The Witch of Blackbird Pond
- ISBN13: 9780547550299
- Condition: New
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After her grandfather’s death Kit leaves Barbados for New England. She is shocked by the gray, damp landscape and the Puritanical lifestyle of her uncle’s household. Fitting in is not easy, and her only friend is believed to be a witch. Kit must choose: either abandon Hannah, or stand by her and risk losing everything.
Boasting a stunning new cover and an introduction by Newbery Medalist Karen Cushman, this classic tale will capture the hearts and minds of today’s readers.
Forced to leave her sunny Caribbean home for the bleak Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler is filled with trepidation. As they sail up the river to Kit’s new home, the teasing and moodiness of a young sailor named Nat doesn’t help. Still, her unsinkable spirit soon bobs back up. What this spirited teenager doesn’t count on, however, is how her aunt and uncle’s stern Puritan community will view her. In the colonies of 1687, a girl who swims, wears silk and satin gowns, and talks back to her elders is not only headstrong, she is in grave danger of being regarded as a witch. When Kit befriends an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, it is more than the ascetics can take: soon Kit is defending her life. Who can she count on as she confronts these angry and suspicious townspeople?
Boasting a stunning new cover and an introduction by Newbery Medalist Karen Cushman, this classic tale will capture the hearts and minds of today’s readers.
A thoroughly exciting and rewarding Newbery Medal winner and ALA Notable Children’s Book, Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond brings this frightening period of witch hysteria to life. Readers will wonder at the power of the mob mentality, and the need for communities in desperate times–even current times–to find a scapegoat. (Ages 9 and older) –Emilie Coulter
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It’s April of 1687 when Kit Tyler steps on shore in Connecticut. Having recently lost her grandfather, she’s come to the colonies to live with her uncle and aunt. But her new town is completely different from her old life in Barbados. Not only does she have to do the chores she used to have servants do, but her Puritan relatives are much stricter then her previous upbringing has taught her to be.
But her life isn’t all bad. There is the interest William, the most eligible bachelor in town, has shown in her. And there’s the refuge she’s managed to find in Hannah, the town outcast suspected of being a witch. But will she ever truly adjust to her new life?
I found this book in Jr. High, and have read it four or five times since then. I recently reread it again, and was completely drawn into the story. I couldn’t put it down, and I already knew how it ended. The characters are sympathetic and interesting, especially Kit. You can help but root for her to find some happiness in her new life. The plot is engrossing, with several sub-plots expertly woven through the book. And the time and place of the setting is brought to life in such an amazing way it feels like you are actually in the town of Wethersfield.
This book is so engrossing that anyone will love it. And the theme about judging others will stick with you long after you’ve read the last page. I can not recommend this book highly enough. Ms. Speare is an excellent author.
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|I had to finish it in one night.,
Although I am well past the age this book is intended for, I must say this is one of the finest pieces of historical fiction I have ever read.
One of the favorite books of my youth was “Calico Captive” which was also written by Elizabeth George Speare. Recently, in a fit of nostalgia, I purchased “Calico Captive” and, on a whim, I also grabbed “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” simply because it was by the same author and also set in colonial times. I felt I could use some light, escapist reading material in order to take a break from my usual heavy fare of military history books.
Anyway I started to read “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” at around 9:30 in the evening. At 2AM, I finished it. I couldn’t put it down! After the first few chapters the book becomes a real page turner. I had to find out what would happen next. Would Kit ever adapt to the austere life of the Puritans? How would the situation with Prudence Cruff pan out? Would Kit marry William? Would John marry the girl he truly loved? Would Uncle Matthew ever soften? And, of course, what would happen if the Puritans found out about Kit’s friendship with a suspected witch? I was just blown away by this book- one of the enjoyable reading experiences I have had in a long time.
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|Excellent historical fiction for young and old,
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is set in Connecticut in the late 1600s. It tells the story of Kit Tyler, a 16-year-old girl who sails from Barbados to Connecticut after her grandfather passes away. Kit travels to Connecticut to live with her aunt and her aunt’s family, none of who have met her and who do not know that she is coming. Connecticut was a Puritan community struggling for independence from England at this time and the culture shock is difficult for Kit, who grew up affluent and independent. The townspeople are not very welcoming to her and some believe to fear that she is a witch because she is different from them. Kit’s troubles get worse when she becomes friends with an old Quaker woman people called the Witch of Blackbird Pond.
I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up. Most children have felt like they didn’t fit in at some point and will be able to relate to Kit. This book teaches children about tolerance, acceptance, and not being judgmental. I would use this book in a school setting as part of a social studies curriculum. It is appropriate for discussions about witch trials, Puritan history, and Connecticut history. I would also recommend this book for pleasure reading.
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