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    Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials
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    Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials
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    Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials
    Ebook402 pages3 hours

    Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials

    By Stephanie Hemphill

    3.5/5

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    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    From the acclaimed Printz Honor winner author Stephanie Hemphill comes this powerful fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials from the point of view of three of the real young women living in Salem in 1692.

    Ann Putnam Jr. is the queen bee. When her father suggests a spate of illnesses in the village is the result of witchcraft, she puts in motion a chain of events that will change Salem forever.

    Mercy Lewis is the beautiful servant in Ann's house who inspires adulation in some and envy in others. With her troubled past, she seizes her only chance at safety.

    Margaret Walcott, Ann's cousin, is desperately in love. She is torn between staying loyal to her friends and pursuing a life with her betrothed.

    With new accusations mounting against the men and women of the community, the girls will have to decide: Is it too late to tell the truth?

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateJun 29, 2010
    ISBN9780062003195
    Unavailable
    Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials
    Author

    Stephanie Hemphill

    Stephanie Hemphill is the award-winning author of Hideous Love: The Story of the Girl Who Wrote Frankenstein; Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials, a Los Angeles Times Book Prize finalist; Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book; Sisters of Glass; and Things Left Unsaid: A Novel in Poems. She lives in Chicago, Illinois.

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    Reviews for Wicked Girls

    3.5/5

    106 ratings22 reviews

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    • 3/5
      This book was good in the beginning but the further I read the more it seemed that it was repeating the same thing over and over again.
    • 4/5
      Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials by Stephanie Hemphill is a historical fiction novel in verse relating the events of the Salem witch trials from the point of view of the accusing girls: Ann Putnam, Jr., Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, Betty Parris, Abigail Williams, Elizabeth Hubbard,, and Susannah Sheldon. Each poem is told from one of the girls' points of view. The novel begins with them playing a game of "folk magic", which they believe unleashes evil into the world. When two of the girls come down with an affliction, the others join suit. Their reputation as "seers" in the village grants them cache, and they wrestle to keep their newfound power through power-plays, tense intergroup dynamics, and finally, crises of conscience. When the villagers begin to express doubt and the group begins to fall to infighting, the witch hunt ends, leaving the girls mostly outcasts and rejected. The novel follows shortly before the witch trials began to when the furor began to die down. The last part of the novel gives brief information on the real girls, as well as the people they accused.

      Stephanie Hemphill's verse is fluid, with lines of occasional brilliance. The very first poem, "Salem", sets the stage with haunting imagery: "The cold is gray and fierce,/bitter as a widow at the grave" (p. 1). With spare verse and a light touch, Hemphill paints a rich picture of the Salem witch trials from the points of view of the girls who started it.

      Though her imagery is rich, the characters are where Hemphill really shines. The three main characters, whose poems take up the bulk of the novel, are Mercy Lewis, the orphan servant girl who is both the most strategic of the girls as well as the most affected by crises of conscience; Margaret Walcott, a spoiled, unlearned girl prone to fits of envy and nastiness; and Ann Putnam, Jr., an innocent twelve-year-old who becomes the ringleader of the group, and slowly turns more calculating and cold as the novel progresses. Hemphill masterfully creates both intriguing characters from the outset, as well as a complex character arc for each as they develop through the novel. The progression of each of the girls’ character arcs is slow, but no less riveting for it. Hemphill’s grasp of pacing is superb.

      The girls form a united front until allegiances begin to shift and crumble as guilt and remorse sifts through the group. The interplay between the girls as they revel in their prestige in the village, and as they fall to jealousy and remorse, creates a moving drama that displays Hemphill’s grasp of group dynamics and human relationships. The breaking down of the group to power plays and crises of conscience coincides with the increase in voices around the village saying that the girls are not afflicted by witches, but delusional and lying.

