Bibliographic Data:
Hemphill, Stephanie. 2010. Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Blazer +
Bray Publishing.
ISBN 9780061853289
Plot Summary:
Through this novel told exclusively in verse, the reader is
introduced to a vindictive group of young girls. The novel is set in Salem
during the infamous Salem witch trials and gives a fictitious account of the
trials through the eyes of the girls who accused more than 220 people of witchcraft. Three main girls’ dialogue is
explored throughout including Mercy Lewis, a servant, Margaret Walcott, a middle
class citizen, and Ann Putman, Jr., a 12 year old who comes from one the most prestigious families
in Salem. We see the act of accusing escalate through their individual perspectives and see
a few possible indications of why the girls accused who they did whether it was
solely for attention, revenge, or jealousy.
Critical Analysis:
Wicked Girls follows an organized format beginning with an introduction
of each girl involved in the trials, and follows a back and forth of dialogue
between the main three throughout the novel. Free verse is utilized and lines are rythmic and flowing to effectively tell the story quickly and smoothly. There are sections that indicate
date and give a brief interlude of seasonal changes or major events taking
place. Overall, the story line is easy to follow and gives the reader an early
indication of the main character’s personalities and emotions. We see the hierarchy
of class and how this may have had something to do with the tragic events that
took place in Salem.
Hemphill does a fantastic job
analyzing the mental state of the girls. By allowing the reader to see the
happenings through the minds of the girls involved, the reader is given a clear image of who the girls are and their reasoning behind the accusations. We see the wanting to belong by each girl whether it is Mercy’s
longing to be more than a servant, Margaret’s lust for a boy in the village, or
Ann’s desperate attempt for attention from her family. The struggle for power is evident from each
girl and the evil that surrounds the baseless accusations is apparent. There is
a definite parallel with the events of the time and the mean girls of today.
Many young girls can relate, being given such vivid depictions of the deep thoughts and
torment that the characters in the story experience. The verse format is simple to follow once one
gets accustomed to reading it. The novel is expertly written and takes the
reader through an emotional tale of tragedy, fear, and the need for acceptance.
*Side Note: At the end of the
novel there are several sections with historical notes relating to the actual
accusers, those they accused and an author’s note explaining how she came to
write the book. These should not be missed and serve as a great accompaniment to
the novel.
Review Excerpt(s):
Booklist, Starred Review, June 2010:
“An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflicts and truths.”
“An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflicts and truths.”
Kirkus, Starred Review, June
2010:
“In this superbly wrought fictionalized account of the Salem Witch
Trials, Printz Honor winner Hemphill offers a fresh perspective on an oft-told
tale by providing lesser-known Salem accusers with a variety of compelling
motivations that will resonate deeply with contemporary teens.”
School Library Journal, 2010
“The verse format is fresh and engaging,
distilling the actions of the seven accusing girls into riveting narrative.”
Connections:
* Create a list of parallels between today’s society and
those in Salem. Ask students what “mean girls” today do that are similar to the
Wicked Girls of Salem.
* Have students create their own poems that reflect their
thoughts on the book.
*Some websites to explore concerning the Salem witch trials:
*Further reading on the Salem witch trials:
Aranson, Marc ; Ill. Anderson, Stephanie. Witch Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch
Trials ISBN 9781416903154
Speare, George Elizabeth. The Witch of Blackbird Pond. ISBN 9780395071144
Rinaldi,
Ann. A Break with Charity: A Story about
the Salem Witch Trials. ISBN 9780152046828
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