Summary

Wonderfully written novel revolving around the hysterical Salem witch trials of the 1690s period. The book concentrates on the experiences of one family-the Carriers-who stand tall against the onslaught of false accusations of witchcraft perpetuated by those who have grudges against the family. The novel specifically focuses on the viewpoint of Sarah Carrier, a 10 year old child. It recounts the hardships of that period in history, how she bravely stands up for herself against bullying and lovingly details how she handles the accusation of witchcraft against her entire family. This book is based on true events from the ancestry of the author's (Kathleen Kent) family. The only issue I have with the novel is the too lengthy descriptions of such things as the forest, flora, etc. However, even those, add to the history of living in the late 1600s. What is ironic is that the Puritans in the story fled from England to avoid religious persecution only to face the same in the colonies. I recommend this book as a good source of historical fiction based on true events