Witch-Hunt:Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials

Aronson, Marc. Witch-Hunt Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Atheneum Books for Young Readers. 2003

Annotation: Compelling historical look back at the people and events that led to the infamous Salem Witch trials and the myths and theories surrounding that disturbing period.

Justification for Nomination: Famous historian, Marc Aronsen has concocted a very well researched and in-depth story, giving as many concrete facts as he possibly can in an effort to reveal the incidents which led up to and beyond the Salem witch trials - and allow the reader to draw his or her own conclusion based on the information offered. With tons of references that teens are certain to understand, this book also contains other informational resources that offer an endless supply of historical facts and dates. A notes and comments section as well as a time line of the milestones in Puritan history prove that this non-fiction book is well-researched, containing much information that a reader will find useful in conclusion-making.

Beyond the outstanding reference material offered, Aronsen offers much background around this period and even cites and offers comparisons to previous stories and fairy tales that a young reader can easily relate to. Definitely always knowing who his reader is, Aronsen makes sure the content of the book is not only relevant to the story as a whole, but that it will be compelling to young readers. Relaying the differences between myths, misinterpretations and what is known to be true, the book contains the actual, as well as proposed, events. He introduces all of the players in this community of people and asks the reader to use his own experiences to make the final decision.

The style and tone of the book are very conversational and are perfectly attuned to young adult readership. It is not so simple as to make one feel immature, but neither is it a work that would intimidate a reader. The story is told in a very informative and yet compelling way, with accompanying illustrations at the beginning of each chapter, provided by Stephanie Anderson. These illustrations enhance the story, adding that all important visual element.

With a very intriguing subject matter, Witch-Hunt is a book that is outstanding because it presents the reader with the vivid story of the events of that period and informs the reader, while at the same time encourages him to come up with his own determination of what really happened in Salem.

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Supernatural