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3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
To be completely honest, I knew that I wasn't going to love this. When I read this a few years ago, I only rated it three stars and I couldn't really remember much about it. It's also written in verse, which is a format that I'm not all that familiar with.
Overall, the plot was interesting and the fact that it was written in the point of the afflicted, aka the girls who accused innocent people of witchcraft, made me intrigued. However, I grew frustrated quite quickly since what was happening was a classic case of peer pressure and bullying. I just wanted to shake some sense into the girls. While I did feel bad for them to a certain extant, since they started acting the way they did to gain a voice and status in their community, I felt worse for the innocent people who were bullied and tortured into confessing that they were witches.
The writing was really good, especially since Hemphill used the language and grammar of the seventeenth century, which made the novel a bit more atmospheric. However, nothing about this book wowed me and I can tell that I'm going to forget about the plot again very quickly.
If you're interested in a quick read about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 or a book written in verse, you might be interested in this. Just be prepared to get frustrated quickly.
Overall, the plot was interesting and the fact that it was written in the point of the afflicted, aka the girls who accused innocent people of witchcraft, made me intrigued. However, I grew frustrated quite quickly since what was happening was a classic case of peer pressure and bullying. I just wanted to shake some sense into the girls. While I did feel bad for them to a certain extant, since they started acting the way they did to gain a voice and status in their community, I felt worse for the innocent people who were bullied and tortured into confessing that they were witches.
The writing was really good, especially since Hemphill used the language and grammar of the seventeenth century, which made the novel a bit more atmospheric. However, nothing about this book wowed me and I can tell that I'm going to forget about the plot again very quickly.
If you're interested in a quick read about the Salem Witch Trials of 1692 or a book written in verse, you might be interested in this. Just be prepared to get frustrated quickly.
I find it very interesting that each girl was based upon a real girl. Based on girls who accused people of being witches. Who were responsible for almost twenty hangings. That's pretty scary
Wicked Girls is a novel of the Salem Witch Trials told in verse. I’m relatively new to verse books and I have never read one set in a historical period so I was really intrigued by this one. Wicked Girls was a dark tale of mass hysteria and how it ruined the lives of many innocent people.
Wicked Girls is told from the point-of-views of three of the accusers, Margaret Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Ann Putnam, Jr. I have read quite a few books on the Salem Witch Trials but never once have I read something that attempted to explain why the girls might have done it. While there are no concrete theories Stephanie Hemphill managed to portray the girls quite honestly and make their motives very plausible. At first I found it rather hard to connect with the girls but that did change. They did horrid things but I couldn’t help but feel for them. Sure there were times when I hated them but there were also times when I really sympathized with them and wanted them to have happy endings.
One of the best things about Wicked Girls is that most of the book was historically accurate and I adored that about it. I felt like I learned a lot about the Salem Witch Trials but it never once felt like a history lesson. Some of the names were switched around but Stephanie Hemphill stuck to the true story of the Salem Witch Trials, only adding embellishments when it came to the girls who did the accusing. There is also quite a bit of information at the end of the book that tells exactly what happened to the accusers and the accused as well as the story behind the book.
The story is told in verse and like I said, it is the first historical fiction book that I have ever read in verse. If there are any others out there like this one I will definitely be on the lookout for them now. Historical fiction sometimes can be rather slow paced and a little dull. Stephanie Hemphill kept Wicked Girls from falling into that category by writing the story in verse. It sped up the pace of the book and I couldn’t put it down. The writing was fabulous, the imagery sufficiently creepy, and I could practically picture Salem Village in my head.
Overall, Wicked Girls surpassed all my expectations and I adored it. Historical fiction fans will adore this and if you've found historical fiction to be a little too dull for you in the past, give this one a shot. It may just change your mind.
Wicked Girls is told from the point-of-views of three of the accusers, Margaret Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Ann Putnam, Jr. I have read quite a few books on the Salem Witch Trials but never once have I read something that attempted to explain why the girls might have done it. While there are no concrete theories Stephanie Hemphill managed to portray the girls quite honestly and make their motives very plausible. At first I found it rather hard to connect with the girls but that did change. They did horrid things but I couldn’t help but feel for them. Sure there were times when I hated them but there were also times when I really sympathized with them and wanted them to have happy endings.
