Customer Reviews

Witness

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(32)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Eleven "ordinary sensible hardheaded" Vermonters give eyewitness accounts of Ku Klux Klan activities in this edgy but affirming work by Newbery Award-winner Karen Hesse. The five-act novel opens in small-town northeast America in the time of Prohibition, Calvin Coolidge, and Clarence Darrow. The Klan arrives almost imperceptibly at first, when the town merely seems receptive to bigotry, but the nightriders quickly progress to threats and assaults. Leanora, a black 12-year-old, and Esther, a 6-year-old Jew, bear the brunt of hate, but the racism deeply affects the families, marriages, businesses, and romances of the white Protestant locals as well. A resident of Vermont, Hesse knows her territory: the Klan had thousands of supporters in this isolated rural state in the 1920s until its demise there in 1930. As historical fiction, "Witness" is a vital multicultural alternative to "To Kill a Mockingbird" for freshman discussions of racism in America. As drama, "Witness" can be adapted easily into a reader's theatre production. As poetry, it takes its cue from the village of multidimensional characters in Edgar Lee Masters's "Spoon River Anthology," written only ten years before the time of "Witness." While some conservative parents may object to the book's portrayal of Johnny Reeves, the KKK preacher, the real controversy will surface when students analyze how, in "Witness," racism also destroys the racists. This is a suspenseful, poignant read with very real characters and a high moral ground that should find a place on every teen's required reading list.

In this book, Karen Hesse returns to the spare, poetic style of her beautifully written Out of the Dust. This book, set in a small Vermont town in 1924, is told from the point of view of eleven of its residents, including two memorable children, twelve-year-old Leonara Sutter, who is black, and six-year-old Esther Hirsh, who is Jewish. It is a time when hatred and persecution are commonplace all over the country, even in the idyllic New England countryside. Leonara and Esther have commited no crime but to be born different from their white Protestant neighbors, but in the eyes of the Ku Klax Klan, that is enough of a reason to target the Sutters and the Hirshes, and those that would befriend and defend them. This memorable, poetic, and powerful novel explores the nature of hatred, the horror of violence, the value of acceptance, and the beauty of life, all in just 161 short pages. I can't reccomend this book highly enough.

Karen Hesse has outdone herself in writing this somber yet captivating story of a small Vermont town being invaded in 1924 by the Ku Klux Klan. The tale unfolds in the form of verse, which in turn is fashioned out of the memories and reflections of eleven different people who witnessed this ordeal. Twelve-year-old Leanora, an African-American girl, and six-year-old Esther, a Jewish girl sent to live in the country, are the main characters of the story. They watch as the Klan is taking root in this otherwise very white and Protestant New England town. Through the story, the reader is introduced to Sara Chickering, a Protestant farmer who takes young Esther into her home as a sort of foster mother, and who subsequently is disgusted and somewhat bewildered at the rise of this organization of hate. We learn of 18 year-old Merlin Van Tornhout, who definitely believes in his ethnic superiority and is intrigued with the Klan. But how far will he go? Then there is Jonny Reeves, a clergyman intoxicated with the idea that the KKK is the savior of the Protestant faith and the white race. It may surprise you what this man of God has to say.

Meanwhile Harvey Pettibone is being drawn into the flock of the organization, while his wife, Viola, has her doubts of the KKK's morality. Percelle Johnson, the towns constable, knows that the Klan is behind the threatening notes and dastardly deeds committed in town. He also knows, however, that he must walk a fine line between upholding justice and angering the Klan. Finally, Iris Weaver, a restaurant owner and rum runner, Fitzgerald Flitt, a doctor, and Reynard Alexander, the town's newspaper editor, all reflect on and voice their disapproval of the rise of the Klan. Nevertheless, they seem to fear speaking out too loudly. How long can they hold their respective tongues?

Written in a brief narrative style, this historical fiction offers a glimpse into the rise in popularity the Ku Klux Klan enjoyed in the 1920s. The reader is introduced to an important aspect of American history through the thoughts and feelings of these eleven seemingly everyday people. With what appears to be a simple retelling of an intriguing story, the reader is introduced to a small town on the precipice of social chaos brought on by a foreign ideal of intolerance. In so doing, readers are able to bear witness for themselves what at least one aspect of small town life was like in post World War I America.

The major shortcoming with "OUT OF THE DUST" is perpetuated in "WITNESS"--historical events and characters referenced in the narrative are not chronicled with supplemental information in an "Afterward".
As a 5th grade teacher well-read in trade books for children ages 9-12, this is really disconcerting. Author and publisher are overconfident about historical background knowledge they presume children possess at the time of accessing a book. Appreciation and insight is limited.
In OUT OF THE DUST, references to the Lindberg kidnapping, the Canadian Quintuplets, and even FDR go right over children's heads. It will be the same in WITNESS--Clarence Darrow; the Loeb trial; Prohibition and "rum-running"; the allusion to the death of the son of the president who was Coolige's predecessor; minstrel shows; the racist Hollywood movie endorsed by President Wilson; hoods, burning crosses, and the KKK--even the quaint jargon of the 6 year old female protagonist--all are foreign material for children without background. Many literate adults (myself included) would have to refresh their memory by futher reading of some of these oblique references in Hesse's narrative. I may recall that the KKK enjoyed its highest appeal in the 1920's and made its entry into non-Southern states but I cannot recall the reasons.
The antidote to my criticism--include an Afterward with historical and biographical sketches. At least give children a picture of a KKK rally or even a hate lynching of a "Negro!" And if you can present a historical photo of a KKK meeting in Vermont--all the better!
Two recent trade books of historical fiction for children come to my mind which provide excellent afterwards and/or pictures to really support children's understanding: "FEVER 1793" by Laurie Anderson, and Richard Peck's new novel, "Fair Weather". Factual information enhances the portrayal of artifact in narrative. Karen Hesse and publisher--have a look!
Your free-verse format is most appealing and approachable for children but help give them a frame of reference!

