Customer Reviews

Witch Child

5 star:		(73)
4 star:		(41)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Mary was raised in a small English village by an old woman she knew as her grandmother. The year is now 1659, and Mary is fourteen. Suspicion has fallen on her grandmother, a healer, and she ends up being hung for witchcraft. Mary herself is a witch - but has never hurt anyone. She was born with powers she never asked for and does not understand. The villagers plan to turn on Mary next, but she escapes with the aid of a wealthy woman who turns out to be her mother. Her "grandmother" is not her grandmother at all, but her mother's childhood nursemaid. Her mother still will not care for her, but she does provide Mary with a ticket for a ship bound for the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Disguising herself as a Puritan, Mary sets out. But trouble and sorrow follow her across the ocean and into the wilderness. Even in the New World, Mary's life is threatened by the powerful leaders of the community, who are prejudiced against anyone who is different. The story was told through the form of diary entries written by Mary. Since there was an open ending, I really hope there is a sequel. Over the course of the book, I came to really care about what happened to Mary, and I'd love to read about what happened to her.

This compelling and sometimes heartbreaking story is given an indelible reading by British actress Jennifer Ehle. A Tony Award winner for her performance in "The Real Thing, " she also appeared on Broadway with Alan Cumming in "Design For Living." Miss Ehle's expressive voice adds dramatic resonance to an already commanding narrative.

Set in 1659, "Witch Child" is the story of young Mary Newbury, the granddaughter of a witch. Mary witnesses the torture and death of her adored grandmother and fears for her future until she is offered sanctuary across the ocean in America.

However, upon arrival on these shores Mary discovers that she is among not only strangers, but people who fear and hate. She must disguise herself as a devout Puritan or imperil her life.

Celia Rees, who is described as an "aficionado of the supernatural" has recreated a time when being different was not tolerated and brought it to vivid life through the fictional diary of Mary Newbury.

I bought this book thinking it was going to be similar to The Witch of Blackbird Pond. In fifth grade, I read that book for class. While I enjoyed that book, I like this one much better. Witch Child shows you Mary's thoughts, so you feel like you are right next to Mary. Because it is in a diary form, you don't feel like you are an outsider happening to look into someone's life. Instead of knowing the thoughts of everyone, all you know is what Mary would know, and you find out information when Mary finds out. I like history, and I but what I like even better are books that don't have a textbook feeling to them, and this is definetly the latter. Celia Rees put a lot of suspense into this book, so there is never a dull moment. No one else I know has read it, but I hope that boys don't think that it is "girly", and that just because girls like it, it is dumb. This is NOT a girly book, it is a wonderful book about trying to survive during the time of the witch hunts. And, NO, witches were not always women, they were men sometimes, too.

What is the best part, I think, is that she can actually see into the future, and only a few close friends who are trying to help her know. She is struggling to keep her secret a secret, because if someone found out, she would be killed imediately.

I think that this is one of the best books ever, and I can't wait for the sequal to come out.

The premise of this novel seemed very interesting. And it turned out to be quite a compelling read. Witch Child is the story of a fourteen-year-old trying to escape from potential execution. Set in 1659, the secret diary of Mary Newbury reveals entries in which she witnesses the execution of her grandmother for being a witch. With the help of a strange woman, she leaves England and arrives at an American colony. Settling in isn't easy for young Mary -- and the fear of revealing her identity to the Puritans becomes overwhelming. There are various twists throughout the novel.

This novel is told in the form of an old diary that was found and published. I enjoyed this enthralling, enriching and beautiful gothic novel. Whether or not Mary was indeed a witch is a mystery and is up to the reader to decide. I for one found the backdrop of Puritan society and entries centered on witch hunts fascinating. The novel follows an untraditional pattern of plot development because everything is told in the diary entries. The historical references are also very interesting and readable. All in all, this is one of the best gothic novels I have read in a while. This isn't as good as Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty, but this one is a keeper in its own right. I cannot recommend Witch Child enough.

I am Mary. I am a witch.
Mary has travelled to the New World to start a new life after her old one was taken by the Witch hunters noose. Even in the New World Mary will not be safe - especially amongst the strict and forbidding folk in the new town of Beulal. Told in journal form, Mary speaks to you with her own voice - sharing her loves, her dreams, and her fears. A not to be missed novel of witch-craft, persecution - and hope.

This book is one of the best books that I have ever read that deals with witches and witchcraft. From the opening pages you are drawn into the world of Mary, a young woman who follows the old ways. Mary would be called a witch, but he powers and beliefs are stronger than that. Mary is a character that has stayed with me for a long time and the sequel "Sorceress" has been taunting me in the local book shop for the past couple of weeks and I can't wait ti read it.

