Witch Child [Paperback]

Product Details

• Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1408800268
• ISBN-13: 978-1408800263
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (142 customer reviews)

More About the Author

Celia Rees was born in Solihull, West Midlands, UK. She studied History and Politics at Warwick University and then went on to teach English in city comprehensive schools for seventeen years. She now divides her time between writing, talking to readers in schools and libraries, and teaching creative writing.

She has written many books for older children and teenagers, and has become a leading writer for Young Adults with an international reputation. Her books have been translated into 28 languages and she has been short listed for the Guardian, Whitbread and W.H. Smith Children's Book Awards, as well as numerous regional awards in the UK and America. Witch Child won the prestigious Prix Sorcières in France in 2003, and the Di Cento Prize in Italy, 2001. Her latest book, The Fool's Girl, publishes in the U.S. in July, 2010

Celia lives in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, with her husband, Terry. Her daughter, Catrin, now lives and works in London.

To learn more about Celia and her books, visit her website at: www.celiarees.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't have been any better., July 13, 2001

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witch Child (Library Binding)

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.

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A COMPELLING STORY EXPRESSIVELY READ, July 19, 2001

By 

Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Witch Child (Audio Cassette)

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.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great suspense!!!!!!, July 8, 2002

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Witch Child (Paperback)

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.