The Witch of Blackbird Pond

16 year old Katherine (Kit) has just made a weary journey from Barbados to New England by ship. She has almost been accused of being a witch, for normal girls do not know how to swim. Her first impression of America isn't too grand; dreary, cold, and wet. She misses her Grandfather and the warm shores of Barbados. When Kit reaches her relative's home, her mood is just dampened. Uncle Mathew is a strict Puritan, and he won't accept any of the fineries that Kit has brought along. Uncle Mathew's wife, Aunt Rachel, is a bit kinder. Rachel's two daughters, Mercy and Judith, are quite different. Mercy is a sweet, loving girl who is lame in one leg, and Judith is a snappy, yet beautiful girl (who sometimes became quite jealous of Kit.) Kit is homesick, and to get her mind off of things she helps Mercy run a dame school. All is fine until one mishap, and Kit runs off into the woods where she meets the "witch." Hannah, an old Quaker woman, is rumored to be a witch. All of the Puritans fear her, and she and her husband had to stay in prison for an x amount of years in Massachusetts for being Quakers. However, Hannah is a sweet old woman, and Kit becomes fast friends with her. Many characters come along in the story, and the plot thickens. You are permissed to meet the love-struck William, John, and the unexplainable Nat, who baffles Kit. I thought this book was excellent, and I feel that this is a classic!

"Awaiting her in the bleak dwelling that was her new home were suspicion and loneliness. The master of the house despised everything about her. The man, who claimed he loved her, abandoned her to the circle of terror. And there was nowhere to turn, no one to help, no way to escape the evil claiming her as a victim...." Sounds good doesn't it. This book is about a girl, Kit, who leaves the only home she has known and travels to Connecticut in 1687. Kit grew up in Barbados and was raised by her indulgent grandfather. When he dies, she moves in with an aunt and uncle she has never met. Everything about Kit stands out, from her clothes to her opinions. She is forced to work hard for the first time in her life. She is practically friendless until she meets Hannah. However their friendship must remain a secret because the town believes Hannah to be a witch. Elizabeth George Speare does a remarkable job in describing early life in the colonies and relaying the loneliness of Kit. You can't help feeling sorry for her. This book is a Newbery Award Winner and definitely a To Read. If you like what you read visit by blog for other reviews: [...]

Kit Tyler's parents died when she was very young, and ever since she has been living with her grandfather in Barbados. When her grandfather suddenly dies, Kit decides to live with her only living relatives in Connecticut. She has a rocky start on the boat trip over. On the Dolphin, she meets a boy named Nat Eaton, the captain's son, a young girl named Prudence Cruff, whose mother abuses her and accuses Kit of being a witch, and a man named John Holbrook, who is going to Wethersfield to be a student of the minister. It all started when Prudence's doll fell overboard and Kit jumps in to get it. In Connecticut, if you float on water, you are considered a witch. She is an outcast from the moment she gets off the ship. With her beautiful gowns and wild manner, she doesn't fit in with her Connecticut, Puritan family. She lives with her Uncle Matthew, her Aunt Rachel, and her two cousins, Mercy, and Judith. Uncle Matthew doesn't welcome Kit at all. He is upset that she didn't write him a letter first, but she didn't tell him that she didn't write because she had to leave right away or else she would have to marry an old man. Everyone at the "Meeting" or church, is shocked of her lovely clothes, and her personality. William Ashby, a boy Kit's age starts to court her, but Judith likes him. Everyone knows that William won't build his own house until he knows who he wants to marry, and everyone knows that he is about to propose to Kit. Everyone, including Judith, thinks John Holbrook is going to propose to Judith, but he really is in love with Mercy and she is in love with him. Kit feels bad about not being able to help the family much, and is very happy when she gets an oppertunity to make wages and teaching school with Mercy. Kit decides to teach the children by putting on a play about a story in the bible. It gets out of hand and Mr. Kimberley, the school master gets very upset and dismisses or "fires" Kit. She runs to the Meadow and there, she meets a Widow Tupper, who everyone believes to be a witch. She secretly becomes good friends with Widow Tupper, and the Widow helps her get her job back in the school, and secretly teaches Prudence how to read. Then a plague sweeps through the town and Kit is accused of doing it! Mercy is close to dying and Judith is also very sick. Kit has to save Hannah Tupper before its too late! When Kit is put on trial she finds her true friends. This story is very romantic, and very exciting. It shows how people care for each other and help each other no matter what. I think this is a wonderful book for all ages, and I hope everyone enjoys it as much as it did.

