Plot Summary

Witch Child

Celia Rees
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Witch Child

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2000

Book Brief

Celia Rees

Witch Child

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2000
Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 17th century

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

Lexile Level

760L

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Super Short Summary

Published in 2000, Witch Child by Celia Rees is an epistolary children’s novel set in seventeenth-century England and New England, following fourteen-year-old Mary Newbury, a young witch-girl who escapes to the New World after her grandmother is executed for witchcraft. Upon reaching Salem, Massachusetts, Mary meticulously documents her perilous journey and efforts to conceal her identity amidst rampant religious persecution and witch hunts, all while forging relationships and facing daily threats in a new Puritan society. The book involves themes of torture, execution, and religious persecution.

Mysterious

Dark

Emotional

Suspenseful

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

4.1

19,998 ratings

65%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Witch Child by Celia Rees has been praised for its rich historical detail, compelling protagonist, and evocative writing style. However, some critics find the pacing uneven and certain plot elements predictable. Overall, the novel succeeds in immersing readers in a gripping tale of survival and courage amidst the witch trials era.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Witch Child?

Readers who would enjoy Witch Child by Celia Rees are likely fans of historical fiction with strong, young female protagonists. They might also appreciate the mystical elements found in The Crucible by Arthur Miller and the coming-of-age narratives in The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare.

4.1

19,998 ratings

65%

Loved it

27%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Fun Facts

Witch Child is inspired by real historical events, with Celia Rees drawing on actual witch trials and the 17th-century Puritan setting to create the novel's immersive and authentic atmosphere.

The book was notable enough to be shortlisted for the Guardian Children's Fiction Prize and the Whitbread Children's Book Awards, highlighting its critical acclaim and popularity.

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Celia Rees originally conceived Witch Child as a standalone novel, but due to its success, she continued the story in a sequel titled Sorceress.

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Book Details
Pages

288

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

England • 17th century

Publication Year

2000

Audience

Middle grade

Recommended Reading Age

12-16 years

Lexile Level

760L

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