      Hemphill paints a convincing, subtle portrayal of the disenfranchisement that women experienced in Puritan times; the power that the girls are afforded by becoming "seers" is intoxicating primarily because they are released from that disenfranchisement. While not excusing the girls' behavior and actions, Hemphill does an excellent job of showing what could have motivated such a dark period of history. Few books give such depth and weight to the real accusers of Salem’s history, but Hemphill shows where a suppressive society and intoxication of power can lead. Hemphill shows a real gift for creating anti-heroes that are at once sympathetic and diabolical.

      Wicked Girls is an enthralling novel in verse that combines historical events with fictionalized accounts of the motivations and repercussions of the girls involved. Most historians waffle on whether the accusations were fueled by delusional hysteria or more deliberately targeted, but Hemphill comes down firmly on the latter. Some historians have pointed out that those accused conveniently were rich landowners or had wronged the families in some way, which Hemphill works seamlessly into the text: "Goody Osborne/tried to cheat Ann's father and his brothers/out of her late husband's trust.'/'That be a sin,' Lizzie says/I nod and say,/'And Goody Osborne be a witch.' " (p. 66). The effect, overall, of such a casual discussion to destroy another's life, is chilling. The accusations, when made from deliberate targeting and stratagem, take on an unsettling macabre look at the depths of depravity which the promise of power can plumb. However, she is not entirely unsympathetic to the girls. With a deft hand, she balances a very real motivation to have some influence in a society that regularly disenfranchises women and lower classes, while also portraying the girls as cunning and cognizant of their own wickedness.

      The only complaint to be lodged against Wicked Girls is that Hemphill fails to take full advantage of the medium. Hemphill shows aptly that she is a skilled poet, particularly when it comes to imagery, but the book fails to demonstrate this very often. The times that Hemphill's skills are most apparent are in the pieces not narrated by the girls, of which there are only fourteen in all. Additionally, the beginning of the novel can be confusing at first due to how many characters are included; Hemphill might have restricted the points-of-view to the three main girls, Mercy, Margaret, and Ann, Jr. without sacrificing quality. Still, these complaints are minor when compared to the complex characters, believable drama, and superb understanding of humanity that Wicked Girls offers.
    • 4/5
      In Salem Village in 1692, a group of girls started accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Feigning fits, they named people as witches and caused several to be hung. This novel, told in poetry by several of the participants, shows how each girl advanced along the path and why. An appendix gives information on the actual participants in the trials.
    • 3/5
      2.5 starsThis is a fictional account of the Salem witch trials, mostly told from the points of view of three of the girls who accused many of the people, two 17-year olds and one 12-year old. I was initially excited to find a fictional book about the Salem witches, but I skipped entire first chapter, thinking it was a quote. Suddenly the 2nd chapter started with another “quote” and I realized – oh, crap! I think the entire book is written this way: like poetry. Or, I guess the term is “in verse”. Not a fan. I skim/read that kind of thing quickly, and don’t really pay attention. The good part: it was quick! The book did go right at the end with the notes on the real-life people, both the accusers and the accused. Also a note, in general, on why they may have accused so many people. That gave it the extra ½ star, but I’d still like to find a good fictional work on this topic.
    • 3/5
      This fictional account of the Salem witch trials is told in verse by three of the "afflicted girls". When I first saw that, I actually returned the book to the library, sections of books told this way are okay but the idea of reading a whole book this way kind of made my head spin. But I left my book at home last Saturday and decided to give this another shot. In the beginning I found it confusing, I had to keep going to beginning where they gave a brief description of who the main characters were. Once I got into it I really liked it. I was afraid the verse style would focus more on sounding pretty then getting the story told but that wasn't the case at all. I got a very clear picture of what each of the three girls was going through and what they were thinking and going through.

      The author gave this tale the spin that the girls felt powerless in their roles as young girls among the Puritans, and this was a way for them to gain power. It was really interesting to see how Ann Putnam's mother manipulated her to take revenge on people and how Ann tried to manipulate her back. I was glad to see the girls feeling guilty although it sometimes felt as though they weren't feeling guilty enough, particulalry the little girls and Margaret who was more obsessed with herself then anything else going on. Susannah really had me thinking, because she didn't fit in with the others and Margaret was the one who told others she was being afflicted. I sometimes wondered if Susannah's affliction wasn't actual siezures or something like that. But that just might be me reading too much into the text.