Elizabeth George Speare managed to make one of the drier, duller eras of American history come alive through the eyes of an independent young woman. "Witch of Blackbird Pond" is one of the better historical novels, and one that adults and kids alike can appreciate.
Kit Tyler has lived a free and luxurious life in Barbados, with her kindly grandfather. When he dies, however, she finds herself essentially penniless and forced to head to New England to live with her aunt and her family. But Connecticut is very different from the sunny island the "tropical bird" left behind: Bleak, muddy, dreary, and filled with grim Puritans -- including her relatives. Her stern uncle disapproves of Kit's upbringing, her love of books, her flamboyant clothing, and her lack of experience in housework.
Kit tries to fit in with the proud, beautiful Judith and quiet crippled Mercy, but she isn't a Puritan and it shows. Her only friend is the sardonic sailer Nat, who alternately irritates and interests her. Then Kit encounters Hannah, a sweet old Quaker woman who lives as an outcast because of her religious beliefs. When rumors of witchcraft start flying, Kit must try to save first Hannah -- and then herself -- from the witch hunters.
Without actually time-travelling, nobody can know what it would be like to live among the Puritans. But Speare gives us an approximation -- Kit is smart, witty, tolerant, adventurous and serves as a doormat for no one. She's much closer to a modern teenage girl than to the Puritans, and so her conflicts with her unyielding uncle are very illustrative. Among these are the dislike of non-religious reading, insistence on continuous hard work with only a few interludes of fun, and one memorable scene where Kit tries to give her cousins some of her beautiful clothes -- only to have her uncle explode when he sees them. We also see some demonstrations of how often religious intolerance blinded these people to a person's true nature, giving them a scapegoat for their fear of the unknown. However, it is stressed that while the Puritans were intolerant and rigid, individuals were good underneath it -- such as when Kit's uncle defends her against the witch-hunters.
There's a little romance in this book, including a love pentagon worthy of Shakespeare (fortunately matters sort themselves out), and this is one area where Speare stumbles. The love tangles seem a little too contrived. However, she includes a fair number of details on life in New England at that time, but never becomes too engrossed in them that she loses track of the plot. The pace is fairly slow until the witch trials; younger kids may be bored by this, but older ones will not mind so much.
Kit is a great heroine -- flawed but always sympathetic, funny and strong, brave and intelligent. Fortunately Speare never falls into the trap of simply transporting a modern girl back in time. Judith, Nat and Hannah are also great supporting characters: Nat is great as the sarcastic but supportive love interest. Hannah is a sweet old woman who is content to live a simple life. And Judith will earn both irritation and liking for her pride and determination. Characters like Mercy and the aunt and uncle are a little less three-dimensional; Mercy never rises from the cliche of the gentle, sweet disabled girl, and the aunt and uncle are a doormat and a tyrant most of the time, although the uncle does rise up with some good moments. Extra love interests William and John are also pretty flat: William is a bit like a brainless puppy panting at Kit's feet, and John is a humorless Biblical scholar. The little girl Prudence and her hideous mother are very good, however, and provide the book with a villain and a young friend for Kit.
Don't be put off by the title of "Witch"--this is an insightful, well-written historical novel with an excellent heroine and a tense storyline. One of the few books that deserved its Newbery.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond centers around Kit Tyler, a 16-year-old Royalist from Barbados who journeys to Connecticut after her grandfather dies in 1687. She is unprepared for the vast difference between her sumptuous, free life in Barbados and the puritanical economy of Connecticut. From the beginning, she is obviously different-her clothing, her attitudes, her education, politics and religion. She fears she will never fit in, and is not sure she wants to. She befriends Hannah Tupper, against her uncle's wishes, an old woman who lives isolated on Blackbird Pond because she is a Quaker, a reviled religion at the time, and suspected of being a witch. The two isolated, "different" women create a small community that includes Nat, the son of the captain of the ship that transported Kit to New England, and Prudence, a neglected child Kit teaches to read. After trying unsuccessfully to fit in for months without giving up her own identity, Kit finally manages to become part of her uncle's family when her cousins become ill and she has to take over caring for the sick and all of the household duties. But the illness, which strikes many in the village, causes the suspicious and close-minded villagers to persecute the "witch" living on Blackbird Pond. Kit risks her own life to save Hannah. Despite her hard work and attempts to fit in, Kit is arrested and stands trial for being a witch.
Kit's attempts to fit in while maintaining her independence are a very realistic adolescent experience. Used to a very free lifestyle, Kit does not realize she is doing things that others find shocking or strange. The first time she meets residents of her new home, she jumps into a river to save Prudence's doll. Invigorated by her brief swim, her spirits are dampened by the reactions of the others in the boat. Speare writes, "Shock and horror and unmistakable anger stared back at her" (9). Her innocent attempt to return a little girl's doll is met with immediate suspicion. Kit has no idea most people in New England cannot swim-she grew up swimming in the warm waters of the Caribbean. Kit's failure to fit in while not even realizing that she is doing things wrong is true to adolescents today, as well as in 1687. Teens feel isolated for so many reasons: they think they don't dress right, or they aren't accepted by the right clique, or they feel smarter or less smart than their classmates.
Kit's main internal conflict centers on her desire to be independent while fitting in with the staunch Puritan society. She knows that her family and the villagers would not approve of her friendship with Hannah Tupper, but sneaks away to meet Hannah and Prudence anytime she is free. Kit asks Hannah, "What would happen if they found us out?" (173). Hannah gives her no answer, she merely states, "I know that soon thee would begin to consider that" (173). It is up to Kit to reconcile disobeying her family's implied order to stay away from Hannah with her desire to continue her friendship with Hannah, Prudence, and Nat. Kit's conscience wins out-she rescues Hannah from the mob at great risk to herself. She tells her uncle, "She's just a poor helpless old woman!" before she sneaks out to assist her (184). In helping Hannah, Kit resolves her internal conflict between being accepted and being true to herself. She chooses to be true to herself.

