{ Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of the Disaster in Salem }

Witches! The Absolutely True Tale of Disaster in Salem
by Rosalyn Schanzer.  Washington DC: National Geographic, 2011.  978-1426308697.  Grades 5+

Witches!  The Absolutely True Tale of the Disaster in Salem is the dark book written and illustrated by Rosalyn Schanzer.  It was honored by the Robert F Silbert award.  It is a short informational text about the horrible deeds done to those accused and executed in the Salem Witch Trials and their accusers.  From the beginning Schanzer wraps you into the tale with black and white pictures and glowing red eyes.

The book is creepy and scary as it rightfully should be.  Schanzer does a wonderful job introducing the characters and their stories, laying out all the facts as they happened.  She doesn't shy away from the truth and the grisly details, despite her audience.  This is important, it isn't always good to shelter this age group especially in these days of graphic television and video games.  The book is enthralling even if you are already familiar with the story and very informative for children who have either not been introduced to this subject or have only heard the brief social studies version.

A strength for this book would be the pictures and the plethora of information.  Schanzer has included trial scripts and quotes as often as possible to enrich the story and bring out the truth of what happened.  As well she includes these black, white, and red sketch pictures throughout the book that enhance the overall creepy feeling that the book is making the reader feel.

The only real weakness to the book is that it almost plays on the idea that the witches are real.  Although, this is a historical way of writing.  Historians don't take sides, they present the facts.  From the beginning Schanzer never says that what the accusers were experience wasn't witchcraft or that the witches weren't what they were being accused of.  Although at the end she does mention that they could have been lying or dreadfully sick with a disease that might have caused their fits.

This book is a wonderful addition to any historical children's library.  It is very informative in a way that children might not be used to.  With the use of true facts and just the right amount of intrigue this story will keep readers enraptured and make them care about this portion of history.

Purchase it here on Amazon.

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