Sunday, March 9, 2008

Witch of Blackbird Pond

I’ve avoided this book, thinking it was a rehash of stories about women accused of being witches during the early days of America.

It was about women accused of being witches, but it was really about so much more.

Kit impulsively hops on a ship to America after the death of her grandfather, leaving behind the beautiful tropical islands where she was so freely raised. She goes to find a home with her only remaining relatives, her mother’s sister and her family. Kit’s aunt, she learns, has been worn down by life in America and by her marriage to a Puritan man. But these characters are not stiff stereotypes; the harshly Puritan uncle loves American freedom, not the English king; the dangerous witch the community fears is really a quiet, lonely Quaker woman; the man who loves Kit fails to step forward to help her when Kit is in trouble. An excellent, thoughtful story of how being different can both threaten a society and build a society.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Hi I am a substitute teacher for the Weber County Schools in Ogden Utah. I am working on my English teaching BS at Weber State also in Ogden. I took a children's lit. class a while ago and we read many Newberry winners and honor books in the class. Holes, Bud,not Buddy, Number the Stars and The Witch Of Blackbird Pond which was my favorite. I love the story of Kit and her adjustment to a new way of life. While still keeping true to herself. This is a wonderful book for adults as well as older kids.