The 1959 Newbery winner and a very enjoyable book. Kit, or Katherine, raised in then-unconventional, but now more common philosophy of girls being capable and independent-thinking, must establish herself in a new place with more rigid limits for girls and thinking, in this case, a colonial Connecticut town. Like many Newbery-recognized books, this one has a child orphaned. When orphan Kit's grandfather dies in their Barbados home, Kit turns to her aunt and uncle in New England. With colonial politics becoming volatile and weather and Puritan philosophy dicatating a very different lifestyle than she's used to, Kit's good intentions stir up nothing but controversy. Fortunately, they also create some bonds which support her through controversies. Underlying themes of prejudice, witch hunting, slave ownership and class distinction, hard work, and courtship rituals further enhance this pleasant read. A middle school girl would probably enjoy it a lot. I would recommend it to a girl at that age, a strong intermediate grade reader, and maybe even into high school. It would be a valuable read-aloud book to an intermediate grade class working on American history in social studies (fifth grade here).

This story is about a high-spirited young girl whose rebellion against prejudice and her surroundings culminates in a terrifying witch hunt and breath-taking trial.
Kit Tyler was the main person in the story. She was an out-going young rebellion. Some others in the story were Mercy, Judith, Mathew Wood, Aunt Rachel, and Hannah. Mercy and Judith were quiet most of the time but at times they would become a little more out-going than usual. Mathew Wood was a tall stern man who had fury. Aunt Rachel was a quiet woman but she would and could out break at times. Hannah was the "suspected witch and was a kind and a very lonely Quaker.
Even before she set foot on the dull and forbidding shore of Wethersfield, Conneticut, on that April day in 1687. Kit Tyler felt the finger of suspension pointing at her. A solid cloud of disapproval settled about her as dis heartning as the contrast of this gray, barren land to the shimmering green that hinged the turquoise bay of Barbados which had been her home for sixteen years.
Her unconventional upbringing and her luxorious wardrobe were out of place in the primative household of her aunt's family and so were her clumsy ettorta at cleaning and scrubbing. Only the Meadows were a sanctuary.

"The Witch of Blackbird Pond," by Elizabeth George Speare, is the story of Kit Tyler, a young woman from Barbados who in 1687 goes to live with relatives in Connecticut colony. Kit experiences quite a bit of culture shock. A key figure in the story is Hannah Tupper, an elderly neighbor suspected of witchcraft.
This is a fascinating story, well told by Speare. The strong-willed Kit is an admirable character, and I really got caught up in her story. Speare offers an intriguing look at colonial era life and culture--the book is full of interesting details and thoughtful touches, such as a reference to colonial-era poet Anne Bradstreet.
In a relatively short novel Speare touches on a rich assortment of colonial-era topics: religious difference, anti-Quaker bigotry, politics, education, fears of witchcraft, etc. All these things are skillfully woven into the compelling story. And Speare vividly describes the natural beauty of colonial Connecticut with the changing seasons.
The book has a copyright date of 1958, so I would say that it has stood the test of time as a literary work. It's also a Newbery Medal winner. For a good companion text I would recommend a volume of Anne Bradstreet's poems.

