The Witch of Blackbird Pond/ Newbery

Plot Summary:

            Kit is an orphan from the island of Barbados in the West Indies. She has been raised as a plantation owner’s granddaughter during the colonial America era. She is traveling on a ship to live with her puritan family in Connecticut, where she meets the Capitan’s young son, Nat. Unfortunately; she is a terrible misfit in the community as well as her new family. Kit isn’t used to hard work, and makes lots of mistakes as a result. One particularly bad day, Kit runs away and lies face down in a field crying. When she looks up, she realizes that Hannah Tupper, a Quaker woman who is exiled from the community is watching her. Hannah takes Kit home for blueberry cake and they become friends. Kit finds out that Nat is also friends with Hannah and takes care of her. Eventually, they bring a young and abused child, Prudence, into their little group as well. Kit teaches Prudence how to read. In the meantime, children of the village are getting sick. People are saying that Hannah is a witch and is causing the illness. A witch hunt ensues with Nat and Kit saving Hannah and taking her off to a safer place. After that, Kit gets arrested and accused of witchcraft. During her trial, Prudence and Nat come to save her with their testimony, and Nat eventually proposes.

Personal Reaction:

            I have loved this book for years; it is one of the best I have ever read. The historical value is definitely there, with realistic colonial New England characteristics and characters. Some of the characters of the book were even actually real. The romance part of the story rings very true, and is easily bought by the reader. I also like the insights that the book teaches throughout, such as when Kit doesn’t ask her cousin Judith not to tell that she is going to Hanna’s house because of the bond of being young together. Kit just knows that Judith will not tell. This story is timeless and enjoyable though it was published over fifty years ago.

Speare, E. G. (1958). The witch of Blackbird Pond. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.