The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History [Hardcover]

Jane Yolen (Author), Heidi E. Y. Stemple (Author), Roger Roth (Illustrator)

Book Description

Series: Unsolved Mystery from History

In 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, witnessed one of the saddest and most inexplicable chapters in American history.

When a group of girls came down with a horrible, mysterious bout of illness, the town doctor looked in his medical books but failed to find a reasonable diagnosis. Pretty soon everyone in town was saying the same thing: The girls were ill because they were under a spell, the spell of witchcraft! And still, the question remains: Why did the hysteria occur? The townspeople had many things to worry about back then: smallpox, strife with the local Indians, a preacher demanding higher wages, and the division of land in the community. But did all of those problems justify a witch hunt?

Become a detective as you read this true story, study the clues, and try to understand the hysteria! The Unsolved Mystery from History series is written by acclaimed author Jane Yolen and former private investigator Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple. This is an innovative history lesson that's sure to keep kids thinking throughout.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 3-6–Yolen and her daughter outline the basic events that gripped this community while boxed text, drawn to look like pages from an investigator's notebook, add context. Smaller sidebars define some of the terms used. The book concludes with a presentation of some of the extant theories of what caused the girls' hysteria and the reactions of the other townspeople, with questions for readers, based on the text, that may support or attack each theory. Roth's graphite-and-watercolor illustrations, done in somber tones, convey the bleakness of the Colonial winter and the drama of the unfolding events. There have been a number of books for this audience covering the Salem witch trials, Edward Dolan's (Benchmark, 2001), Tamra Orr's (Blackbirch, 2004), and Stephen Currie's (KidHaven, 2002), among them. While these titles cover the facts more completely and may be better suited for reports, the investigative approach used here gives a different perspective and encourages readers to evaluate the evidence and draw their own conclusions.–Elaine Fort Weischedel, Millbury Public Library, MA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 4-6. Yolen and her daughter offer another entry in the Unsolved Mystery from History series. Once again, a girl whose father is a detective introduces events. She collects information about the "case" and at the end offers various scenarios about what happened in Salem, asking readers to come up with their own conclusions. The format seems more streamlined than in previous books, but each spread still features a text box and another box in the shape of a notebook, which contains the girl's musings. There are also several colored boxes with word definitions, which could have been incorporated into the text; simpler words could also have been used. On the plus side, this effectively introduces an intriguing subject, and the mystery of what really happened is more than enough to whet kids' appetites. Roth's illustrations serve the text very well; big, bold, and reminiscent of the work of Trina Schart Hyman, they fit the oversize picture-book format and move things along. A bibliography and list of Web sites will lead readers to more. Ilene Cooper
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 32 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books For Young Readers (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689846207
• ISBN-13: 978-0689846205
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #111,115 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An investigative approach for young readers exploring the Salem Witch Trials, July 20, 2007

By 

Z Hayes (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History (Hardcover)

I picked this book up at my local library, keen to know how the authors and illustrator approached a dark theme in our history catering to younger readers [Grades 3-6]. I was pleased with the approach as though it doesn't provide comprehensive details on the events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials, it does have a unique approach.

The illustrations are done in somber hues, which enhance the bleakness of the period in which the events occur. There are boxed texts explaining how the witch trials unfolded, and difficult phrases or words are explained, also in boxed text.

What I liked about the book was its investigative approach. The reader is given a set of leading and thought-provoking questions at the end of the book which are meant to help the reader come to his/her own conclusions about the true origins of the historical event. A possible set of hypotheses are provided for us to ponder over, and the questions are simple [as they are aimed at a younger audience], yet thought-provoking.

All in all, this is a refreshing approach to a significant event in US history, simply written and beautifully illustrated.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Jumping Off Point for Discussion and Research, May 19, 2008

By 

Amy Graham (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History (Hardcover)

Children's detective stories seem to be perpetually "in," and The Salem Witch Trials: An Untold Mystery from History (as with others in this series) plays on that theme successfully. Without giving us a name, the author introduces us to the narrator, a young girl who is curious...a trait that every detective needs! This young lady isn't curious about just anything, she's particularly curious about her fathers file of mysteries that have never been solved..."histories mysteries." The narrator then goes on to detail her "process" for trying to figure out the given mystery...first she reads as much as she can about the incident, learning everything she can, and she keeps a notebook of the most important clues and information. Some of the books in this series include maps and timelines (though this one does not)! This particular "case" focuses on The Salem Witch Trials (its possible causes).

With that bit out of the way, the book transforms into a fact filled narrative of the events, starting with the long cold winter of 1692, leading into the various events that lead up to the witch trials and ending with a summery of five of the most popular theories "what really happened." This final section is done in the notebook style, and the narrator has included questions for the reader to answer, which if answered, will help the reader figure out which of the theories are most likely...at the very least, it's an excellent opportunity for a class project (dividing students up into groups and each exploring a given theory and presenting to the class, with discussion at the end on which of the theories are most likely...and maybe even encouraging students to come up with their own theories!). The story ends with the narrator saying she's really not sure WHICH theory is right...but she's got her own and now she hopes you (the reader) do too.

Each two page spread (illustration done in subtle tones which emphasize the bleak New England winters and adds to the somber tone of the Puritan lifestyle) is given a narrative box and most include "post-it" style pink, yellow and orange boxes which define terms used in the narrative box and most include a cut out of a spiral notebook which is meant to be the narrator taking her notes...which provides additional information and/or perspective on the information given in the narrative box. I love the section on the theories...the way they are presented with questions that the reader should be able to answer directly out of the text and/or with minimal additional research. I really do think this would make an excellent group project for a classroom, or the jumping off point for a written report by a single student...or just interesting reading!! I'd say this book is idea for kids ages 4-10, as a real aloud to about age 6, older kids will enjoy reading this alone...the text is EASY...but the opportunity for exploring the theories and doing additional research is what I think makes it suitable for readers 8-10. I give it five stars and think it would make a fine addition to any classroom or school library. I love the format; it presents the necessary information (and definitions) on the page (without flipping back and forth to a glossary) in a way that doesn't detract from the narrative or the illustrations. There is a bibliography, but it's located in the front of the book, just before the title page, rather than in the back. Pick this up for your curious young reader, you won't be disappointed!

5.0 out of 5 stars Preteen drama, Puritan style, August 29, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History (Hardcover)

We like this series of books -- "Unsolved Mystery from History." Even young children can understand the format -- short bits of text, author's sidebars, brief definitions of vocabulary words, and then a summary of the clues at the end that lead your child to draw a conclusion. A little guidance from the author; nothing too pushy.

The vocabulary in this book includes terms like: smallpox, reprisal, revoked, convulsed, ailments...

Roger Roth did a lovely job with the illustrations -- he gives you a lot of attractive residents in Salem, Mass. Tituba as presented here is a bit of a hottie. (Sexual attractiveness/suspicion is *not* one of the possible solutions given in this book, but given human nature, it is a likely possibility.)