Kit Tyler orphaned left to sail to the Connecticut colony leaving her beautiful Caribbean estate behind (1687). Now losing everything she is forced to work on a farm with her aunt who she never met before and “living it rough” by doing chores instead of having slaves do it for her. All she’s done since she went to Connecticut is mess up, now she is determined to make up for her mistakes. Now she’s had enough so she run’s until she gets to a field, where she meets the witch of Blackbird pond how will she react? The author held great suspense through the entire book not giving any hints, i was clueless almost the whole time. It was a very descriptive and detailed novel, i feel like i was going through the same things Kit was.Everything seemed well research and fit for the sixteen hundreds in the colony’s. Finally I loved how the story was so compelling I couldn’t put it down! Grades 5-8

In my opinion The Witch Of Blackbird Pond was a very interesting and suspensful novel. By the end of reading the novel I not only has a full understanding of the withcraft and the witch trials in the 1690's but of the culture, way of life, people and government of this time period.
Spears did a marvelous job on the setting. I love the way she explained with detail every setting as it changed. For example, when the setting changed from the boat to Weithersfield, she explained what the setting was like as Kit's opinion about this place. She described it as having flat, square houses and nothing like Barbadoes, where she used to live. Another example is when the setting changed during the witch hunt for Kit's friend, Hannah, an old, sweet lady who is accused of being a witch. She described very well the mob of people and the burning of Hannah's house. She Also described very well the house of her cousins, The Woods. Not only did she describe the setting well but characters and their feelings, like how hard the chores were to Kit and how Mercy and John loved each other so much.
This novel is an excellent one and anyone who has the opportunity to read it should.

I originally read this way back in jr. high and sadly only remember being entranced by it--not recalling any of the plot. I finally got around to the rereading and recalled why I had the original feeling of enchantment. This is one good book.

Kit Tyler is a sixteen-year-old girl who leaves Barbados after her grandfather's death for the more austere world of Puritan New England to say with her aunt's family. But Kit is completely unprepared for the ways of these people. Even so, she manages to grow in unimaginable ways as she connects with people with whom she would have never seen herself.

And it's not a simple moralistic book. It's a book about a girl coming of age. Unlike other books of the Puritans, there are no villains, just those who are different and it's amazing to see Kit come to understand that.

The characters are entrancing and dimensional, the setting is described in an honest prose that only shows Speare's love of New England.

It deserves its Newberry.

I read this book when I was younger and I picked it up again a few months ago and reread it. I thought it was excellent! The story begins when Kit, an orphan girl from Barbados goes to Connecticut. She lives with her stern aunt and uncle there, and eventually becomes friends with her cousins. At first she has a lot of trouble fitting in. She's not used to hard work and living in a cold climate. She can't wear her old clothes either. Then one day she meets the Quaker widow, Hannah, who lives on the marshes. They become friends and soon she meets up with Nat, the son of the captain of the ship she came on. She winds up going to Hannah's cottage more and more, even though her aunt and uncle have forbade her to because Hannah is thought to be a witch. She becomes friends with Nat and gives secret reading and writing lessons to a neglected little girl. Meanwhile, at home, Kit and her cousins Judith and Mercy are having their own problems. Kit dreams persistantly of going home to Barbados. You sort of have a love triangle with Judith, Mercy and John. Then, a rich young man named William wants to marry Kit. Nat gets caught illuminating William's house with Jack o' lanterns, for obvious reasons to everyone but Kit, and is put in the stocks. It all comes to a head one day when people start accusing Hannah of practising witch-craft on their animals and children. Kit overhears and runs to get Hannah safely away on Nat's ship after the mob burns her house. Later the next day, she is arrested because people think she was the witch's apprentice. How will she escape? Will she see Nat again and mend things between them? And most of all, will she get her happy ending by going back to Barbados, or something much different? Read this book and find out!! It has everything: history, love, intrigue, danger, and lonliness. Go read it now, YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU DID!!!!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Spear