One of the best things about Wicked Girls is that most of the book was historically accurate and I adored that about it. I felt like I learned a lot about the Salem Witch Trials but it never once felt like a history lesson. Some of the names were switched around but Stephanie Hemphill stuck to the true story of the Salem Witch Trials, only adding embellishments when it came to the girls who did the accusing. There is also quite a bit of information at the end of the book that tells exactly what happened to the accusers and the accused as well as the story behind the book.
The story is told in verse and like I said, it is the first historical fiction book that I have ever read in verse. If there are any others out there like this one I will definitely be on the lookout for them now. Historical fiction sometimes can be rather slow paced and a little dull. Stephanie Hemphill kept Wicked Girls from falling into that category by writing the story in verse. It sped up the pace of the book and I couldn’t put it down. The writing was fabulous, the imagery sufficiently creepy, and I could practically picture Salem Village in my head.
Overall, Wicked Girls surpassed all my expectations and I adored it. Historical fiction fans will adore this and if you've found historical fiction to be a little too dull for you in the past, give this one a shot. It may just change your mind.
Hemphill's novel shows the events of the Salem Witch Trials from the points of view of the accusers. Several girls did quite a bit of damage during this time and this novel allows us to see some of their motivations for their actions. The book takes the "they were faking it all along" route and then goes into some of the connections within the community that may have initiated the accusations. However, there are still several places where the reader must interpret the events for themselves. This book took me a little while to get into, mainly because it wasn't clear if it was a historical fiction novel or if it was meant to be a paranormal book about the Salem Witch Trials. For those out there in the same position, I can assure you that this is a historical fiction piece. Knowing that, the book definitely became much more interesting and readable. Hemphill provides mini-biographies on the accusers and the accused at the end of the novel as well as a list of other sources to consider on the topic. As I said above, the book took some getting into but it was worth it in the end.
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I was bored and didn't want to do my Race, Gender, Culture homework so I sat down next to the bookshelves at my school's library and found this book. I was daunted by the thickness of it--I don't have patience for long books anymore--but I flicked through it and was pleased that it was written in poem stanzas. That shit is easy to go through.
This is probably the first book in awhile that I read very quickly, probably because it was in such a form of storytelling. Even so, it probably took me two days which, while not an impressive record for me (I've gone through shit much faster), it's a sign I was intrigued.
Recently I've come to realize that I have a particular fandom for historical fiction pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials, or works based upon them.
Anyway, let's lay down some of my thoughts.
I'm super surprised this book is rated as low as it is. I personally enjoyed it immensely, actually. I'll read some of the reviews after writing this, don't you worry. But this is probably the first time that a book I really liked is looked at so negatively. Twilight Zoooone!
The fact that some of the characters were renamed was a little idiotic. Since I coincidentally read [b:The Crucible|17250|The Crucible|Arthur Miller|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386925540s/17250.jpg|1426723] prior to this I could match up the people fairly well, and the difference in attitudes between Crucible's Putnam, Proctor, Goody, Abigail, etc. and Wicked Girls's were interesting, like a retelling of a fairy tale. Yes I know Crucible is like a play and is dramaticizing the events of the Salem Witch Trials but it is basically the first one I read about this topic so it will be used as a bible when comparing other fictional works and yadda yadda.
Since I don't have the book with me I can't really articulate anything but general feelings.
First off:
ANN YOU LITTLE GUTTERSNIPE
Margaret, what the actual hell? Sucks that you're now under the thumb of your cheating husband but goddamn, stuck-up bitch you be!
Susannah I think is mentally retarded. Like Forrest Gump. Either that or has Down's Syndrome because there's no way someone who is 17 would be that stupid.
Elizabeth was a poor sweetheart. She went along with it and was kind of a kicked puppy throughout the whole thing which isn't completely bad but I could see she felt extremely guilty when she realized what she along with the other girls had actually been doing so I forgive her.
Mercy was difficult. She had reservations but then tried to take the lead in the accusations then stepped away and said "No, no more" then continued then faltered back and forth back and forth. Felt bad that she was treated like shit by Ann's Mum, that shrew..
