young girl perpetually anxious about being exposed as a witch. Yet, readers learn that being labeled a witch doesn't equate to being malevolent; Mary identifies as a witch, but she neither harms others nor uses her abilities for evil purposes.

Although the manuscript is said to have been updated for contemporary readers, some of the language in Witch Child may still pose a challenge for today's audience. Words such as "addled," "pinioned," and "posset" might initially confuse some readers, though their meanings can often be deduced from context. More importantly, their use reinforces the impression that the document is from a bygone era. By incorporating somewhat archaic language, Rees effectively captures the Colonial period. She chooses words that were common and relevant to her characters' time, making the journal feel authentically written by a young girl from the mid-seventeenth century. Without these words, Witch Child would lose much of its credibility.

Rees also uses symbolism to vividly bring Mary's story to life. Mary's grandmother was accused of transforming into a hare and wandering the countryside. Initially skeptical of this claim, Mary hears sailors aboard the ship Annabel discuss a peculiar event—some reported seeing a rabbit onboard. Later, Jaybird's grandfather mentions spotting a new hare around Beulah, and others notice an unusual rabbit in the forest. When Mary finally sees the hare, she realizes it must be her grandmother, still watching over her.

Just as her grandmother's spirit appears as a hare, Jaybird's grandfather suggests that Mary's spirit takes the form of a wolf. Her eyes, described as "luminous gray flecked with yellow," resemble those of an animal. Jaybird's grandfather tells Mary she reminds him of a young she-wolf he once knew, living on the outskirts of a pack, unable to fend for herself, yet unwelcome within the group. When asked about the wolf's fate, Jaybird's grandfather admits uncertainty, stating, "One day she was not there anymore. Maybe the pack drove her out... Or maybe they turned on her and tore her to pieces."

The wolf serves as a powerful symbol for Mary, hinting at her potential future. She might be expelled from Beulah, or the townspeople might accuse her of witchcraft and condemn her. Mary's destiny is mirrored by the wolves' fate in England. When Jaybird's grandfather inquires if she has ever encountered a wolf, she responds, "Not in England—they have all been killed." Just as hunters have sought to eliminate wolves in England, witch hunters have pursued every suspected witch. Wolves, like Mary, find refuge only in the New World.

Rees draws strong parallels between Mary's life and that of the Native tribes. Upon first encountering Jaybird and his grandfather, the elder disregards everyone but Mary, scrutinizing her gaze with a brief, discerning look. He appears to sense her mystical abilities, which he later confirms during a meeting in a mountain cave. Both Mary and the Native people possess knowledge of healing with plants and herbs and share an understanding of the animal spirit within certain individuals. Sacred stones hold significant value for both cultures. For the Native tribes, the large stone slabs upon which the settlers of Beulah constructed their Meeting House carry profound meaning. These stones were once considered holy markers by the Natives until Reverend Johnson and his settlers claimed the land. While most of Jaybird's Pentucket tribe either perished from European diseases or relocated, Jaybird and his grandfather remain near the stones to protect them.

After hearing the tale of the sacred stones, Mary grasps the significance of the grand stone structure she observed while journeying through England. As she passed the "Temple of the Winds" on the Salisbury Plain, she recalled her grandmother's occasional absences to celebrate a sacred holiday from what Mary referred to as the "Old Religion." Linking these memories, Mary now comprehends her grandmother's participation in these rituals. Modern readers will also recognize the connection, as the monumental Stonehenge is situated on the Salisbury Plain. Although her grandmother never divulged details about these events, Mary acknowledges their importance and the significance of Jaybird's stones as well.

Witch Child might serve as a compelling tool to emphasize the importance of respecting diverse beliefs among people. In seventeenth-century England, religious conflicts led to significant bloodshed and social turmoil. For many years, England was plagued by bloody revolutions and religious persecution. Monarchs often executed those with differing religious views. When Charles I's monarchy was toppled, royalists were executed by Oliver Cromwell's followers. After Cromwell's death, royalists retaliated by killing Cromwell's supporters. During this period in England, resolving differences in opinion and religion seemed impossible without resorting to violence.

