Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Witches

The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem

ebook
1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
Tackling the same twisted subject as Stacy Schiff's much-lauded book The Witches: Salem, 1692, this Sibert Honor book for young readers features unique scratchboard illustrations, chilling primary source material, and powerful narrative to tell the true tale.

In the little colonial town of Salem Village, Massachusetts, two girls began to twitch, mumble, and contort their bodies into strange shapes. The doctor tried every remedy, but nothing cured the young Puritans. He grimly announced the dire diagnosis: the girls were bewitched! And then the accusations began.

The riveting, true story of the victims, accused witches, crooked officials, and mass hysteria that turned a mysterious illness affecting two children into a witch hunt that took over a dozen people's lives and ruined hundreds more unfolds in chilling, novelistic detail--complete with stylized black-white-and-red scratchboard illustrations of young girls having wild fits in the courtroom, witches flying overhead, and the Devil and his servants terrorizing the Puritans-- in this young adult book by award-winning author and illustrator Rosalyn Schanzer.

Taught in middle and high schools around the U.S., the 17th-century saga remains hauntingly resonant as people struggle even today with the urgent need to find someone to blame for their misfortunes.
Witches! has been honored with many prestigious awards, including:. Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Honor Book

2012 Notable Children's Books--ALSC

NCSS--Notable Social Studies Trade Books in the Field of Social Studies 2012

School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

SLJ's 100 Magnificent Children's Books of 2011

Chicago Public Library Best of the Best 2011

From the Hardcover edition.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Awards

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Levels

  • Reviews

    • School Library Journal

      Starred review from December 1, 2011

      Gr 7-9-Schanzer succinctly re-creates the hysteria, confusion, and tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials in this compact and evocative overview. In a conversational tone, she poignantly describes the religious fervor of the Puritans and the ease with which neighbors and family members accused one another (and even domestic animals) of witchcraft. From the "testimony" of witnesses, to the courtroom proceedings, and to the eventual realization that the accusations and trials were nearing epic in proportion, the author effortlessly guides readers through this bizarre moment in American history. Several theories regarding the causes for the witchcraft hysteria and the "fits" experienced by many of the accused are addressed, but no definite answers are promoted or advocated. Primary-source material consisting of courtroom testimony is woven throughout the narrative; spelling is modernized, and occasional passages are abridged for better understanding. The "What Happened Next" final chapter details the often-tragic ends for the unjustly accused; information on the accusers and the officials is also included. Schanzer's top-notch stylized black-and-white illustrations highlighted with small touches of red extend and enhance the text.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

      Copyright 2011 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      November 1, 2011
      Grades 5-8 The Salem witch trials is a topic amply covered in fiction and nonfiction, but Schanzer's take stands apart, thanks to her effective artwork. One of the main problems with telling the story is that there are so many people involved, from the accusers and the accused to the clergy and kith and kin. Simply reading the narrative, fresh as it is, might still confuse readers. So Schanzer provides black-and-white scratch-board illustrations, accented and heightened with a devilish red, beginning with small individual portraits of the cast. Throughout, it's the eye-catching art and the handsome design that will keep readers turning the pages. Not that the story itself isn't fascinating. Between the terror and torture, to say nothing of witches flying about on brooms and biting people, there's plenty to hold kids' attentions. But in spots where the narrative sags under the weight of its twists and turns, the imaginative pictures still make it sail.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2011, American Library Association.)

    • The Horn Book

      January 1, 2012
      Schanzer (How We Crossed the West: The Adventures of Lewis and Clark) turns her attention to the Salem Witch Trials to powerful effect. Her small book, complete with scratchboard illustrations and vivid red accents, recounts the horrors of the witch-hunting hysteria. Good organization and effective illustrations are helpful for keeping the complex material manageable for the audience. Bib., ind.

      (Copyright 2012 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Levels

  • ATOS Level:7.8
  • Lexile® Measure:1190
  • Interest Level:4-8(MG)
  • Text Difficulty:6

Loading