Review by a Cutchogue East student

Imagine living on the beautiful, tropical Caribbean island of Barbados. Being the Heiress to your grandfather's sugar cane plantation would mean no work, all play. Life would be great, swimming in the warm waters all day, being free to read one of the many books that your Grandfather owns right? You wouldn't have to clean either, with your many slaves. In most homes in the 1600's, a 16 year old would be expected to perform many tasks like cleaning, sewing, and cooking. This is how Kit Tyler's life was, perfect

Never in her life did Kit have to do backbreaking work. She would soon find out what it was like on the other side. Due to an unfortunate situation, Kit is forced to leave her home on the Dolphin, and head toward her aunt Rachel and uncle Mathew's home in Connecticut. Kit, and her cousins Marcy and Judith work all day, doing the work that Kit considered slave's work.

Everything Kit did was the wrong thing in this house. She was even stirring the soap wrong! She was forbidden to help a sweet old widow named Hanna Tupper with anything because the woman was a Quaker. Kit had gone to see her anyway. Because of this she was accused of being a witch. Hanna Tupper was also accused of witchcraft, but Kit managed to help her get away from the angry mob. Hanna's home was burnt to the ground, so she went to live with the mother of Kit's friend Nat.

For anyone that's wondering why this Book is called The Witch of Blackbird Pond, it's because Hanna Tupper lived at the edge of a pond, Blackbird pond. In my opinion, this is a great book. If you like realistic fiction books, or books that take place long ago, than you will love this book too.

I think that the author didn't do a good job with helping Kitlearn more about slaves. I think this because in the beginning of thebook the author mentioned a few things about slaves. For example shesaid that in Wheathersfield they had to do work unlike in Barbadoeswhere they had slaves there. Also I think that Kit should have learnedsome more information about slaves such as the pain they went through,their daily life, why they were such a big part in people's lives. Idon't think that Kit really had a good understanding of slaves sincethere was not much information in the novel. This Is why I think theauthor didn't do that great of a job with explaining more about slavesto Kit.
I think that throughout the novel Kit went through a lot ofchanges. One major change Kit experienced was when she arrived inWeathersfield she realized that there were no slaves there and she hadto work quite hard. Another change occured when she met Hannah, shestarted to belive and practice witchcraft. Also Kit thought a littlebit more about boys than when she lived in Barbadoes. I think that KItbecame more responsible because she was able to handle working andteaching kids. Also she was caring. For instance when she helpedHannah fix her roof and when she taught some kids how to write andread. These are a few changes that Kit experienced.

I think this was an interesting story but could have been better. One thing I liked was how you could feel how Kit felt in coming to a new land. When she was showing the dresses off to Mercy and Judith, Matthew got really mad and Kit was probably confused. You could feel what it would be like in that situation. Also making the story in her point of view was a great idea because then people would know how she was not a witch and sometimes feel how she is feeling. They would think the people weren't thinking correctly, but if it were from another view, like Goodwife's, it would just tell how she is a witch and not how she isn't. Something they could do is to make Kit more adventurous, like if she went on the boat to escape with Nat, people might go after her and she wouldn't be at the trial to see if she's a witch. I think Kit is a little boring, and she always seems to follow the rules, at least most of the time. Also I wonder what would happen if she went back to Barbados and maybe Kit would be more confident after she went back after all this. That is why I think Kit is sort of a boring person and she could use some personality.

I think that "The Witch of blackbird Pond" was a great book to read.The characters were very realistic.Kit was a rich and stuck-up girl who changed after she was in Weathersfeild for a while.I dont really think that she was a witch because she didn't put spells on people, wear all black or anything like that. I think that Mattew Wood was a very mean man and I think that Kit felt the same way, until he stood up for her when she was on trial.To me Judith didn't like the idea of Kit coming to live in Weathersfeild because she would lose attention, after a while she seemed to become nicer.Rachel and Mercy were alike to me because they both like the idea of Kit coming to live with them. On the other hand I wouldn't read the book for a couple or reasons. One is because everything happened to slowly, which made the story a little boring.Another reason why I didn't like the book is because some of the events were hard for me picture of in my head.Pictures would of helped a lot.Lastly,I didn't like this book because it was on a topic that didn't me, expecialy because I already read it once.

