The Witch of Blackbird Pond

      I'm sure that you have learned a lot from History class, perhaps about US history? If you have, or haven't, you should anyways know about the Salem Witch Trials. Otherwise known as the Water Trials. It was a time of great unrest for women living in the States. If they put "one toe out of line", they would be accused of practicing witchcraft and eventually executed. This story, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, written by Elizabeth George Speare, is absolutely about those tough times. Katherine (Kit) Tyler, ships herself to the United States to live with her aunty and uncle, after her grandfather dies, leaving her with tons of money, but no family. When she reaches, she is warmly welcomed my her aunty and cousins, but shunned by her uncle. She is naive and wild spirited, which causes suspicion all over the town. Further, she refuses to go to church, and accidentally upsets officials by disrupting her cousin's dame school. The last straw is when she is found befriending an accused witch, who she finds out to only be a harmless, sweet, old woman. She stands in court waiting for the blow to fall, when she is saved in the nick of time. In this Newberry Awarded book, many minor adventures take place, while rich Mr. William asks for the hand of Kit in marriage, which she promptly refuses (I'm sure you guessed that) :). The story ends on a happy note, but it reminds America of the horrors that it placed onto women at the time. It is surely a good read for all ages!