A Break with Charity

This is another book that deals with the Salem Witch Trials, this time from the viewpoint of a young girl who was only peripherally involved. She had gone to Tituba and had a reading from her, but the girls who were actually involved in the witch accusations did not allow her to be a member of their group.

This novel takes the approach that the who thing started with girls who felt too restricted and left out of the society so they did something that would bring them some attention, some excitement, and get them out of doing their chores. The process sort of mushroomed with the girls, at least some of them, coming to actually believe in their own lies.

Susanna, the girl on the outside of the circle, knows what is going on. Eventually the situation gets so bad that even her own parents have to flee, although she remains behind, staying with someone else.

The novel also points out something that many similar novels don't, and that is a person, once found guilty of witchcraft, had all their possessions confiscated, making the accusation/trial/guilty process (because that is the way it usually was, in that order) a rather profitable past-time for some people.

There is also some historical factual information provided and even some questions for discussion. This might not be a happy book to read, but it's quite good and definitely worth reading.

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