This is a truly incredible book that I discovered in the classroom when I was about 10, maybe younger. The soap-making scene was excerpted in my history book as a lesson about how the Puritans lived in the 1600s.
The detail of life during those harsh times is simply fascinating. Everything from household chores to religious beliefs to politics is covered, but the real beauty of this gem of a book lies in the subtle romance between the title character and a sea captain's son, and in the love that she comes to feel for Hannah, a suspected witch, Prudence, a young, neglected child, and her aunt's family who take her in as one of their own.
This book is as pleasurable to read today as it was over 10 years ago. A true classic. For lovers of friendship, romance, loyalty and history, I highly recommend it.

Sixteen year old Kit Tyler, has spent most of her life with her wealthy grandfather on his plantation on the sunny island of Barbados. She is treated like royalty and is richer than rich. Then, Kit's grandfather falls ill and dies, so Kit is forced to go live with the only family she has left, her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew. Kit boards a ship on its way to her aunt and uncle in Connecticut and meets a number of people. A child named Prudence loses her doll in the water and while she is reaching after it, she falls in. Kit leaps in after her without a second thought, and brings her safely back to the boat. The people on the boat were not familiar with women swimming and therefore thought she was a witch. Pretty soon word spreads and half of the town suspects Kit of being a witch. Kit befriends an old Quaker woman in the forest named Hannah Tupper who is thought as a witch herself. Kit must fight to make everyone believe they are not witches before they lose their lives. Overall, The Witch of Blackbird Pond was a very well-written and entertaining book.

One reason why this book was interesting was because of the main character, Kit Tyler. She was feisty, outspoken, and she stood up for what she believed in without a care of what anyone else thought. For example, the town thought her bright colored dresses were a sign of rebellion and her uncle warned her to stop wearing them, but she wore them anyway. Kit also befriended a woman named Hannah Tupper who not only was called a witch, but she was a Quaker as well. At the end of the story Kit married a man named Nat, who was a sailor and apparently "not good enough for her."

Another reason why this book was entertaining was the unintended humor. Something in this story that was really funny were the reasons the town accused Kit of being a witch. They thought she was a witch because she could swim, because of what she wore, and because of the things she said and did. There was a particular event in the story where Kit is teaching Prudence to read and write herself because Prudence's parents don't think Prudence is smart enough to be taught at a real school. Kit tells Prudence to continue writing her name over and over again in a book. Someone from the village finds this book and thinks Kit is trying to put a spell on Prudence because they think Kit is writing Prudence's name over and over again. Of course, Prudence defends Kit, but the people from the town think she is only protecting her because she is bewitched. Throughout the story similar events happen and they make even less sense.

This book was also enjoyable because of the ending. Even though Kit's older nice cousin Mercy, dies, the story ended well. Nat, who Kit met through her friend Hannah, is a sailor and the son of the owner of the boat Kit arrived on. In the end of the story, Kit and Nat get married and Nat gets his own ship. As a joke because of all the events that happened during the story, Nat names his ship The Witch, and promises Kit he will take her anywhere. Hannah also accompanies them both on the ship. Kit's formerly grumpy uncle becomes nicer and more open since he lost his daughter, Mercy.

The final reason this book was a good read was because of the variety of characters. The group of friends in this story are unique and unlikely to meet. The very unlikely group of friends in this story are Kit, Nat, Prudence, and Hannah. Kit is a rich and spoiled girl who is surprisingly nice. Nat is a normal sailor with a kind heart. Prudence is a little girl whose mother abuses her and thinks she is very stupid. Hannah is an odd old lady that lives in a small hut out in an abandoned meadow in the middle of a field with a black cat. Hannah Tupper is the person that really brought them all together. Even though these characters have some similar issues it seems odd that they became friends because they are from opposite worlds. All in all, this was a very good book and is good to read if you want to learn about the colony religions and also want to read a good book.

S.Brown

When Kit Tyler boarded the Dolphin, a ship that would take her from Barbados to New England, she had no idea what lay in store for her. In the strict puritan community of her relatives, Kit feels alone and out-of-place. Struggling to adapt to life with her Uncle, Aunt and cousins, she is constantly aware of how different she is and finds it difficult to fit in with the ways of the Puritans. Drawn to Blackbird Pond, Kit meets Hannah Tupper, an old woman widely believed to be a witch. Hannah is the only person who understands her, but by associating with her Kit places her own life in danger. In the intensely religious and prejudiced community, Kit is accused of witchcraft and sentenced to stand trial.
"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is one of the best Young Adult books ever written. I have read it so many times I have lost count and yet it still remains, and always will, one of my all-time favourites. It provides a perfect mix of history, romance, drama and suspense and will keep the reader hooked throughout. The characters of Nat and Kit are brilliantly written, as their initial reserve deepens to friendship and finally something more. When reading this book I was torn between wanting it to last forever and desperation to discover how the story would finish. Beautifully written and filled with vivid characters, you want to The Witch of Blackbird Pond to go on and on and never end. This is an amazing, very unique book that I know I will treasure forever.