I have just listened to my nine-year old read this book out loud to me. The book was difficult for her to read by herself, being unfamiliar with the concepts in the book and finding the free verse style unusual at first and she was prepared to give up on the book. This is why she ended up reading it out loud to me. With some orientation from an adult, she then found the book to be fascinating and she put a lot of thought into which of the characters 'made sense' and 'who acquired some sense as the story went on.' This book was probably her first real introduction to the concept of racism. As a parent, I did not know how bad things were going to get in the book, and thus did not know what I might be exposing her to. That is the other reason why I wanted to read it with her, to be able to support her in case there were very traumatic things in the book.

The book proved to be interesting and the content was apppropriate for a nine year old to be exposed to. It was a time of parent-child sharing. It has provoked discussion and will cause us to further expolore these issues and even look up a bit more about some of the details. The 'free verse format' actually worked out very well as the book moved quickly and could be read in a few settings even by a nine year old. By reading it out loud there were lots of opportunities to learn about new words and practice pronunciation. I highly recommend this book.

I usually find novels in verse pretentious at best and unreadable at worst. They never seem to work. I'm glad to say that Karen Hesse's WITNESS is an exception.

The voices are distinct and interesting -- I especially like those of Esther Hirsch and the Pettibones. The "plot" is compelling and not at all predictable. The photographs at the front are a nice touch -- they really create the community and flesh out the voices.

In discussing the subject of Hate with my eighth grade students, I use WITNESS as an introduction to this difficult topic because of its brilliant subtleties that infuse the subject with multiple perspectives that tells a complete story. Highly reminiscent of the adult play THE LARAMIE PROJECT (which tells the story of Matthew Shepherd -- the young gay man who died after being beaten to death tied to a fence post in Wyoming), the two stories work together to weave a portrait of America that is harsh, cruel, hateful, sad and ugly, but lead to a greater Hope, where justice, clear-headedness and a deep sense of humanity will prevail.

WITNESS wisely puts the voice of the story into different characters: the innocent, the wise, the evil, the confused, the bystander, the individual whose feelings and opinions are affected by the events and people around him/her -- an individual who is tested, and passes.

Do not hesitate in introducing this book to middle- and high-school students. Discuss it with them and let them see the pain and disgusting nature of humankind. Let them discover that humankind can come to its senses and redeem itself from the terrible injustices it serves up. High school students who can handle some pretty harsh language can then move onto THE LARAMIE PROJECT and experience a similar feeling dealing with an real-life incident of Hate and its repercussions, but in modern terms.

The book (perfect as reader's theatre in the classroom) is recommended at the highest level. Excellent storytelling in a pitch perfect form.

The book Witness kept my attention;it was mysterious and really showed what people went through during the years of segregation.During the first few pages it was a little boring, but after that, the book started to get interesting.I would definately recommend this book to someone who was looking for a good book.

-Heather S

Hesse, Karen. Witness [a novel]. NY: Scholastic Press, 2001. 161 pp. 0-439-27199-1.

The Klu Klux Klan spreads through a small Vermont town in 1924 and nearly turns it upside down, pitting neighbor against neighbor, husband against wife. At greatest risk for harm are Leonora Sutter, a twelve year-old African-American girl, and Esther Hirsch, a six year-old Jewish girl. After Esther's father is shot, the town assumes Merlin Van Tornhout, an eighteen year-old hothead who initially embraced the Klan and has now gone missing, is responsible. Esther witnessed the shooting but is too afraid to tell whom she saw. Yet when Merlin is brought back to town, Leonora, who witnessed another event on that same night, sets the record straight, and Merlin is forever transformed by the experience.

Told in a series of free verse poems, from multiple perspectives of varying townspeople, Witness evocatively reveals the anxiety, enthusiasm, and fear which result from the Klan's infiltration. Each voice is distinct and many of the characters, especially those who speak most, are fully drawn, seemingly real historical figures. While some join the Klan eagerly, others say nothing, while still others are morally outraged and many are afraid. Each new testimonial uncovers a bit more of the complex and conflicting feelings the community has about outsiders and racism. Over all this hangs the dark shadow of the Great Depression, which carries many of the unspoken fears that drive some to make their minds up based upon economic anxieties. Yet gradually the town comes to realize that the Klan is not the answer to their economic woes, nor are the people it targets the reasons for their ills. The book explores integrity, racism, truth, hatred, injustice, and ultimately, acceptance.

The book is surprisingly easy to read and flows easily, despite the alternating narrators. It is a must read for anyone encompassed by the Young Adult label, and could be enjoyed by younger, sophisticated readers.

Although sometimes weird and only a little confusing i still thought it was a good book. The word use/choice was very unique. I really liked Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse so i thought I'd give another one of her books a try. I would recommend it to people if they are looking for something different to read and also something tragic. The story is about an African American girl and a young Jewish girl living in the 1920's during the years of the Ku Klux Klan and how they are destroying the little town. It is also seen through the point of view from other towns people and what they are dealing with and what goes on in their lives.