It's April of 1687 when sixteen year old Kit Tyler steps on shore in Wethersfield, Connecticut. Her life has been turned upside down. Until this point, she's lived with her Grandfather in Barbados. They've been well off and had servants to do the chores. But her grandfather has recently died, and Kit had to leave for the colonies to live with her uncle and aunt, her only living relatives.
Kit quickly finds that her new life is completely different from her old life. She now has a list of chores she must do every day in order for the family to survive. Even worse, as far as she is concerned, her relatives are Puritans and expect her to live by their much stricter standards. This isn't easy for a headstrong girl who has been given lots of freedom.
But her life isn't all bad. There is the interest William, the most eligible bachelor in town, has shown in her. And there's the refuge she's managed to find in Hannah, the town outcast suspected of being a witch. But will she ever truly adjust to her new life?
This is one of those books you can read time and time again and get lost in the pages every time. I first read it in Jr. High, and I've reread it several times since. Every time, I am completely drawn into the story. And considering how little action it has, that's pretty amazing.
It's the characters that draw you into the story. All of them are real people with strengths and weaknesses. Granted, it occasionally takes time for you to see that since we get the story from Kit's point of view. But by the end we come to care for most everyone. Kit starts off a little spoiled and rebellious. While she never loses her spunk, she does do a lot of growing before the story is over.
Because we care for the characters, the plot is engrossing. There are several sub-plots woven into the story, and they really strengthen it. As I mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of action, which is normally a turn off for me. But the story creates plenty of conflict from the very beginning that allows me to get caught up in events. The climax is captivating and very well done.
And the book has some good themes. The obvious one is about judging others. Kit is judged as soon as she steps into town because of her upbringing. And her friend Hannah is ostracized solely because she is a Quaker. And Kit also learns a lesson about being true to yourself and not letting others plan your life for you.
All this is held together by excellent writing. When reading the book, I actually feel like I am in the village of Wethersfield. I had absolutely no trouble reading it as a Jr. Higher. I'm sure anyone late elementary school age or older will be able to understand the language no problem.
This book won a well deserved Newbery Award for outstanding children's literature. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a strong book that will captivate anyone who reads it.
Also by Elizabeth George Speare:
The Bronze Bow
