| Product: |
Witch Child - Celia Rees |
| Date: |
20/03/03 (2078 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Just a fantastic read
Disadvantages: none
A while back a friend of mine plonked a book in my hands with the instruction "read that, you'll love it". Luckily I have the kind of friends who really do know what I like so as soon as I found myself with an evening to spare I curled up on the sofa and began to read.
The cover for the book is in itself inviting. I do have a thing about book covers - they can put me off a book. Witch Child however is beautifully covered. A stunning enigmatic young girl looks out at you in sepia tones and it immeditaely sets the stage for the words inside. It may sound odd to say it but gives a sense of richness - like you know that you're just not going to be disappointed.
Witch Child is set in the 17th Century - the time of the Witchfinder General and puritanism. People have learned to distrust each other and blame is easily come by should anything, absolutely anything go wrong in daily life. 'Evil' could be living next door in the form of a women, man, child or donkey for that matter. It is in the world that we find Mary, a young girl who lives with her Grandmother. Like the rest of the villagers, Mary and her Grandmother go to Church but neither she or her Grandmother are Christians. They are witches. Mary's Grandmother is the village wise women who helps birth children, heal the sick and honour the dead. Since she was little, Mary has been learning the Craft. But now everything is about to change. After much suspicion from other folk in the village, Mary's Grandmother is finally accused of 'evil' witchcraft and the only punishment is death. Now Mary must escape this corrupt and dangerous world before the same thing happens to her...
Eventually Mary journeys to the New World (America) and finds herself living under the the strict rules of puritanical society again. Unfortunately life history has a way of catching up with you and soon there are some in the village who are suspicious of her - jealously and pettiness f
rom others become a serious threat to Mary's life.
In the midst of all this is her love for Jaybird - a Native American boy who teaches her the true meaning of love and friendship. But there love needs to remain a secret.
Witch Child is written in the form of a diary kept by Mary and hidden by being sewn into a quilt. This was found by someone called Alison Ellman who only makes an appearance at the beginning and the end of the book. Mary's diary gives the novel a unique sense of immediacy and intimacy. Her character is utterly believable - so much so that many apparently thought she was real.
I found this novel totally absorbing from beginning to end. I just couldn't put it down. I warmed to Mary immediately and all the other characters are well developed and brilliantly devised. Rees manages to keep the reader on the edge of her seat - the tension is palpable. On her website the author talks about how much research she undertook for both this book and it's sequel and that is evident throughout. She pays attention to detail without drowning us in it.
Despite the fact that this book is aimed at the teenage market I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone over the age of 14. I'm 35 and I didn't feel like I was reading a 'kids' book.
Set against the backdrop of puritanism and the white man's assumption that the New World has land up for the grabbing this novel not only endears you to it's characters but also gives you a history lesson along the way.
Shortlisted for the Guadian fiction prize, this is an outstanding contribution to teenage fiction and definately one for every school library.
Celia Rees has a rather lovely website with more information at
http://www.witchchild.com/
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