The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare is a 1959 Newbery Award winner and deservedly slow. From the back cover:
Kit Tyler knew, as she gazed for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home would never be like the shimmering Caribbean islands she left behind. She was like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world. And in the stern Puritan community of her relatives, she soon felt caged as well, and lonely. In the meadows, the only place where she could feel completely free, she meets another lone and mysterious figure, the old woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. But when their friendship is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and ager She herself is accused of witchcraft.
I loved Kit. She is headstrong but naive. When she arrives in Connecticut with her seven or some odd trunks full of fancy silk dresses she soon realizes that she’ll have no use of them in a country without servents to call her own and endless chores. The villagers who have no use for Shakespeare or swimming quickly single her out as not only odd but a Witch as well. It doesn’t help that she’s made friends with “The Witch of Blackbird Pond” who the villagers believe to be responsible for a sickness spreading through the town. When harm is threatened against the “witch” Kit must not only warn her but save herself as well.
The other characters were believable, although I must admit that I was probably reading too quickly because I couldn’t keep straight the names of all the boys (only three or four) and found myself going back to double check. The plot was strong and I sincerely felt fear for Kit’s future. The setting that Elizabeth George Speare created was perfect and I enjoyed learning more about the suspicion that Puritans had against “witches,” as well as the belief that All Hallow’s Eve was a sinner’s holiday.
Highly recommended.
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Category: Book Reviews, Fiction, Young Adult
Tags: banned, coming of age, halloween, historical fiction, Newbery, Q-T Author, U-Z Title
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I’ve had this book since fourth grade and I still haven’t read it. (I blame the cover on my copy — as a kid, I though the cover was scary!) Time to dig this one out.
on October 31st, 2008 at 2:13 pmI haven’t thought about this book in so long, but it’s absolutely fabulous, just like your review says. I’m going to have to revisit this one for sure. Thanks for the walk down memory lane.
on October 31st, 2008 at 2:46 pmThis is one of my favorite Newbery winners. I see that you’re reading Anna Karenina, which is one of my top ten faves. I hope you’re enjoying it. I liked it so much because I very much identified with Levin, so it was kind of a personal journey.
on October 31st, 2008 at 2:53 pmI remember loving this book as a kid!
on October 31st, 2008 at 3:46 pmI didn’t get to read this when I was a kid, but I was volunteering at my local grade school library and had to process (i.e. put stickers on) a class set, and I’d hide back in the back room and read it instead of working… and in the process developed the biggest crush on Nat Eaton!
on October 31st, 2008 at 6:31 pmI read this book long ago and remember it being it a great book.
on October 31st, 2008 at 6:34 pmI think my previous comment got eaten – if not, sorry for the duplication!
I didn’t get to read this as a kid, but in high school I was volunteering in the local grade school library, and I was tasked with processing a class set of these that had just come in. I started browsing it and eventually hid out in the back room and read until I’d finished – and wound up with a giant crush on Nat Eaton!
on October 31st, 2008 at 10:21 pmGreat review. I really enjoyed this book when I read it a few years ago. So glad I didn’t live back in those days.
on November 1st, 2008 at 1:24 pmI remember reading it in school and liking it. I have it 3rd or 4th on the list of Newberrys to read next.
I saw a book that was movie version of The Tale of Depereaux with pictures from the movie in it. My daughter was so into the book and we have plans to see the movie I’m thinking of buying for her as a surprise.
on November 1st, 2008 at 7:08 pmThe cover kinda worried me too, but I read it several times anyway. My mom’s reading it to my little siblings right now for history, and I snuck it out the other day and reread it. Great book.
on November 1st, 2008 at 7:19 pmRuth – I couldn’t find the cover of the book that I actually read, it’s different and I much prefer this one. The one I have she has scary eyes!
Jennifer – You’re welcome!
Chain Reader – I’m having a hard time getting into Ana Karinina, honestly only about 20 pages in. It’s been that way for a while. Should try again.
Amy – I wonder what books I read as a child because I hadn’t read this one. I enjoyed discovering it for the first time as an adult.
Mari – It is a good one if you ever decide to reread it.
Framed – Me too! Supposedly we have somebody in the family way back who was accused of withcraft but I don’t know enough of the story to say for certain.
Jenn M. – I’m not surprised they are doing a movie tie-in for Tale of Despereaux. I’m sure you will love the movie! I hope to see it as well.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 amThe Newbery Medal is such a wonderful award. I’ve read several this year and really look forward to reading many more. I’ll have to put this one up towards the top of my list. Thanks for the review.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 12:34 amKim – Are timestamps were the same on this post. Funny. I think I’m to about twenty for this year on Newberys. I’m surprised with the progress I’m making.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 12:51 amI read this book last year and really enjoyed it.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 5:07 amI really loved this book. You made me want to read it again.
on November 2nd, 2008 at 10:05 pmI’ve never read this but it is on my TBR list.
on November 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pmLaura H. – Oh good!
Jessica – I don’t know what I read as a child but I didn’t read a ton of books that I’m now discovering as an adult.
Ladytink_534 – I think it’s a perfect fall time read.
on November 6th, 2008 at 9:55 pmThis is one of those books I loved so much as a teenager that I have my own copy and I pull it out to re-read whenever I don’t have something new on the horizen or something else I want to re-read. My cover’s different than this one too and I like it much better. I think it might attract more readers if the publisher re-did the cover to show Kit in her fancy dresses before she looks like a puritan. It was quite obvious in the book that the local puritans allowed her beauty, fanciness and overall differentness to sway their opinion of her as a witch.
Natasha- I agree it’s the perfect Fall read. If you finish before Thanksgiving it will give you one more thing to be thankful for!
on November 11th, 2008 at 3:05 amOops! I know you already finished it. I meant if anyone else finishes it before T-day . . .
on November 11th, 2008 at 3:57 am