"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is a historical fiction novel written by Elizabeth George Speare. The story is set in the late 17th century in the Puritan colony of Connecticut. The main character, Katherine "Kit" Tyler, is a 16-year-old girl who is forced to leave her home in Barbados to live with her aunt and uncle in Connecticut. Kit faces many challenges as she tries to adjust to her new life in a strict and religious community. She is seen as an outsider because of her different upbringing and free-spirited nature. The townspeople suspect that she may be a witch due to her unconventional behavior and her friendship with an old Quaker woman named Hannah Tupper, who is also an outcast.
Fitting in was hard for Kit. She wanted to blend in with her family, but she was a bit lost on how to do that. The change from her upbringing on a tropical island to Puritan New England was stark and I understand why she struggled. It took her time and she made mistakes. In that time, making a mistake almost cost her her life and freedom. Now, we have more leeway to make mistakes and not have to count on Nat to deliver us from the trial.
Because she was easy to relate to, the Puritan culture she was in stuck out even more than it would have otherwise and served as a great backdrop to show her struggle to fit in and the strict culture she was living in. Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687.
The townspeople suspect that she may be a witch due to her unconventional behavior and her friendship with an old Quaker woman named Hannah Tupper, who is also an outcast. Throughout the novel, Kit tries to prove herself and find her place in the community. She faces prejudice, judgment, and even an accusation of witchcraft.
Book Review: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare (4/5)
I needed a book for my When Are You Reading? Challenge and this worked out perfectly. 1500-1699 can be really challenging so I was happy to find one that worked out so perfectly. On top of that, it seems this is a classic middle-grade book that I missed out on somehow. It’s nice to have read it now and feel like I’m not missing out.
Cover image via Amazon
Summary from Amazon:
Sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler is marked by suspicion and disapproval from the moment she arrives on the unfamiliar shores of colonial Connecticut in 1687. Alone and desperate, she has been forced to leave her beloved home on the island of Barbados and join a family she has never met. Torn between her quest for belonging and her desire to be true to herself, Kit struggles to survive in a hostile place. Just when it seems she must give up, she finds a kindred spirit. But Kit’s friendship with Hannah Tupper, believed by the colonists to be a witch, proves more taboo than she could have imagined and ultimately forces Kit to choose between her heart and her duty.
Because I’m such a big fan of historical fiction, one thing that struck me was that this book seemed a bit out of time. I’m thinking specifically of Kit’s upbringing in Barbados which seemed very modern from what I know of the late 1600s. It colored the book for me moving forward from there. I did feel that the Puritan colony in Connecticut was rather well portrayed from my knowledge of history and I found that fascinating.
From what I know, the characters were very true to life for the time. Judith and Aunt Sarah were very lifelike and felt like people you could know in any time period. Kit was very rebellious and ahead of her time which makes it easier for a modern reader to connect with her. I think they were good characters for a MG novel and I liked them a lot.
Mercy was my favorite character and I wanted everything to go well for her. She was so kind and had accepted her station in life tough Kit wanted more for her. She was glad to teach the children how to read and be a help around the house. But the reader wanted her to find love and her arc completed beautifully.
Kit was easy to relate to because she wanted life to be fun and carefree, more like a childhood of modern time. Because she was easy to relate to, the Puritan culture she was in stuck out even more than it would have otherwise and served as a great backdrop to show her struggle to fit in and the strict culture she was living in.
Elizabeth George Speare
Image via Amazon
I thought the ending was very sweet. I liked how William’s allegiance changed and how Kit came to realize that she wanted her freedom and how she could go about that. Mercy’s ending was very fitting for her character. While I figured out how Kit’s story would end about halfway through, these side character arcs were happy surprises.
Kit seemed so oblivious at the beginning of the book that her character was a bit annoying. It was hard for me to like her at first because she seemed to be so flippant and didn’t listen to those around her. She grew on me later, but it didn’t start off well.
My audiobook was read by Mary Beth Hurt and I thought she was wonderful. Her voice for Hannah was wonderful and she gave good weight to the emotions the characters would feel.
Fitting in was hard for Kit. She wanted to blend in with her family, but she was a bit lost on how to do that. The change from her upbringing on a tropical island to Puritan New England was stark and I understand why she struggled. It took her time and she made mistakes. In that time, making a mistake almost cost her her life and freedom. Now, we have more leeway to make mistakes and not have to count on Nat to deliver us from the trial.
Writer’s Takeaway: One thing YA authors struggle with is giving a young adult the agency to make changes in their life due to their age. Setting her story in the late 1600s gave Speare this ability and I think she tackled it well. Historical YA is important because it helps growing minds see what their life could have been like and I think Speare did this very well.
Enjoyable and fun. Four out of Five Stars.
This book fulfills the 1500-1699 time period of the When Are You Reading? Challenge.
Until next time, write on.
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Kit seemed so oblivious at the beginning of the book that her character was a bit annoying. It was hard for me to like her at first because she seemed to be so flippant and didn’t listen to those around her. She grew on me later, but it didn’t start off well.
However, she also forms friendships and connections with some of the townspeople, including a young man named Nat Eaton. As the story progresses, the townspeople's perception of Kit slowly changes, and they come to appreciate her kindness and courage. Kit, in turn, learns to understand and respect the traditions and beliefs of her new community. "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" explores themes of identity, prejudice, and the importance of tolerance and acceptance. It portrays the challenges faced by individuals who do not conform to the societal norms and expectations of their time. The book is a captivating read that transports readers to a different era and brings to life the struggles and triumphs of its characters. It depicts the strength and resilience of Kit as she navigates her way through a world that fears and misunderstands her. Overall, "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is an engaging and thought-provoking novel that continues to resonate with readers of all ages. It reminds us of the power of acceptance, empathy, and love in overcoming prejudice and discrimination..
Reviews for "Narrative Techniques in 'The Witch of Blackbird Pond': Foreshadowing and Symbolism"
1. Sarah - 1/5 stars - "I found 'The witch of Blackbird Pond' to be incredibly dull and uneventful. The story takes place in colonial America and focuses on a young girl named Kit who moves from Barbados to Connecticut. I thought the historical setting would be interesting, but instead, it was just tedious. The characters were flat and lacked depth, and the plot was predictable and uninspiring. I struggled to connect with Kit or care about her journey. Overall, the book left me feeling bored and disappointed."
2. Michael - 2/5 stars - "I had high hopes for 'The witch of Blackbird Pond' due to its reputation as a classic children's book, but unfortunately, it fell short for me. The story revolves around Kit, a young girl who is seen as a witch by the Puritan community she finds herself in. While the exploration of witch hunts and religious intolerance is an important historical topic, the execution in this book was lacking. The pacing was slow, and I felt a lack of emotional depth in the characters. The ending also felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I found it to be an underwhelming read."
3. James - 2/5 stars - "Although 'The witch of Blackbird Pond' is often praised for its portrayal of colonial America, I found the story to be predictable and lacking in excitement. The plot centers around Kit, a young girl in Connecticut who befriends a woman accused of witchcraft. While the historical context is interesting, the characters were not compelling and their relationships felt forced. The writing style also didn't captivate me, and I found it difficult to become engrossed in the story. Overall, I was left wanting more depth and originality from this book."
4. Emily - 1/5 stars - "I really didn't enjoy 'The witch of Blackbird Pond'. The story follows Kit as she struggles to fit in with the Puritanical community she finds herself in. Unfortunately, I found the characters to be one-dimensional and the dialogue to be unnatural. The pacing was slow, and I didn't feel invested in the storyline or the outcomes for the characters. Overall, I just couldn't find any enjoyment in this book and was left feeling disappointed."