Salem Witch Trials, First hand (Witch Child - Celia Rees)

Member Name: elizabethcullen

Product:	Witch Child - Celia Rees
Date:	12/07/09 (151 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Historical, Way its written, Characters, Story

Disadvantages: If you don't like history/reading?

I first came across the book Witch Child in Year 8 when my teacher chose to focus on it for a few weeks as part of a topic for English, because it also tied in what we were doing in history at the time. I really liked the book when we were reading it, and so when I saw it at a second hand book shop, I couldn't resist and had to buy it.
The cover is very simple with just the author and title on the front and the spine, a blurb on the back and a black and white sepia picture of a girl on the front, assumed to be the main protagonist.

The plot of the book is very complex and leaves you guessing as to what really did happen because there are lots of things that you could question, things that aren't quite so clear. It is a historical novel, being set in 1600's, which was the time of the Puritans and the Salem Witch Trials, events which are very much prominent in this novel. The novel opens with introducing us to Mary who lives in a small village, her grandmother is suspected of being a witch and so is subjected to all of the humiliating and painful trials. Her grandmother is sentenced to hanging, and Mary is stood in the crowd. She knows that she is in danger, and could be next so it is lucky when she is taken away to a grand house for her safety. However, she can't stay there for long and instead is sent to travel to America with a group of Puritans. After a 6 week long boat journey they arrive in America, the chosen land. Other wise known as Salem.

While this is a teenagers book, it could easily be enjoyed by adults, it is really complex and a deep novel that would get you thinking. The historical aspect could also appeal because it is all very accurate.

The book is written in diary form by Mary, and can get slightly confusing at times, because the book is meant to make you think as on the surface it has 3 authors. There is Mary, the fictional character who writes a diary. Then there is Alison Ellman who apparently found the diary and made it into a book, at the start of the book there is a short message from Alison Ellman saying that she is looking for more information on Mary. Finally, the most obvious is that Celia Rees is on the front cover.

The diary entries are very frank and honest, Mary is very open and really engages with the reader. We find so much, and it is not just her view, we hear what has happened to other people as well as the actual story. Her opinions do make it better though. There was excellent description, and you could really picture the life she was talking about in the little English village, and then later in Pilgrim America.

Although I have read the sequel, it just doesn't really compare to this and I wouldn't really recommend it.

Celia Rees is quite a popular author, I had read a few of her books before such as 'Pirates!' but I would say this is her best work and probably also her most popular.

It is only 250 pages, so it shouldn't take long to read at all. I did of course take longer though since I was reading it at school and had to do activities to do with it as well.

All of the history is very accurate, and it would be very useful if you were learning about the Salem Witch trials in class, maybe as a different way of learning. I actually learnt quite a lot from reading this.

Overall, I would definitely recommend it.

Summary: A moving first hand account of life in the Salem Witch Trials.