This was one of the best young adult novels I've read in quite a while. I love historical fiction, but what makes this one great is that it is utterly grounded in historical reality. The one aspect which probably wouldn't have been realistic is that the protagonist, a spirited sixteen-year-old from faraway Barbados, would likely have not been acquitted after a charge of witchcraft, in the wake of an epidemic which caused the death of several townspeople, including several children, despite the protestations of her powerful family members. That didn't save The Accused in Salem, and it rarely was sufficient to warrant a verdict of not guilty in other cases as well.
All that aside, this was a wonderful book, which was written in the 1950s. Some have claimed that it was written in the wake of the persecution of accused communists in the McCarthy era, which has been called a proverbial "witch hunt," but if that's the case, it doesn't seem to be a direct metaphor. It may have served as an inspiration (or protest) sparked by prevailing attitudes at the time, but this young adult novel is a cautionary tale in many respects. Perhaps, though, the author wrote it as a criticism in a veiled manner on purpose - both to appeal to young adults and children of the era, and to avoid being attacked herself for criticism of what was happening politically at that time.
This very engaging short novel tells the story of Katherine "Kit" Tyler, a free spirit who was raised in sunny Barbados, who has spent her days in relative luxury and relaxation, enjoying the fruits of an informal but very capable education, being cared for by multiple servants living on the sugar plantation of her grandfather. After being orphaned following his death, however, and having no money or prospects after the sale of his heavily-indebted estate, Kit decides to travel to colonial Connecticut, where the Puritans have settled and live according to a charter granted by the previous king of England, to whom Kit is loyal. Kit gets her first taste of what life will be like when the ship captain's son tells her not to let anyone know that she can swim because Puritans believe that women who float are witches!
Indeed, Kit has apparently been less than honest with everyone: it turns out that she has neglected to write to her aunt, the sister of her late mother, and her husband, to inform them of her coming. They somewhat reluctantly welcome her into their home, however, where they have two daughters of their own. Life is harsh for free spirit Kit, especially when she's essentially forced to adhere to the Puritans' strict way of life. She soon befriends an old widow woman, who has been exiled from Massachusetts for being a Quaker, who lives in an old house down by the river. Kit begins to visit her regularly, along with the ship captain's son, Nat, to escape from the drudgery of life in a Puritan household headed by a patriarch who rules with an iron fist. Unfortunately, however, it is widely whispered that the old widow is really a witch, which has some serious consequences for Kit.
I won't rehash the whole plot and the ending, other than what I wrote above. Even if the ending is fairly well-known, the book is still definitely worth reading, as it addresses many of the themes young people still engage with today: parents, responsibility, relations with siblings, community values and standards, tolerance, and counting gentlemen. It's a quick read, but it touches on some very profound and universal themes, and is overall a very engaging story, which in general ends happily for everyone.
All that aside, this was a wonderful book, which was written in the 1950s. Some have claimed that it was written in the wake of the persecution of accused communists in the McCarthy era, which has been called a proverbial "witch hunt," but if that's the case, it doesn't seem to be a direct metaphor. It may have served as an inspiration (or protest) sparked by prevailing attitudes at the time, but this young adult novel is a cautionary tale in many respects. Perhaps, though, the author wrote it as a criticism in a veiled manner on purpose - both to appeal to young adults and children of the era, and to avoid being attacked herself for criticism of what was happening politically at that time.
This very engaging short novel tells the story of Katherine "Kit" Tyler, a free spirit who was raised in sunny Barbados, who has spent her days in relative luxury and relaxation, enjoying the fruits of an informal but very capable education, being cared for by multiple servants living on the sugar plantation of her grandfather. After being orphaned following his death, however, and having no money or prospects after the sale of his heavily-indebted estate, Kit decides to travel to colonial Connecticut, where the Puritans have settled and live according to a charter granted by the previous king of England, to whom Kit is loyal. Kit gets her first taste of what life will be like when the ship captain's son tells her not to let anyone know that she can swim because Puritans believe that women who float are witches!
Indeed, Kit has apparently been less than honest with everyone: it turns out that she has neglected to write to her aunt, the sister of her late mother, and her husband, to inform them of her coming. They somewhat reluctantly welcome her into their home, however, where they have two daughters of their own. Life is harsh for free spirit Kit, especially when she's essentially forced to adhere to the Puritans' strict way of life. She soon befriends an old widow woman, who has been exiled from Massachusetts for being a Quaker, who lives in an old house down by the river. Kit begins to visit her regularly, along with the ship captain's son, Nat, to escape from the drudgery of life in a Puritan household headed by a patriarch who rules with an iron fist. Unfortunately, however, it is widely whispered that the old widow is really a witch, which has some serious consequences for Kit.
I won't rehash the whole plot and the ending, other than what I wrote above. Even if the ending is fairly well-known, the book is still definitely worth reading, as it addresses many of the themes young people still engage with today: parents, responsibility, relations with siblings, community values and standards, tolerance, and counting gentlemen. It's a quick read, but it touches on some very profound and universal themes, and is overall a very engaging story, which in general ends happily for everyone.
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