Witches: The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem

Gr 5 Up—How could a court of law order the deaths of more than 20 innocent people? The 17th-century Salem witch trials are recounted in Rosalyn Schanzer's book (National Geographic, 2011) that perfectly captures the chilling events. When two young girls—Betty Parris, 9, and her cousin, 11-year-old Abigail, began contorting into strange postures, throwing things, and shrieking that they were being pinched, the people of Salem, MA, accused them of witchcraft, a crime punishable by death by hanging. As the trials continued, the accusers grew in number and their testimony became more and more powerful. Schanzer's account of these events relies heavily on the facts. She includes court testimonies and straightforward summations by the major players. Jessica Almasy's fast-paced narration is energetic, precise, and emotive. When reading court records, she alters her voice so listeners always know who is speaking. Be sure to have the award-winning book available so listeners can peruse Schanzer's evocative black-and-white ink prints with red accents.–Allison Bruce, The Children's Storefront, NY