The Witch of Blackbird Pond
by Elizabeth George Speare

During the summer of 1687, Katherine “Kit” Tyler, granddaughter of the now deceased Sir Francis Tyler of Barbados, finds herself buried under the debt her grandfather owed. In order to pay off the creditors, Kit is forced to sale everything that was home or loved by her. From her grandfather’s plantation, the home, even her very own slave girl. With naught but her wardrobe left, Kit sets out to find her only relative still living. Her aunt who has long since married Mathew Wood, a puritan, and made her home in the American colonies.

The lengthy and dreary voyage by ship on the Dolphin is but one of many trials that Kit must face on her journey of self-discovery and foray into adulthood. Before Kit has even step foot in the town that she plans to make her new home; Kit finds herself at odds with the locals and their way of life. As the granddaughter of a wealthy King’s man in Barbados, Kit was well-educated, given plenty of freedom, and taught to voice her opinions because they were of value. On the Dolphin Kit begins noticing that she is not only different from the folks who will soon be her townsfolk, but she’s not entirely welcome either. She’s not a Puritan, she hails from an “island of savages” where she was allowed to “run wild” and never put forth an honest day’s work. She’s a loyalist during a time where the vast majority of the country folk put more stock in the land they work with their bare hands then in a man who sits upon a throne across the ocean.

As mentioned previously, the story opens in 1687, a scant few years before the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692. While witch trials were not nearly as prolific in the colonies as they were in Europe, accusations of witchcraft were still taken seriously. It is during this volatile time period that Kit, an exotic and foreign creature settles amongst their midst. Kit is so utterly different from the people whom she wishes to settle down with that it’s almost painful to watch. At the same time however, the reader can’t help but to be proud of Kit and the progress she makes in establishing bonds with her family, community, and friends.

Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an, almost unbearably, short but wonderfully executed tale that allows readers to take a step back in time to a world long past but not forgotten. While the book is undeniably written with a young adult audience in mind, readers of all ages will nevertheless find enjoyment and adventure in this tale. The light touch of romance is enough to add spice to the story without detracting from the overall development of characters. Kit is a lovable, bratty, and very real protagonist that will force her way into your heart. The secondary and minor characters are well thought out, although a few do remain rather flat and two-dimensional. This caused me to have a very hard picturing these characters in my mind and took a bit of the enjoyment out of certain scenes since it was difficult to feel much more than mild amusement at their follies or mild indignation for their trespasses. This was a bit of a disappointment considering the fact that some of those flat characters play pivotal roles in moving major events along.

Overall though, I found The Witch of Blackbird Pond to be a highly enjoyable and engaging read that I strongly recommend to anyone looking to pick up a well written and quick-paced read. Especially if you’re a fan of historical fiction or young adult reads.

Joana’s Rating: (4 out of 5 stars)