Bibliography
Speare, Elizabeth George. The Witch Of Blackbird Pond. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1958. ISBN: 0440495962
Summary
When Kit Tyler’s grandfather passes away, she is forced to sell everything that her grandfather left her to pay the debts that he has accumulated. When all is paid, she has nothing left. Her grandfather's associate, who is fifty years old, offers to marry Kit so that she does not have to repay her grandfather's debt. Kit, who is sixteen, cannot imagine marrying the man and makes a decision that changes her life. She packs her trunks and sets sail on a ship bound for Connecticut. Kit is surprised at how different life is in the Connecticut Colony. She is used to the beautify island of Barbados where her grandfather had taught her about literature, music and plays. As she struggles to adapt to her new situation, she meets Hannah Tupper. The community has labeled Hannah a witch and her home is strictly off limits to Kit. Forced to choose between being a friend to a woman and following the strict rules of the Puritan community, Kit decides to remain true to her heart and help Hannah. The community eventually finds out about the friendship. Kit is accused and placed on trail.
Critical Analysis
Although most of the characters will seem very different from most present day sixteen year olds, Kit Tyler is a character that all readers will identify with. Her grandfather has raised her to be inquisitive, and accepting of others. This accepting attitude is the direct opposite of the characters we meet when Kit arrives in Wethersfield, Conneticut. The other characters-Aunt Rachel, Uncle Matthew, Mercy, Judith and the other community members are Puritans. Their faith emphasized reading the bible, long sermons, prayer and building an individual relationship with God. Their style of dress was plain in fashion, symbolizing their turning themselves away from materialism. They focused on a hardworking, simplified life where they would be provided for by their faith in God. Kit's accepting attitude and her unwillingness to be unkind to others who are different are ultimately what causes her to be imprisioned and placed on trial for witchcraft. Readers will identify with Kit on many levels-and will be horrified to learn that people who are supposed to be Christians actually burned people who were labeled for witchcraft just because they had different beliefs or could swim.
The beliefs and attitudes presented in this novel are accurate and presented in such a way that young readers are able to process what life was like during this time period. Speare's style and use of vocabulary captures the time period perfectly and allows students to sink in to the lives of Puritan colonists. Students will have many questions and are likely to be indignant when teachers explain to them why Hannah was labeled as a witch. Girls especially will relate to Kit's cousins, Mercy and Judith as they try on all the beautiful dresses that Kit has brought along and offered to share. They will be dismayed when they find out that Uncle Matthew refuses to allow his daughters to wear these dresses. The authors goes into great detail that will help readers to see the thoughts and feelings of the Puritan mind and how in the name of "God" and "Religion" some people are not accepted.
Speare's descriptions of the setting helps readers see how rural and cut off these colonies were. You can feel Kit's disappointment in what the land looks like compared to Barbados: "Her heart sank. This was Wethersfield! Just a narrow sandy stretch of shoreline, a few piles sunk in the river with rough planking for a platform. No town, not a house, only a few men and boys and two yapping dogs who had come to meet the boat."
The Witch of Blackbird Pond presents many themes for readers to contemplate. Physical abuse, slavery, prejudice, learning to fit in to a new place and dealing with disabilities are all presented. All of these issues were relevant in 1687 and are still relevant in 2009.
Although Elizabeth Speare does not provide a bibliography or additional information regarding the historic time period the novel describes, she does provide an author's note regarding the architecture, the town of Wethersfield and many of the people mentioned in the story. This note will allow readers to search for more information regarding these places and people of 1687.
Review Excerpt
Annette (BookHive (www.bookhive.org))Can you imagine growing up on the tropical island of Barbados, living in a beautiful plantation house, and having servants do everything for you? This is the life that sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler has led with her grandfather since her parents died when she was a baby. Then, in 1687, her grandfather dies, leaving Kit all alone in the world, with only an aunt in Connecticut. Join Kit as she sails to Connecticut to meet her aunt and see how she saves lives, faces a witch trial, and makes a life for herself in this strange, new land. Category: Award Books; Classics; Historical. Grade Level: Intermediate (4th-6th grade). 1958, Houghton Mifflin. Ages 9 to 12
Connections
There are many study guides that can be purchased for this novel.
Curriculum ties:
Coming to America, Early settlers, Puritans, Quakers, Salem Witch Trials, Rights of Individuals, Civic Ideas, Court Systems, Colonial Life, New England, Trading Routes
Make corn pudding and learn how they made candles to illustrate colonial life.
Here is an excellent site that has activities for the novel.
Other novels by Elizabeth George
Calico Captive ISBN 0440411564 The Bronze Bow ISBN 0395137195 The Sign of the Beaver ISBN 0440800382
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