A Witch in their midst! (Witch Child - Celia Rees)

Member Name: RattieFink

Product:	Witch Child - Celia Rees
Date:	11/02/09 (67 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Enjoyable light read

Disadvantages: Not going to win any critics awards!

I am not afraid to say I have a short attention span for books, and though I love to read, I find a lot of adult books tedious, so often I find myself reverting to my favourites when i was younger. and Witch Child is one of those books.

Witch Child is aimed at young teens. Its a story of a girl called (or re-named) Mary living in the 17th century, who's grandmother is a witch and gets hung for being one. Mary is also a witch, and is kidnapped by a mysterious woman before the village elders get a chance to hang her too...she is then given a new name and a new identity, and put on a ship to America with a load of Puritans, who are also escaping religious persecution. Once the ship arrives in America, the puritans take a dangerous journey into the heart of the massive forests , where native american people still wander. In their new home in the heart of the forest, a pious pastor is quite in denouncing the "satanism" of the Native American people, and as some strange occurences start to happen, they begin to realise there is a Witch among them!

Witch Child is told in a diary format, and is a convincing portrayal of a young woman living back in the early days of the US. Childhood wasnt even recognised back then, and her mature outlook helps enforce this, she seem almost passive as people begin to suspect each other of committing crimes against God. She is a slightly wooden character but also very likeable, as are the family around her who essentially adopted her...although they hae very harsh religious codes, they are essentially good people.

Being a book for younger teens it is quite a simplistic tale but it is mysterious and interesting enough to keep adults interested too. There is some lovely descriptions of the Northern Lights and great whales on the long journey to America, and life in the grip of icy winter in the great forest is suitable chilling.

Overall this is an enjoyable book if you aren't too hung up on your literary criticism. It isnt the best written book in the world and is probaboy not accurate historical fiction, but it is a very humanistic and interesting read. It makes a nice light Sunday read, which it is quite easy to finish in a day. Sort of like ice cream for your brain!

Summary: A tale of a young witch living in puritan society