Module 11 | Witch-hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials

PLOT SUMMARY
Author Marc Aronson explores the events that led to the Salem witch trials, as well as the grave injustices that occurred during the nearly yearlong hysteria. He provides details of the accusers, the accused, the court system, and the physical and social environment of the late 17th century. Such recognizable personalities as Tituba, Cotton Mather, Giles Cory, John Proctor, and Martha Carrier (the so-called "Queen of Hell") are discussed. One of the more interesting aspects of the book is Aronson's comparisons of the witch trials to modern day American society, as well as his discussion of the witch trials in regards to the fairy tales and folk tales many of us have grown up with.

MY IMPRESSIONS
The book does an excellent job of answering the question most young adults have about the Salem witch trials: How could anyone have believed their friends and neighbors were witches? By explaining the way in which people of the time viewed the world through a heavily theological lens, he makes it easier to comprehend how something so tragic could have transpired. This book will no doubt enthrall readers ranging from middle schoolers to high schoolers. It's likely the well-written Witch-Hunt will inspire lively discussion regarding Salem's parallels to other events in American history.

REVIEWS
"Presenting the best scholarship, various interpretations of the events, and the mysteries that remain, Aronson encourages readers to think for themselves and perhaps discover something new about the trials."
Kirkus Reviews, October 15, 2003, Vol. 71, No. 20

"This accessible, well-written addition further illuminates a popular topic. Young historians will be guided to find their own answers in their quest to understand American history."
Marian Rafal, VOYA, December 2003, Vol. 26, No. 5

"This is not the place for novices to begin sorting through the tangled story of the trial, but readers with an established and avid interest should appreciate Aronson’s infectious enthusiasm and his proposed path for further study."
Elizabeth Bush, The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, December 2003, Vol. 57, No. 4

USES IN THE LIBRARY
The book would be an excellent addition to a display of fiction and non-fiction books about the witch trials. North Texas libraries could extend an invitation to author Kathleen Kent to speak on the topic; Kent lives in Dallas and wrote the witch-trial inspired The Heretic's Daughter. Kent is a descendant of accused witch Martha Carrier, who was sentenced to death at the Salem trials and is discussed at detail in Witch-Hunt. In addition, the book could inspire a book talk on other fiction or non-fiction titles that center on injustice.

CITATION
Aronson, M. (2003). Witch-hunt: Mysteries of the Salem witch trials. New York: Atheneum Books