      I really appreciate the authors addition of two sections in the back, one telling us who characters were based on and what happened to them after the trials and a very brief discussion of the various theories regarding why the girls accused others of witchcraft.
    • 4/5
      A book of poems told from the point of view of three of the girls who accused so many of witchcraft in Salem, Massachusatts: the girl who is ignored and unloved by her family, the beautiful servant girl who finds safety using their lies, and the girl desperately and jealously in love with a man whose eyes are always roving. With the recent trend of novels in poetry, I'm always a bit skeptical of authors who have chose this medium--are they making good use of it, or is it done in the place of originality? Not only does the author make good use of language capture the trauma and hopelessness of the lives of these girls, but impressibly juggles three first person narratives in poetry while keeping each voice distinct. I liked how she dug into history to find plausible reasons each girl would lie. They all have no voice and no power until they seize on this idea, and when they all do it together they create a group that is strong and united against all the things that used to hurt them. Mercy witnessed the brutal murder of her parents and has lived as a servant ever since, being pawed at by men and harshly beaten until she becomes a "seer", and therefore an almost holy object in her community. Margaret finds a way to have power over the women her betrothed is eyeing, and escape from her horrible stepmother. Ann is the queen bee, who finally has the attention of her parents, the respect of the servant she worships, and the ear of the community. The balance of power is interesting to watch as the girls handle various crises that may unmask their lies. Friendships are broken and mended as they rely on each other through different hardships. Different girls take the lead as they are forced to escalate things in order to keep their story going. When is it too late to tell the truth?Book Quote:"My hands quiver as the old and bedridden. Give methe strength to lead, for I fear otherwisewe may hangourselves." Mercy (256) (at a witch hanging)
    • 4/5
      I found this book online at the library, and didn't even realize it was written in free verse until I started reading it. I'm glad I did, though! It is a different take on the events that led up to the Salem Witch Trials, from the point-of-view of (mainly) three of the girls involved. It's an interesting and believeable perspective on how what started as a quick and easy way to get out of trouble even more quickly spirals out of control, going much further than any of them had dreamed possible. Can they stop it before anyone gets hurt? Do they even want to? An enjoyable--though disturbing and scary--read.
    • 3/5
      Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales.Quick & Dirty: Interesting fictional recount of what happened during the Salem Witch Trials. Filled with history and a very unique writing style, I found it to be quite fascinating and educational.Opening Sentence: Silent, not even the twitter of insects.The Review: The Salem Witch Trials were a very dark and unfair time in our countries history. A small group of seven girls changed the lives of so many people. They were considered seers and anyone they accused of witchcraft was tried and convicted. In the end, 19 people were hanged because of the girl’s action, and many more died in prison. This is a fictional recount of the girl’s lives, and the part they played in the Salem Witch Trials.The book is told from three different perspectives Ann, Mercy, and Margaret. Ann Putnam was 12 years old and an ungrateful child. She was young and wanted attention and she found a way to get it. She wasn’t the first person to accuse anyone of witchcraft, but she quickly took advantage once the accusations started. She soon became the leader of the small group of girls and she would punish anyone that got in her way of what she wanted, even those within her own group. She idolized their serving girl Mercy, who was beautiful and mysterious. She wanted nothing more than to be Mercy’s friend and confidant. Ann was an interesting character to get to know. She never seemed to ever feel any remorse for her actions. She was a spoiled brat most of the time and really there wasn’t much to like about her. She did know how to get what she wanted, but she had to pay a steep price to get it. She wasn’t a very likable character, but she was realistic and I think that was what the author was going for.Next we have Mercy. She was 17 years old and the servant to the Putnam family. She wasn’t born a servant, but after her families death she had no other choice but to become a servant. She was beautiful and that was a huge burden for her. Because of her low station in life men would try to take advantage of her, and she had no way of protecting herself. Then sweet little Ann gave her a way to earn respect, she just had to pretend to see witches. I actually really liked Mercy, obliviously what she did was wrong, but