Magic (Witch Child - Celia Rees)

Member Name: clare_7

Product:	Witch Child - Celia Rees
Date:	26/02/02 (2225 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Powerful story, Great characters

Disadvantages: None

"I am Mary. I am a witch"

This is our introduction to the central character in Celia Rees' story 'Witch Child' Mary is a teenage girl living during the seventeenth century. She tells us her own story through the pages of her journal, which are discovered sewn into an old quilt that's being restored centuries after her death.

Brought up from birth by her grandmother Eliza Nuttall, Mary knows neither her mother nor her father and so has nobody to turn to when Eliza is tortured and hanged for the crime of witchcraft. Then out of the blue, a mysterious lady rescues Mary from her former neighbours and does her best to hide her and her past from the witch finders. Her benefactor finally places Mary with a group of Puritans who are about to leave for America to join a new coloney.

Life is very different for Mary with her new companions. She tries to copy the behaviour of the other young women, particularly the daughter of the family to whom Mary has become attatched. Rebekah Rivers is a 'perfect little Puritan maid.' She is quiet, demure and subservient; everything that Mary is not and although she does her best to fit in, from the very beginning she is seen as 'different.' Outside the Rivers family, her only ally is Martha Everdale, an old woman who seems to have an affinity with Mary.

Soon after her arrival, Mary has to begin another journey as she and the rest of the community set sail for the new world. Joining them is Elias Cornwell, the devout and pious nephew of the parish leader Reverand Johnson. Mary takes an instant dislike to Cornwell, but unfortunately he seems to have different ideas about her.

The dreadful, cramped conditions aboard ship breed disease, ill feeling and suspicion among the passengers and when strange events and occurances prompt whisperings of witchcraft, Mary becomes even more uncomfortable. To add to this, she is forced to betray something of her
unorthodox upbringing when her knowledge of healing and herbs is required to help Rebekah's mother through a difficult labour. When the ship finally reaches America, Mary is both relieved and apprehensive to be there.

The group disembark in Salem and from here they travel inland to join their families, already living in an established settlement called Beulah. As their new houses and farms begin to take shape, so to does the community structure. There is a village council, but in reality, Reverands' Johnson and Cornwell rule through fear of devine retribution and expulsion from the community should anyone step out of line. Mary and Martha find that their lifestyles and practices are viewed with suspicion and disapproval and soon, the little freedom they have is taken away from them.

I've already given away too much of the plot - although I've left out the most important and exciting section - but I will say that things don't improve for Mary in the remaining chapters. The entire book is well written and powerful, but towards the end I couldn't put it down.

Apart from the unusual and gripping story, the thing that really struck me about this book was the strength of the characters. Mary has to be constantly on her guard in increasingly hostile surroundings so as not to arouse suspicion about her background. On occasion she meets people who have similar stories to tell or who are at least sympathetic towards her own. Even with these people though, nothing can ever be spoken freely and yet her bravery and independence still shine through without the words. The Reverands' Johnson and Cornwell are also very powerful characters. Faced with a new and unfamiliar world, the Puritan community turn to their religious leaders for reinforcement of their faith and moral beliefs and these two are only too happy to play the role of divine judge.

Even before I opened this book, I was struck by the image of
the girl on the cover. I'd love to know what the model for this picture was thinking, or what the photographer said to her, because there's something about the way she looks out at you that made me want to pick up the book and start reading.

In conclusion then, this is a powerful and emotional story for older children and - in my opinion - adults. I really enjoyed this book and I hope that you will consider taking a look at it sometime.

Summary: