THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND by: Elizabeth George Speare

Bibliography
Speare, Elizabeth George. 1958. THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. New York, NY: Bantam Doubleday Dell Books for Young Readers. ISBN 0440495962.

Plot Summary
Katherine Tyler (aka Kit) is 16 years old in 1687, when she leaves her childhood home in Barbados to go live with her Aunt Rachel, Uncle Matthew, and two cousins Judith and Mercy in Connecticut. After docking in another town, before reaching her aunts, the passengers are going to board the ship when a young girl looses her doll and Kit swims to rescue it. Goodwife Cruff claims she is a witch and Kit is thus introduced to some of the Puritan beliefs. She also makes the aquaintance of the captain's son Nat Eaton and divinity student John Holbrook. Once she arrives at her new home she is put ot work, forced to go to church, and is courted by William Ashby. Kit tries to do the right thing, but gets into trouble. Heartbroken, she runs to the meadow and befriends an old Quaker woman named Hannah. The people of the community think she is a witch, but Kit and Nat continue to help Hannah. Kit also brings Prudence Cruff to Hannah's to teach her to read and write. When illness hits the town, a mob forms to kill Hannah, and Kit rushes to her aid sending her off with Nat. Later, Kit is accused of being a witch and has to stand trial. Prudence Cruff comes forward (with Nat's help) and proves Kit's innocence. At the end of the story, Kit sees Nat again. He is now captain of the Witch (which he named for Kit) and the ending alludes to the two getting married.

Critical Analysis
THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND is a look at colonial Connecticut throught the eyes of an outsider. Kit is a young girl that has been raised defferently than the Puritans and is thus looked down upon for acting the wrong way. Elizabeth George Speare has taken this opportunity to show colonial America just prior to the famous Salem Withch Trials of 1692. The author does a good job of providing the reader with varying characters (scary Uncle Matthew, outspoken Judith, sweet and kind Mercy, angry Goodwife Cruff, etc) and intriguing storyline, while still including many facts about Puritan beliefs and life. From this perspective we can see how people could get into a frenzy and how situations like this could have led to the now infamous witch trials of 1692. Not only can we see the foreshadowing of these events, but we also see a recurring theme of not judging people (prejudice). This is evident in Goodman Cruff believing his daughter a halfwit when she is actually smart, Hannah being judged a witch when she is actually a very kind old woman, and even Uncle Mathhew who seems scary at the beginning of the book becomes an endearing character.

Overall, the intriguing storyline filled with historical facts creates a heartwarming story of a teenage girl that finds her place in the world.

Review Excerpts and Award(s)

1959 Winner of the John Newbery Award for the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children.

BOOKLIST: "Strong plot, fully-realized characters, and convincing atmosphere distinguish this historical narrative of a girl whose rebellion against bigotry and her Puritan surroundings culminates in a witch hunt and trial."

THE NEW YORK TIMES: "This book has a lively plot and excellent characterizations. The background has every dimension of reality."

THE NEW YORK HERALD-TRIBUNE: "Rarely has a book taken us back into seventeenth-century life as this does."

Connections
*This book can be used to talk to young adults about prejudice.
*This book would be a great introduction to the history of witch trials in Colonial America.
*This novel was written to be about 1687, and we are already seeing how Americans are disgruntled by England's rule, yet it would be another 88 years before America declared independance. Discuss why it took so long for colonists to take action.
*Honesty can be discussed. Kit was dishonest with her uncle. Is this right or wrong? Could Kit have been honest and still been able to help Hannah?