This led the Puritans to believe it was best to relocate to the New World, where they could freely practice their faith, a faith endangered by Charles II's return to power. Ironically, as depicted in Reverend Johnson's Beulah settlement, religious freedom was limited to the Reverend's version of Puritanism. Other beliefs or viewpoints were not accepted, a narrow-mindedness that ultimately prompted John Rivers to depart with his family in search of a place "where folk are freer to follow their own conscience, which is one of the reasons we crossed the ocean in the first place." The intolerance of differing beliefs, as illustrated in Witch Child, only leads to misery and suffering.

Throughout the narrative, Rees integrates real historical events through Mary's fictional journal. Witch hunters were indeed present across Europe and in the New World. Individuals like Obadiah Wilson traveled from village to village, offering to eliminate alleged witches for a fee. Jealous neighbors often turned against each other, making false yet believable accusations of witchcraft. Other women, and some men, were used as scapegoats during difficult times and were also killed. In England, scholars estimate that over a thousand people were executed as witches between 1550 and 1685, while in America, the first public witch hanging took place in 1647 in Connecticut. Over the years, more individuals were accused of witchcraft and executed, but it is perhaps the Salem witch trials of 1692 that garner the most attention. Although those accused of witchcraft were eventually hanged, the hysteria surrounding witches seemed to diminish in America following this final persecution.

If you enjoyed reading Witch Child, you might want to explore The Witch of Blackbird Pond, a Newbery Award-winning novel written by Elizabeth George Speare in 1958. The story follows Kit Tyler, who, after becoming an orphan in Barbados, travels to New England to meet an aunt she's never encountered. Struggling to adapt to life with her well-meaning Puritan relatives, Kit befriends a solitary widow whom some townspeople suspect of being a witch.

Another intriguing read is The Diary of Dorcas Good, Child Witch of Salem (1999) by Rose Earhart. This fictional account is based on real people and events from the Salem witch trials, depicting the life of Dorcas Good, a child accused of witchcraft. It offers readers a glimpse into life in New England during the late seventeenth century.

For insights into those who accused others of witchcraft, consider Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler's Priscilla Foster: The Story of a Salem Girl (1997). In this story, Priscilla Foster recounts to her granddaughter Hannah how she was swept up in the witch hysteria and falsely accused innocent neighbors of witchcraft, leading to their execution. Burdened by guilt, Priscilla shares her experience with Hannah, hoping her granddaughter learns from her mistakes.

Brabander, Jennifer M. Review of Witch Child. Horn Book (September 2001): 592. Jennifer Brabander describes Witch Child as an "expertly written, potent novel" and notes that Mary's witching abilities have a "New Agey/spiritual bent."

Herbert, Rosemary. "A Good Scare: British Author Pens Timely and Bewitching Salem-set Young Adult Novel." Boston Herald (October 31, 2001): 51. A brief interview with Rees, in which she discusses Witch Child and the character of Mary.

Isaacs, Kathleen. Review of Witch Child. School Library Journal (August 2001): 188. Isaacs gives a favorable review, praising the book for its "sound and well-developed historical setting" and describing Mary as an "entirely believable character."

MacCallum, Elizabeth. "When Mothers of Salem Saw Witches in Their Midst." National Post (February 24, 2001): B8. Elizabeth MacCallum reviews Witch Craft, highlighting the recent rise in interest in witchcraft among young girls.

"Rees, Celia." In Something about the Author, vol. 124. Detroit: Gale, 2000. A concise biographical piece on Celia Rees, covering her work and the critical reception of her writing.

Rees, Celia. Witch Child. http://www.witchchild.com. November 9, 2001. A website created by Rees, offering further details about the novel, insights into the author, her inspiration, and other features.