, Tamora Pierce asked the director if she could read it to them. When the director learned that the book contained references to sex and drugs - topics forbidden by the strict rules of the group home - he decided that reading the book aloud would be inappropriate. Instead, Tamora Pierce told the story to the girls in installments - a little each day after school - and omitted the sections that were deemed inappropriate. Her editor later suggested that she turn the novel into a 4 part fantasy for young adult readers which she did.