at least she had a good reason for doing it. Also, when things started to get out of hand she did start to feel some remorse for her actions. She wasn’t the leader of the group, but all the girls either looked up to her or were jealous of her. She was a very interesting character that I enjoyed getting to know.Last we have Margaret. She was 17 years old and a cousin to Ann. She was a very insecure girl that was madly in love with her fiancée, and extremely jealous of Mercy. She had no backbone and was easily convinced to join the group of accusers. She would do anything to make her fiancée love her; even accuse innocent people of witchcraft. Unfortunately, he is not a fan of her actions, and it causes a big rift between the two. He pays way too much attention to the beautiful Mercy and Margaret becomes even more insecure. She was a sad girl that didn’t know how to stand up for herself. Her jealousy was childish, and she made really bad decisions. I wasn’t a huge fan of Margaret, but once again, I don’t think the author really wants you to like the characters.This was an interesting read for me. I really love history and I have always found the Salem Witch Trials to be fascinating, so I really enjoyed learning more about it. The pacing of the book was pretty slow, but it was a quick read because the book was written in verses so the pages were really short. The way it was written was interesting and different, but I really liked it. I didn’t really love the characters, but I felt that I understood them. Overall, I did enjoy this book and would recommend it to anyone that likes history, or the Salem Witch Trials.Notable Scene:I scratch my head.“Men listening to the words of girls?Are you certain, Ann?”“Yes, ‘tis true.”“If only ye could visit the parsonageand see the girls.”“Oh, but I have seen Abigailthis very day. I saw exactlyhow she does twitch and shake.I know what the witches do to torture her.”Ann twists her torso tight as a rope,then juts her bones inside out.Much as I might like to cover my eyesas Ann cripples her body into a sailor’s knot,my arms hang at my sides.My mouth droops open.“They call it Affliction,” Ann says.“All are in awe of it.”A flash of mischief crosses Ann’s eyes,as she watches me watching her,like the torch that smokesheaven’s white edge.FTC Advisory: Balzer & Bray/Harper Teen provided me with a copy of Wicked Girls. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.
    • 3/5
      I was fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials as a teen, so I was excited to find this verse novel on my reading list. It's not perfect and it felt a little long at times, but I enjoyed the story told from the points of view of three of the "afflicted" girls. It explores their actions and accusations more deeply than other books I remember reading. I wasn't blown away, but I find myself still thinking about this book after I've finished it.
    • 4/5
      Novel in verse about the Salem Witch Trials. An interesting take on the story.
    • 5/5
      Stephanie Hemphill writes a fictional account of three of the real young girls involved in the Salem witch trials. The book is writen in verse and compelling. At the end of the book the author gives information about what happened to some of the people after the trials. Wiritng teachers can use the book to teach writing in verse or how to write fictional books fom factual information. English teachers can use it to compare to a non fictional book. I would recommend this book for middle and high school students.
    • 3/5
      Ever since grade school i've always found the Salem Witch Trials to be extremely interesting and have always loved reading about this topic from the Crucible to now this. I found the story to be historically accurate, and the three main narrators felt true to the time period. There were three narrative voices in this book Ann, Margaret, and Mercy, which at times lead to confusion, and I had to check back to see who was speaking, and at times got their stories entwined with one another. I've read quite a few books in verse from Ellen Hopkins, and a few others here and there. This one didn't feel right to me, I felt like it didn't need to be written in verse, and maybe would have been more effective if it was written in a normal format. I didn't find the writing to be poetic and thats usually what I expect from books written in verse. I didn't think this book brought to the table as much as I had hoped it would, I was hoping it would bring a unique take on the Salem Witch Trials, but felt like i've read similar stories to this before. I was hoping the girls would have been the accused and to hear their stories of going through the trial and tribulations of being an accused witch, but instead it was about them accusing others. If you like historical fiction It was a pretty good read, it just didn't blow me away, and my expectations of the book were different then what I had hoped for, but I still think it was worth the read.
    • 4/5
