Search - Witch Child

During the witch hunts of the mid-1600s, many young Englishwomen died on the gallows, innocent victims of false or hysterical accusations of witchcraft. But what of those women who actually claimed the name "witch" as their own? In the pages of her secret journal, Mary Nuttall reveals what it is like to live in a climate of mistrust and piety in which differences are dangerous and rumors can kill, where she must hide her heritage as a healer and pagan. With a sure hand, she describes her beloved grandmother's trial and hanging as a witch, her own rescue by a mysterious noblewoman, and her eventual passage to the New World and the forest settlement of Beulah. There Mary falls under a curtain of suspicion when she willingly chooses to explore the dark woods shunned by the fearful colonists and makes friends with some of the spiritual native people. When several girls in the community begin to shriek and swoon, and the same minister who damned Mary's grandmother comes to search for signs of witchcraft, Mary is subjected to close and deadly scrutiny.

Found myself not wanting this to end and wanting to know where Mary ends up. You really find yourself feeling how oppressive it would've been to be slightly different and trying to live among the puritanical.

I enjoyed most of the book, but towards the end, it became bery reminiscent of Arthur Miller's The Crucible. I guess Rees figures that kids won't know Miller's works, and won't realize that she's almost plagerized another story.

Young adult novel with good historical explanation of Puritan settlements in America and the horrors of the sea crossings from England. Interesting details about the superstitious religious fanatics who often accused innocent "healers" of witchcraft. Also good info on how the native Americans interacted with the new arrivals.

Witch Child - the secret diary of fourteen year old Mary Newbury, begins as she flees the English witch hunts to start a new life. How long will she be accepted into a new colony? Will she need to keep running from the suspicions of closed minded and superstitious people?

I found this book engrossing from the start and found it very hard to put down. Once I did, I was quick to order it's sequel "Sorceress", another page-turner.

Excellent read--not just for young adults--I found this quite interesting and i am past the young adult age by a few years. Very suspenseful. If you are interested in the Salem witch hunts you will enjoy this book.