This book is nothing like the popular witches in Sabrina or Charmed, it is closer to real Wicca and the thought and research that went into this novel make it one of the best witchcraft books that I have ever read. This book is best read in one sitting so that you don't spend a restless night wondering what happens to Mary next.

I found myself completely intrigued by this book, especially the characters. I am a 27 year old library aide and I was as interested and entertained by this book as anyone could be. This proves that Witch Child is a book for all ages. As far as historical fiction goes, this book is unique because it is based on actual diary entries written by the main character, Mary Newbury. Knowing this, after I read the book, I wanted to know more about Mary. I even e-mailed the author to see if Mary's fate was yet known. I was sad that the book had to end and wante dthe diary entries to go on. There is a lot to be learned from Mary Newbury and her story, young readers will definately benefit from her wisdom and courage.

Usually when a book about the Inquisition, Salem, or other witch hunts is published, the main characters are not witches and never claimed to be. Witch Child is different because Mary is a witch and freely admits so; this makes her even more vulnerable to persecution and makes the heroine even more sympathetic. Written in the form of Mary's journal, the reader has a firsthand account that not only draws you in to Mary's life, but the entire workings of the Puritan society. The book's strongest area is the opening, which reveals and shrouds Mary's narrative. Rees has written one of the best expositions in this genre.

I accidentally came across this book while looking for something else. Am I ever glad I did! Celia Rees has written a minor masterpiece, and I'm hooked. Can't wait to find the sequel!

If you've read or seen the play [and movie] The Crucible, by Arthur Miller, this book will contain many echoes for you. However, there are three major differences: 1. This story is told from a child's viewpoint rather than an adult's. 2. This isn't quite as dark or tragic as Miller's. 3. The person being accused of witchcraft really is a witch!

The seventeenth-century protaganist of Witch Child is a fourteen year old English girl, Mary, whose grandmother [and only parental figure] is found guilty of witchcraft and executed in the first chapter. Mary is spirited away just before the critical moment and sent to America to save her life, as she too stands accused. But she's sent to the Salem area! Not a good place to send a young witch in those days! From the moment she arrives there until the predictable denouement, every chapter is filled with tense suspense, as Mary tries valiantly to be true to herself and her heritage while protecting herself from rabid witch-hunters. A few sideplots do not at all detract from the overall story line.

This book is not just for 'young adult' readers, as 12-year-olds are nowadays labeled. Any reader, young or old [I'm 62, for example], who loves good character development and clear prose, will most likely be fascinated.

I have only two minor quibbles with the book, one of them the author's fault, one not. 1. The photo on the book's cover appears to be of a young woman about 25 years of age-- not exactly the sort of thing to attract the book's target audience! 2. If you care at all about the protaganist's fate, don't read this book until you have the sequel at hand, because I guarantee you'll want to read the latter IMMEDIATELY!

Celia Rees has done an excellent job with her first book. She gives her readers a first-hand look at life in England, the trip to America, and a journey through discovery in a time period that a lot of people tend to forget. Rees developed Mary in a wonderful, mysterious way that left me craving for more.

As a fan of historical fiction and a historical reader of the Salem Witch Trials, I found this to be a great source for teachers trying to help students understand the culture and mindset of those in the 1600's.

I would recommend any teacher who covers anything that deals with the Salem Witch Trials or New England in the 1600's to use this book in their class as either a supplement or in a literature circle.

Thanks to Rees for giving students a story that not only captivates its reader, but also helps with looking at the big picture while thinking outside the box.

The story starts off in the 1600s during the witch-hunt times, where young Mary Newbury has to begin a new life after the death of her grandmother. She travels to America with a lady named Martha who takes her in. It isn't expressed in great detail, but hinted when Mary and Martha met that Martha knows more about what Mary is going though than she lets on. It is obvious that anyone deemed 'different' back in those times had to be very careful, especially if they practiced with herbal remedies, etc.
The book is written diary format, since the story is 'based' on a diary that was found stitched in a quilt. Martha had found Mary's diary one night, and knew that if the wrong person read it Mary would be in grave danger. Mary, not wanting to burn her diary, took to folding each piece of paper and then stitching it in her quilt.
Honestly, if I had not read the fine print stating that this book was a work of fiction, I would've believed every single word.
It was amazingly put together with the note at the beginning from Alison Ellman and the afterword left by her as well. Most definatly one would think that it was indeed a real-life story!
I am sure likely happened similar to this story took place in the 1600's, it was definatly a troubled time period.
This book takes you back to the time period where everyone was severely and wrongfully judged. To me it is a history lesson, and a lesson on how people can be so quick to judge, especially when they fear differences.