      In 1662 several girls from Salem, Massachusetts receive much attention from the town members when they make accusations that witches have hurt them. The girls, who are based on real historical people, conjure stories about the “witches” and make these allegations for various motivations; however, their actions set the Salem Witch Trials in motion. The girls eventually turn on one and another, which leads unenviable to death. The author creates this narrative through verse and each moment in time has its own poem; therefore, not a continuous account. It represents a unique way to construct historical fiction that may not be appreciated by every reader. The language may be difficult for some as well because it is constructed to reflect the dialog of its time. Because of the length some readers might be reluctant to read the book, but the verses make the book a quicker read than anticipated. Recommended for young adults 13-18 years old.
    • 3/5
      This book tells the story of the girls who were the accusers in the Salem Witch Trials. Their feelings and thoughts are expressed in free verse poems all in the voices of the girls.
    • 2/5
      Eh. Somehow I missed that this was a novel in verse. I greatly dislike novels in verse, so that was many strikes against this one straight out of the gate. Even worse, it's in dialect. I love Shakespeare and all, but these thees and thous just made me ill. Most modern authors can't get away with writing dialects they don't use themselves, and neither can Helphill. Blech. So nope, I didn't like it much, but it wasn't horrible - just not my cup of tea. I'll probably recommend it to library patrons though.
    • 3/5
      Wicked Girls is a new topic in historical fiction. Rarely do you see young adult novels discussing issues such as The Salem Witch Trials. I was really excited to read this novel; the Salem Witch Trials is something I am slightly fascinated with. There are so many things that went wrong in that era, so many innocent lives that were lost. Something about this time frame intrigues me. Needless to say I jumped at the opportunity to review this novel. This novel also stands out on the shelves of historical fiction. This book is written entirely in verse. Also, the characters are real people who lived during the era; these accounts are entirely fictional though. These characters were well built, I felt as though each one had their own distinct reasons for accusing others of witch craft and it was easy to understand why they were doing this. Although the book focused more on Mercy, Ann, and Margaret’s story, it did also touch on the other girls’ interpretation of the story. Each of the characters also had their own history in this story. All of these small details helped make the novel interesting and well rounded. At one point I felt that the book became a little confusing. It was hard to understand whether the girls actually felt that they were seeing spirits, or if they were merely very good liars. I think a little more detail on this part would have made the story easier to understand. Anyone who reads this book will be able to appreciate all the research that went into creating this story. The author’s use of language sounds like that of the time period. The descriptions of the character’s beliefs is written as if she lived in the time period herself; I was able to fully imagine this story taking place in front of me. Wicked Girls was very interesting and a unique historical young adult novel. I would recommend this to those who like books written in verse but also love historical fiction. Overall, I give this three lanterns. I enjoyed it and felt that it helped give a new take on a huge event in our history.
    • 4/5
      Wicked Girls is a fictional account of the Salem Witch Trials. When a group of young girls realize the power they can gain by faking witch attacks, they join together to falsely accuse their neighbors. The majority of the town rallies behind them, and nineteen supposed witches are killed before the girls are doubted. Told in verse from the alternating points of view of three accusers, the book does a wonderful job relating the girls’ different motivations for faking their afflictions, and the jealousy and peer pressure that forces them to continue. The beginning, with its realistic explanation of the girls’ rise to power, and the end, with its believable depiction of the situation spiraling out of control, are strongly written and enjoyable. However, the long middle section, filled with repetitious accounts of fake afflictions, accusations, and a monotony of feelings and emotions, moves incredibly slowly and could lose readers’ attention. Overall, Wicked Girls offers readers the Salem Witch Trials from a creative perspective. It is appropriate for seventh through twelfth grade, and is recommended for middle and high school libraries and the young adult section of public libraries.
    • 4/5
