   | Full Text Reviews: Bulletin for the Center... - 12/01/2011 If you’re looking for a starting point to delve into the tragedy of the Salem witch hunts, you can’t ask for more than a book that offers up a clear and concise account of the events leading up to and following the trials, provides a host of notes, sources, and further reading, all while maintaining the effortless tone of a seasoned storyteller and accompanied by eye-catching artwork that evokes the menacing terror of the times. Schanzer’s latest contribution to the nonfiction field is just that book, and the author easily navigates a large cast of characters and a sea of misinformation as she lays out a straightforward, chronological retelling of the events that focuses squarely on the people who lived it and relies heavily on direct quotes from primary sources. This facts-only approach limits the potential for sensationalism, so readers looking for titillating details of Satanic circles and animal sacrifices may be disappointed, but the author’s temperate and even-handed treatment of both the accused and accusers offers a brief but sympathetic look at Puritan life. Where the text avoids conjecture and merely relays objective evidence, the artwork hints at something more; the scratchboard illustrations recall seventeenth-century century woodcuts, and the monochromatic palette maintains an air of gloomy desperation while the occasional splashes of red tip the scales toward sinister, though whether the nature of that evil takes the form of mass hysteria or true devilry is never quite specified. Falling just short of 150 pages, this is sure to be useful in school projects or as a companion to the requisite Crucible unit for students looking for a more compact treatment than Aronson’s Witch-Hunt (BCCB 12/03). KQG - Copyright 2011 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois. School Library Journal - 12/01/2011 Gr 7–9—Schanzer succinctly re-creates the hysteria, confusion, and tragedy of the Salem Witch Trials in this compact and evocative overview. In a conversational tone, she poignantly describes the religious fervor of the Puritans and the ease with which neighbors and family members accused one another (and even domestic animals) of witchcraft. From the "testimony" of witnesses, to the courtroom proceedings, and to the eventual realization that the accusations and trials were nearing epic in proportion, the author effortlessly guides readers through this bizarre moment in American history. Several theories regarding the causes for the witchcraft hysteria and the "fits" experienced by many of the accused are addressed, but no definite answers are promoted or advocated. Primary-source material consisting of courtroom testimony is woven throughout the narrative; spelling is modernized, and occasional passages are abridged for better understanding. The "What Happened Next" final chapter details the often-tragic ends for the unjustly accused; information on the accusers and the officials is also included. Schanzer's top-notch stylized black-and-white illustrations highlighted with small touches of red extend and enhance the text.—Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA - Copyright 2011 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission. Booklist - 11/01/2011 The Salem witch trials is a topic amply covered in fiction and nonfiction, but Schanzer’s take stands apart, thanks to her effective artwork. One of the main problems with telling the story is that there are so many people involved, from the accusers and the accused to the clergy and kith and kin. Simply reading the narrative, fresh as it is, might still confuse readers. So Schanzer provides black-and-white scratch-board illustrations, accented and heightened with a devilish red, beginning with small individual portraits of the cast. Throughout, it’s the eye-catching art and the handsome design that will keep readers turning the pages. Not that the story itself isn’t fascinating. Between the terror and torture, to say nothing of witches flying about on brooms and biting people, there’s plenty to hold kids’ attentions. But in spots where the narrative sags under the weight of its twists and turns, the imaginative pictures still make it sail. - Copyright 2011 Booklist. Loading...
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