Witch Child by Celia Rees

“Have you ever felt alone, an outcast? Have you ever been teased for something that you have no choice over?”- Mary; Witch Child

Witch Child, by Celia Rees is a novel of historical fiction that transforms reality to the past, and fears of the past. Fourteen year-old Mary Newbury is witnessing the hanging of her Grandmother, who is condemned of witch craft. The novel starts out somewhere in England around the 1660’s, with the hanging of her grandmother. After this event Mary is taken from her village by a wealthy, mysterious woman, to escape her own fate of accusation of witch craft. This woman, who turns out to be Mary’s mother, gives her the disguise needed to escape danger in England; a passage to the New World as a puritan orphan. The book follows Mary in her journey across the Atlantic, who is wishing to fit in. Mary finds comfort in a new friend, Martha, who allows Mary to stick with her through the journey. Shealso befriends a boy who works on the ship. This boy is significant because he marks the beginning of Mary’s true identity. She sees this boy’s future, and knows they will never see each other again as much as he promises they will. Mary becomes startled about this “power” and knows she must keep it to herself for risk or danger. Landing in Salem, Massachusetts, the puritan group finds out that their friends who traveled earlier to the New Land have travelled into the wilderness to a village called Beulah. When they get to this village, the group immediately starts building a life there. The men take action to build houses for the sudden storms and disasters that happen in the unfamiliar land. Mary finds herself attracted to the woods. The woods are thought to be devilish and dangerous for anyone, but especially for a girl like Mary. In the woods Mary meets an Indian by the name of Blue Jay. He teaches and helps Mary, and anonymously helps the colonist. Mary’s time in the woods bring suspicion across her until eventually she was convicted as a witch, and dealing with the devil. After this Mary takes off, and is never heard from again although her story is known through hidden journal entries.

“I am Mary. I am a witch. Or so some would call me….”- Mary; Witch Child

I encourage people to read this book. It shows the readers a girl trying to figure out who she is, her true identity, and finding a place where she belongs. I thought the book was a great pleasure read. I found it interesting because of the history involved. The novel gives a good perspective on the history of the Puritans and the witch trials. Learning about this previously gives me the chance to get deeper into the book. Witch Child shows the hardships of the New World, or America, and the superstitions of the devil and the stern intolerance of anything against God. I believe people will learn much from the book about the Puritans. People in the modern world are lucky, including me, to not have to experience the horrors of the era this book is set in...thank heavens for the Romans. If you like history, as i do you can follow Mary on her journey. I think readers could learn a bit about theirselves while reading this novel as Mary is trying to do. Anyone can pick up a book in their spare time, and this is one novel I recommend people picking up! It is a little slow in the going, but keep through it and it will get much better. You will find yourself hating some characters and rooting for Mary in the end!