      We all know the true story about the Salem Witch Trials. In 1692, girls were said to be afflicted by witchcraft and accused people in Salem of practicing the craft. When all was said and done, over a hundred men and women were imprisoned for being witches - nineteen of those people were executed. We know what happened, but why is another matter all in itself.When I first found out about this book, I k-n-e-w that I had to read it. The Salem Witch Trials was one of my favorite subjects to study in my high school history classes. The idea of this mass hysteria to terrorize a community all over the accusations of young girls always fascinated me.I'll be the first to admit that when I opened the book, I was surprised. I had read several reviews on Wicked Girls, but the whole idea of the book being in free verse simply alluded me until I actually saw it. I thought I was in for a challenging read - but it was just the opposite. Dare I say that it was almost spellbinding, the way this novel sucked you in.A bit slow at first, the pace of the book picks up speed once we're fully introduced and submersed into the minds of the three girls' perspectives that the book is written from - which is Ann Putnam Jr, Mercy Lewis, and Margaret Walcott. What surprises me the most about these three is how they each have their own reasons for falsely accusing these people of witchery. There's jealousy, peer pressure, the opportunity to gain attention, bullying and so many other themes in this book that most teenage girls can relate to today. These three were probably what I would consider the mean girls of their time - Ann Putnam Jr being the ringmaster, which is surprising considering she was only twelve years old during the Trials.If you like history and the Salem Witch Trials as much as I do, I'd definitely say that you will enjoy this book. Although fictionalized, I could definitely see these reasons being why the afflicted girls pointed fingers and accused so many like they did. I think the worse part of it all is grown men going on the word of little girls and not hard facts when putting peoples' lives at stake. However, that's a whole rant in itself, and has to do with the true Trials and not this book. Even if you're not a history buff, the themes in this book can be translated easily to modern-day situations for a decent read. I'd recommend this book for high school students and older.
    • 4/5
      Told in verse. Fictionalized historical account of 3 girls who accused people of being witches in Salem. The author fictionalizes their reasons for doing so (power, revenge) and their backgrounds.
    • 4/5
      In Salem Village in 1692, a group of girls started accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Feigning fits, they named people as witches and caused several to be hung. This novel, told in poetry by several of the participants, shows how each girl advanced along the path and why. An appendix gives information on the actual participants in the trials.
    • 4/5
      I've always been interested in the Salem Witch trials. It was one of my favorite topics in class. So i knew that I would be interested in this book, it's written beautifully in verse. It was a little slow paced/long at times.I like how Hemphill stayed true to the characters, with the actual girls and the actual victims the girls accused during the trials. Hemphill brings the characters to life, created voices for girls. I really wanted to know what was going on inside of their young naive minds, when there were going accusing these innocent people. I really don't know how these girls could...live with themselves...with all those lies. They were completely selfish. The characters were portrayed really well, But i still wanted to know more about them, in the end somehow i wanted this story to end differently(with the Hangings). I wanted more of this story...I just feel like something was missing. Wicked Girls was definitely interesting and thought provoking...you really get a glimpse of what it was like during the Salem Witch Trial trials.Sometimes, it was almost like you were there. It really enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Stephanie Hemphill books!Finished copy courtesy of HarperCollins/ Balzer + Bray.
    • 3/5
      One of my first YA reads where the book was written in prose, I have to say....I'm not a huge fan of the style, though it worked well enough for this tale. This is a fictionalization of the events that were historically documented so long ago in Salem. The fiction aspect is used to fill in the blanks so to speak on their daily lives and seemingly insignificant happenings, though as you read, you begin to understand that everything they did had a greater meaning than at first glance. What starts out as child's play quickly develops into something much bigger then themselves...something of which in time, most wish they never had a hand in. For me, the characters were a tad hard to connect with on an individual level; something I've read the author struggled with during the editing process. Only thing is, even though it presented a struggle when trying to hear each voice separately, it worked in a way since the girls intended to move as a group. Bonus points to the author for including the real stories in brief of each main character and those accused upon books end. A good read for those in favor of the poetic style as well as those bewitched (pardon the pun) with the magical history from our own shores....happy reading!