Again what the hell is up with Ann? She seriously is psychotic. She's around Mercy like a lapdog 24/7 but has no qualms about killing Mercy's dog. She blended her own delusions and lies together so oddly that I truly didn't know when she was faking it and when she wasn't. Crafty little bitch I'll give her that.
Abigail played a different role than the one in The Crucible but whatever.
I was rooting for these girls to be stopped but of course this is a take on something that actually happened so it didn't.
These people were truly stupid. How is it possible that Satan could have the much of a hold on people who were pious Christians? What is this, 1984 with thoughtcrime? Just hit them in the head with a Bible. Make them destroy a cross. The very idea of it would probably make the accused witches puke their kidneys out.
Yeah that's basically all I have to say.
This is probably the first book in awhile that I read very quickly, probably because it was in such a form of storytelling. Even so, it probably took me two days which, while not an impressive record for me (I've gone through shit much faster), it's a sign I was intrigued.
Recently I've come to realize that I have a particular fandom for historical fiction pertaining to the Salem Witch Trials, or works based upon them.
Anyway, let's lay down some of my thoughts.
I'm super surprised this book is rated as low as it is. I personally enjoyed it immensely, actually. I'll read some of the reviews after writing this, don't you worry. But this is probably the first time that a book I really liked is looked at so negatively. Twilight Zoooone!
The fact that some of the characters were renamed was a little idiotic. Since I coincidentally read [b:The Crucible|17250|The Crucible|Arthur Miller|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1386925540s/17250.jpg|1426723] prior to this I could match up the people fairly well, and the difference in attitudes between Crucible's Putnam, Proctor, Goody, Abigail, etc. and Wicked Girls's were interesting, like a retelling of a fairy tale. Yes I know Crucible is like a play and is dramaticizing the events of the Salem Witch Trials but it is basically the first one I read about this topic so it will be used as a bible when comparing other fictional works and yadda yadda.
Since I don't have the book with me I can't really articulate anything but general feelings.
First off:
ANN YOU LITTLE GUTTERSNIPE
Margaret, what the actual hell? Sucks that you're now under the thumb of your cheating husband but goddamn, stuck-up bitch you be!
Susannah I think is mentally retarded. Like Forrest Gump. Either that or has Down's Syndrome because there's no way someone who is 17 would be that stupid.
Elizabeth was a poor sweetheart. She went along with it and was kind of a kicked puppy throughout the whole thing which isn't completely bad but I could see she felt extremely guilty when she realized what she along with the other girls had actually been doing so I forgive her.
Mercy was difficult. She had reservations but then tried to take the lead in the accusations then stepped away and said "No, no more" then continued then faltered back and forth back and forth. Felt bad that she was treated like shit by Ann's Mum, that shrew..
Again what the hell is up with Ann? She seriously is psychotic. She's around Mercy like a lapdog 24/7 but has no qualms about killing Mercy's dog. She blended her own delusions and lies together so oddly that I truly didn't know when she was faking it and when she wasn't. Crafty little bitch I'll give her that.
Abigail played a different role than the one in The Crucible but whatever.
I was rooting for these girls to be stopped but of course this is a take on something that actually happened so it didn't.
These people were truly stupid. How is it possible that Satan could have the much of a hold on people who were pious Christians? What is this, 1984 with thoughtcrime? Just hit them in the head with a Bible. Make them destroy a cross. The very idea of it would probably make the accused witches puke their kidneys out.
Yeah that's basically all I have to say.
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a good idea for a book,but it got confusing in some parts. In the begining I wasn't sure if they were seeing spectors or not. Also Ann was awfully annoying and I don't like reading books with annoying characters.
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 me
the strength to lead,
for I fear otherwise
we may hang
ourselves." Mercy (256) (at a witch hanging)
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 me
the strength to lead,
for I fear otherwise
we may hang
ourselves." Mercy (256) (at a witch hanging)
I've got to say, I'm really disappointed with this book. I made it to about 40% through the book but the character development was just really grating, and the writing style did not get easier over time. I love things relating to the Salem Witch Trials, but this one was a hard miss for me.