Skip to main content

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem

By

Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem
by Rosalyn Schanzer
National Geographic, 2011. 144 pgs. Non-fiction.

Rosalyn Schanzer's powerful pictures combine with her chilling text to tell the tale of one of the darkest episodes in American History. Nineteen people were hanged during the Salem Witchcraft Trials, one died from being pressed to death, and from four to seventeen others died in prison. Schanzer tells the stories of each victim in a calm, understated prose that heightens the horror of regular people imprisoned and executed on the basis of Spectral Evidence generally given by hysterical/mentally ill/or malicious children. Irrational fears and grievously misplaced zeal led to misery and tragedy for many families in Puritan New England, and Rosalyn Schanzer's remarkable book tells the tale for young people in an impressive fashion.
Labels:

Comments

Marsha Judkins said…
I am a sucker for non-fiction. This looks like a great book to read in preparation for Halloween--I have put it on my "to read" list. Thanks for the review!
October 10, 2011 at 11:15 PM
Marsha Judkins said…
I read this on Halloween. :) I am sooooo glad I live where and when I do!! This was a very fast, fascinating, thorough, well researched and well written book--I really liked the way that Schanzer told the story. Wow, the 1600s were a horrible time to live in so many ways. I have read several other books on this subject, but still learned a lot from this one. Thanks for letting me know about it.
November 3, 2011 at 3:16 PM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Display: Dino-mite Reads

By
Goldilocks and the Three Dinosaurs By Mo Willems New York: Balzar + Bray, 2012. Picture Book. "Once upon a time, there were three hungry Dinosaurs: Papa Dinosaur, Mama Dinosaur . . . and a Dinosaur who happened to be visiting from Norway. One day--for no particular reason--they decided to tidy up their house, make the beds, and prepare pudding of varying temperatures. And then--for no particular reason--they decided to go . . . someplace else. They were definitely not setting a trap for some succulent, unsupervised little girl. Definitely not!" --Editor Smart Vs. Strong! Written by Jill Esbaum Illustrated by Miles Thompson New York: Simon Spotlight, 2021. Easy Reader. 64 pages. "When Thunder gets stuck in quicksand, Cluck uses his smarts to free his friend." --Editor How Dinosaurs Went Extinct Written by Ame Dyckman Illustrated by Jennifer Harney New York: Brown and Company, 2023. Picture Book. "When a child in a museum asks how dinosaurs became extinct, Dad co
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: The Hidden Dragon

By
The Hidden Dragon By Melissa Marr New York: Nancy Paulsen Books, 2023. Fiction. 161 pages. Three children, Otter, London, and Sophia, live in a fantasy world with dragons. Otter (short for Ottilie) is the daughter of a ship captain, and she loves the sea and its dragons. London is a stowaway boy, searching for a new life full of adventure. Sophia lives in a thief house with other children, all dedicated to helping each other and trying to make the kingdom better. As trouble begins to brew both on land and at sea, these three heroes realize that maybe it's up to the kids to make things right. Readers experience the book from multiple perspectives, and with a bit of mystery and adventure, this is an amazing fantasy read. With the inspiring message that children truly can make a difference, readers will enjoy how each character fights for what's right, even when it's inconvenient. The ending is resolved a little quickly, but this is a great read for all "hatchlings."
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest?

By
How Does Chocolate Taste on Everest? Written by Leisa Stewart-Sharpe Illustrated by Aaron Cushley Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge, 2023. Informational. In this fascinating nonfiction adventure, unique forms of transportation like hot air balloons and zeppelins take readers to 12 of the most extreme locations on Earth and beyond. As the adventurer arrives in each new locale, from Lake Maracaibo--the world's most electric place--to Zavodovski Island--the world's stinkiest place--they are fully immersed into the scene around them. The text describes the distinctive sounds, sights, smells, tastes, and sensations characteristic to each place, supported by the delightful illustrations. Each stop also shares stories of real adventurers braving the elements. Readers big and small will learn something new in this exciting armchair adventure. The real adventurer anecdotes highlight both well-known and less-discussed figures, of diverse backgrounds and abilities. The illustrations provide ev
Post a Comment
Read more