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Susanna English desperately wants to join the circle of girls who meet every week at the parsonage, but she doesn't realize the leader of the group, the malicious Ann Putnam, is about to set off a torrent of false accusations that will lead to the imprisonment and execution of countless innocent people—victims of a witch-hunt panic.
"A graceful blend of fiction and history, Rinaldi's incisive and thoughtful narrative brings to life a dark period in America's past." —Publishers Weekly
"The author's skillful manipulation of the conventions of the young-adult novel—particularly the rich exploration of being an outsider and going against the mainstream—makes this book a superb vehicle for examining the social dynamics of this legendary event." —The Horn Book
"A Break with Charity portrays an excruciating era in American history from a unique perspective, and it will be enjoyed by readers who enjoy psychology, the supernatural, and history." —School Library Journal
Includes Reader's Guide
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Creators
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Series
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Publisher
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Release date
August 18, 2023 -
Formats
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Kindle Book
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OverDrive Read
- ISBN: 9780547351551
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EPUB ebook
- ISBN: 9780547351551
- File size: 3277 KB
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Languages
- English
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Levels
- ATOS Level: 4.7
- Lexile® Measure: 730
- Interest Level: 6-12(MG+)
- Text Difficulty: 3
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Reviews
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August 31, 1992
Boredom and frustration in a small Puritan town provide fertile ground for a band of teenage girls to incite and nurture deadly mischief. Susannah English, caught between the desire to be a part of the group and her revulsion toward their wickedness, finds herself an unwilling party to what would become the Salem witch trials. A graceful blend of fiction and history, Rinaldi's incisive and thoughtful narrative brings to life a dark period in America's past. The reader is confronted with conflicting and disturbing issues: lies masquerading as divine truth, courage, trust and the terrifying power of a rising tide of hysteria. The artful placement of Susannah as an observer provides a 360-degree view of the causes and effects of inexplicable mass persecution. At the same time, the author's quiet, factual style stands in a soothing contrast to her inherently shocking and histrionic subject matter. Finely tuned, well researched and very accessible, this novel ranks with Rinaldi's finest work. Ages 10-up. -
September 1, 2013
Gr 6-10-Rinaldi combines fiction and well-researched historical facts in her novel (Houghton Harcourt, 1992) about the 1692 Salem witch trials. The story is told from the perspective of a young woman who was a teenager living in Puritan Salem Village 14 years earlier during the trials. Susannah Young, 14, is not part of the group of girls who meet weekly at the parsonage and speak with Tituba, a slave who tells fortunes. She wants to join them, but is frightened at what she sees. Before long, she finds herself immersed in the dealings the girls have with Tituba. The group's leader, Ann Putnam, tells Susannah that they are causing the witch hunt hysteria mainly to gain power and recognition. Soon the entire town is in chaos as the girls start naming townspeople as witches, but Susannah remains silent, fearing for the safety of her family. Students studying this era in history will recognize many of the names associated with the witch hunt and trials. Laura Hicks does an admirable job of voicing the text's Puritan diction and grammar and uses different voices and tones for each character. While the story begins slowly, it picks up speed as soon as Susannah speaks with Tituba. Perfect for pairing with a lesson on the Salem witch trials as well as for fans of historical fiction.-"Katie Llera, Bound Brook High School, NJ"Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
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