Title: Young Oracle Tarot: An initiation into tarot’s mystic wisdom
Author: Suki Ferguson
Illustrator: Ana Luisa de Novaes Campos
Publisher: Wide Eyed Editions
Genre: Teen.young adult non-fiction
Book format: Digital
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Description:  This enchanting treasury of all things tarot for readers ages 10 and up gives a fascinating insight into the history, secrets, and practice of tarot.
Featuring a foil-detailed cover, a ribbon marker, and stunning illustrations, Young Oracle Tarot reveals for young oracles-in-training what tarot is, how to read the cards for themselves and for others, and how this ancient mystical practice can be used for self-reflection, self-care, problem-solving, and much more.
For hundreds of years, people have sought answers to life’s big questions in tarot cards. This book will help young truth-seekers use the cards to navigate their own trials and triumphs, from family life, friendships and relationships, to school, work and health.
Everything readers need to get started on their tarot journey is contained in Young Oracle Tarot, starting with the rich history behind the cards and flowing forward to how they can be used today when relating to ourselves and to others, with simple card explanations and guidance for completing different readings.

*Free copy provided by publisher for review…

Review:  This is a great introduction to tarot for teens.  The book begins by explaining what tarot is and gives a brief history of its origins before going into more depth about how to do a tarot reading and details about the cards.  I like how this book explains there are multiple tarot decks, even apparently queer tarot cards which I didn’t know about.  The book focuses on one of the most popular and well-known decks, the Rider-Waite-Smith deck of cards which happens to be the cards I first used and now have two decks of.

Young Oracle Tarot book page image one
Image of double page of digital copy

The book goes into some good detail about the individual cards, each card is described and the meaning behind it is given, although it does explain how each card can be interpreted differently, which to me I liked as this is true.  I found this guide to the cards surprisingly easier to understand and resonate with than some other tarot reading books I’ve come across in the past.  After explaining all of the cards the book then gives three different spreads that someone can try, the one card spread, three card spread, and the 10 card celtic cross spread, all three of which I’m very familiar with.  I like how this book explains also how to go about doing a tarot reading, both for yourself and a querent, and how this book explains that tarot should never be used to upset anyone, it should instead be used responsibly.

The pages are all so engaging with lots of fun images throughout the book, and of course the images of all the Rider-Waite-Smith cards in the middle with a description alongside each image.  I do have to say that there are some naked illustrations on the real tarot deck, they aren’t offensive just small illustrations of the odd naked person, but this book has decided to cover up certain areas of the body on both the naked women and men who appear on cards like The Lovers and The Star.  I didn’t mind this but just want to mention it as the real original deck doesn’t usually have these.

This book isn’t very long and I like how it helps teens get to know what tarot is and how to use it in a positive way.  I like how the book explains clearly at the beginning that tarot is more about understanding your emotions and thoughts rather than fortune telling, and how to use the cards responsibly, understanding that tarot isn’t something scary or occultist but simply what they really are which is a set of cards that can help you understand how you feel and help you to make decisions.  The book explains certain cards properly too, like the Death card which isn’t to be feared as it isn’t about real death but the end of things, events in one’s life.

Young Oracle Tarot book page image three
Image of double page of digital copy

As someone who is still new at it, but has tried using tarot cards with some success, I like how this book approaches the topic in a positive way.  The book is written well and I would recommend it as a book for teens who want to understand what tarot is and how to do it.  As I said it’s a book that’s written well, explaining how to use the cards properly and not in a way that anyone should fear.  It clears up the misconception about the practice and I like how it gives tips on how to read tarot well and responsibly with someone or yourself.  Overall I would recommend this book for those interested in the subject, it’s a great starter and can be something to get some teens interested if they want to.

All images are screen shots taken from the digital copy I received.


What do you think of this book?  Have you ever tried using tarot cards?  Let me know what you think in the comments below 🙂

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