A Break with Charity: A Story About the Salem Witch Trials [Paperback]

 

 

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Fourteen-year-old Susanna English desperately wishes that she could join the fast growing circle of village girls in Salem, who huddle together in tight bunches, whispering, pointing, giggling. And why do they mysteriously continue in visiting Tituba Indian, the cranky old slave woman---rumored to be trained in voodoo and witchcraft---brought up to the Massachusetts Bay Colony from Barbados? Susanna wonders. Susanna feels left out, and wonders how ever in the world she could join the girls. Thus begins this story of the infamous Salem Witch Trials of 1692...

One snowy, bitingly cold day, after the girls had left Tituba's dark place by the fireside, Susanna entered to speak to Tituba. After asking when her oldest brother, William, will return from his sailing voyage to the Caribbean, what Tituba tells Susanna horrifies her. Tituba says that what the girls are doing is stir things up in Salem, stir up the quiet peacefulness of the immensely strict life of Puritans, and start brewing up false lies---true human evil. At first, Susanna decides not to take Tituba seriously.

But then, later, Susanna has a dreadful, eye-opening encounter with twelve-year-old Ann Putnam, one of the leaders of the group of girls, who maliciously informs Susanna that she and the other girls will soon begin accusing women in Salem of witchcraft, and brutalizing them, of slapping them, pinching them, possessing them, punching them. Ann tells Susanna that if she even dares tell anyone about the girls' secret plan, if she "breaks charity" with them, then Ann will accuse Susanna and her family of witchcraft. And now, Susanna is trapped, with no way out.

The accusations and trials begin. Many innocent women are tried and found guilty to be hanged or thrown in jail, thus becoming very malnourished. Though it tears her heart in a million pieces, Susanna keeps quiet, for fear of her own mother being accused. The girls soon become known as "the afflicted," and Salem goes into mass-chaos, seeing witches both left and right all throughout the village. Susanna is forced to make a groundbreaking decision: Does she tell the truth, does she "break charity," and risk the danger of her family being accused? Or does she kept silent, an watch as dozens of innocent women are convicted and murdered?

Ann Rinaldi, considered by many to be one of the greatest historical fiction authors that ever lived, has written an excellent novel about the Salem Witch Trials; it has even sometimes been called an epic masterpiece. Susanna and her family are extremely likable protagonists, as are Johnathan Hawthorne---Susanna's love---as well as John and Elizabeth Putnam, Ann Putnam's very own aunt and uncle, who do not believe the girls' accusations, either. Ann Rinaldi has woven a wonderful story here about the Salem Witch Trials, which concludes in asking the question, Who do you believe?

Highly recommended!

This book takes place in Salem, long ago when they were having trials on the trials of alleged witches. Susanna being the heroic person she was, was havin a hard time with this because she was in some part of the witch things. Although she wasnt a witch, she knew some things that could help out with a major problem there. I recommend this book to those who like stories about witches or something like it.

The book I read was a Break With Charity by Ann Rinaldi. It was about the Salem Witch trials. The main characture is Susanna English who really wants to join a circle of girls at the parsonage. The girls in the parsonage gather in the circle every night to have their fortunes told by the reverands slave ,Tituba. When Susanna finally gets the courage to go inside she witnesses terrible things that are about to occur in the town of Salem Village.
I choose to read this book because I never learned about the witch trials that took place long ago and I thought by reading this book I could learn about it in a way that would be more fun than out of a textbook. People who enjoy non-fiction books and books about the past would enjoy reading this book. This book provides the reader with just enough suspense needed to keep the reader interested in the story. Overall I give this book a 9 because it was really good but, the context was challenging to understand.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible
This book was absolutely amazing. It was perfectly written, combining an awful, yet unforgettable time in history with a story that can be enjoyed by everyone. Read more

Published on Dec 13 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT book!!
This was my second Ann Rinaldi book, and I've become a fan for life. I've always been interested by the Salem Witch Trials, but this book was particularly fascinating because it... Read more

Published on July 29 2003 by qodramaqueen

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, thats all I can say
Everyone knows Salem is where they had the witch trials, but only a few know more than that and no one knows exactly what happened. Read more

Published on Jun 23 2003 by Arielle M. Dundas

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT! :)
Hey everybody! I really suggest this book to you! I just finished it and was totally moved. The emotions are illustrated so clearly- the frustrating eating-at-you anguish of... Read more

Published on April 5 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Book
I had to read this book for Battle of the Books and a novel project. I don't like to read, even though I do have all honors classes. But this book was incredibly good. Read more

Published on Dec 16 2002 by a 13-year-old honors student w...

5.0 out of 5 stars figure sk8er
I thought that A Break With Charity was a great book. It realy woke me up, made me think: how did our country get to be the way it is today? Read more

Published on Nov 26 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars A good Book
This book was absolutely wonderful. It gave me names of the people involved, it gave me dates of when things happened, and also backgrounds of the people in the book. Read more

Published on Aug 2 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Book
It's kind of sad that me a 16 year old would get a book for 9 - 12 but this book was great. I Didnt find it for 9-12 at all. Read more

Published on Jun 8 2002 by blackcato02

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book
A break with Charity:A story about thr salem witch trials, is a book that tells the story of the witch trials from the view point of 14 year old Sussana English. Read more

Published on April 15 2002

2.0 out of 5 stars i know..
i know that most people think this was like the greatest book ever written....but it [was awful]. it was boring, it had potential. Read more

Published on April 1 2002 by Jeff A

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