It is hard to believe that Halloween is next week! October is flying by. Today I am going to share two witch-themed books for different ages. The first is a new picture book about the Salem witch trials. Did you know that the Salem witch trials were not the first witch trials and executions in North America. There were significant ones in Connecticut early in the 1600s. (Source) There were even accusations and a trial in Virginia before the Salem ones. (Source) However Salem had the hysteria that was not present in these other places. It Happened in Salem by Jonah Winter and illustrated by Brad Holland. It is recommended for ages 9 to 12, so a bit older than most picture books.
From the Publisher:
“It could happen anywhere, at any time.” The chillingly familiar history of the infamous Salem witch trials is here brought into modern context, showing how bias and blame have worked in tandem throughout history, to disastrous effect. As the townspeople become increasingly fueled by suspicion, the accused become the accusers, naming names to save themselves. Could something like this still occur today? Of course. But it’s up to all of us to stop it.
From Me:
Unlike many stories about the Salem Witch Trials, this book shares the accusations and lies that caused the hysteria of Salem. It shares how many of the people accused turned and accused someone else to stay alive. It was a scary time because anyone could be accused, and then possibly killed, at any time. The hysteria was started by a girl who convinced her friends to follow along.
I love that this book shares the cause of the hysteria and modernizes the story for young readers to truly understand what happened and how it got so out of hand. As someone who lives near Salem, I have to say that Halloween is a bit crazy there. We had trouble finding parking in Salem on Labor Day Weekend. I have students who live in Salem who don't come to school on Halloween because it is so hard to get in and out of Salem on Halloween. Although people are not being accused of witchcraft there is a bit of hysteria around Halloween in the city. I hope you check out this book to learn more about the accusations and trials.
Our other book is a middle grades chapter book. It was released this year in paperback. I found my advanced reader copy in a bag that got put away last year, so I want to share it this year!! It is The October Witches by Jennifer Claessen. It is recommended for ages 8 to 12.
From the Publisher:
This sweet and enchanting middle grade fantasy novel “mixing Arthurian legend with Practical Magic and plenty of adventure” (Booklist) follows a young witch who must uncover the secrets of her family’s past to end their long-standing internal feud.Thirteen-year-old Clementine Merlyn lives with her mom, her aunts, and her cousin Mirabelle at Number 15 Pendragon Road. The Merlyns are a family of witches, but because of an ancient falling out with the other branch of the family, the Morgans, they only have powers for a single month of the year: October.
And this October may be the one that Clemmie gets her magic. It should be exciting, except that magic is the reason that Mirabelle never talks to her anymore, Aunt Flissie leaves at the end of every September and doesn’t come back until November, and Aunt Temmie…well, is long gone. And the Merlyn bad luck takes an even worse turn this year. After a disastrous attempt by the aunts to recover their lost magic, 15 Pendragon Road is visited by the creepy and cold Morgans.
In the wake of the ensuing battle, Clemmie and Mirabelle are left on their own. With no other choice, the cousins must band together and summon their courage and magic to solve the mystery of what happened between the first Merlyn and Morgan all those centuries ago if they’ll have any hope of ending this feud and getting their family back.
From Me:
To be honest I have not finished this book. I just started it when I found it and haven't gotten super far but it is interesting. I find the story so interesting that the witches only get their magic in October. Clemmie's family is interesting and weird. All the while Clemmie is trying to figure out her own magic as it is the first year she has had it. The book is fantasy but also is full of mystery.
This book is perfect for this month, and I can see kids loving it. The characters are well developed, and the weirdness will make kids feel like their families are so normal. I love the backstory of the ancestors who fought and lost the magic for eleven months due to their war. Neither side of the family truly knows the origin story, but both think they do. If you know someone who loves a bit fantasy and a bit mystery, have them check out this book!