A slice of American history with an appealing cast of characters. The Witch of Blackbird Pond describes the life of a pampered but well-meaning young woman forced to live with her aunt's family in a Puritan community. The adjustment is difficult, but she is helped by the village outcast, Hannah, a Quaker who is rumored to be a witch. This book is an inspiring introduction to religious prejudice and early American history; it sparked my interest in those subjects, and doubtless will for other readers. The author has researched well the lives of the Puritans, from wool-carding to church services to theological doctrine. The evolution of Kit into a brave, hard-working woman willing to stand up for her beliefs is a real treat. The supporting characters make the book as much as Kit herself: her stern but upright uncle, the cocky seaman Nat, the fumbling young minister who discovers what he truly stands for, and my favorite, her cousin Mercy, who holds the family together in spite of a physical handicap. The suspense and terror of the witch hunt is very real. This book is ever much more than a simple historical romance!

This book has it all! It is a GREAT book for all readers. Set in colonial times, 1687, to be exact, Katherine (Kit) Tyler is the heroine and one of my favorites of all time! When the story opens, Kit's grandfather has just died and she must leave her sunny home in the Caribbean to go live in the Puritan colony of Connecticut. Like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong shore, Kit has trouble fitting in, though she quickly attracts the attention of the entire town with her bright silk dresses, her unusual ability to swim, and her headstrong personality. Rich, young William immediately falls for her but Kit wonders if they are meant to be together. Meanwhile, her cousin Julia is outraged with jealousy. She and Uncle Matthew make Kit's new wooden home seem even colder. Her loneliness and misery ultimately leads her to meet and befriend Widow Tupper, the Witch of Blackbird Pond. The days she spends with Widow Tupper and Nat, a sailor whom she met on her journey to Connecticut, are the ones she enjoys most. But her Aunt Rachel tells her to stay away from Widow Tupper because she's a Quaker and the whole town considers her a witch. Kit ignores the warnings and continues to visit her anyway. But quickly, she too is regarded as a witch. Kit goes to trial facing an angry town with no one to speak for her. Or is she not as alone as she thinks?

I have noticed in recent years that there is a spurt of fiction about witches and ghosts, all written with a tongue in cheek silliness. They are the decendents of Roald Dahl and even as much as I am glad they are out there, I sometime wonder why there aren't more decendents of Frances Hodgson Burnett. Where are the sweetly serious books? This is one such decendant and more should be out there. The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an absolutely wonderful novel of historical fiction that throws early America into stark light. I read this book over and over when I was a child and though I have not read it in 15 or more years, I can still remeber the twists and turns of the plot. History is rekindled through Kit (I can still remember her name), a young emigrant just come to America to start a new life far from her natice Barbados. You see the grey winters, the hard working people whose religion shapes their daily lives, and the fear. Speare brings a small part of reality to life. And that is what is truly missing from so many modern children books. I truly recommend this book to all kids who have a thirst for the past.

This is a truly wonderful book that I highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story. It's one of those books that you just can't put down once you start reading it.

Reading the book gives you a unique appreciation of the people who first came to live in the huge wilderness that would one day become the United States. The characters feel very real and it's easy to appreciate the different view points represented in the story, even the ones you might not agree with.

The pacing of the story is perfect. Although there is a lot going on it never feels rushed, and it doesn't linger to get a point across. It's one of those rare books that I didn't feel like jumping to the end of in the middle of the story!

Kit is young girl who has led a very priviledged life that to her is completely normal, much like most young people in the United States today. When she is forced to leave that life Kit goes to live with the only relatives she has, the Puritan family of her mother's sister. Their's is a life of hard work and no luxury. Even though Kit hates it at first she eventually comes to appreciate these people who are so different from herself and learns the value of the life they live. But there is also blind cruelty and hatred within the community and when Kit fights against it in her own small way she finds herself in more trouble than she ever imagined.

It's just a great little story and I hope everyone who reads it enjoys it as much as I did.

I think that "The Witch of blackbird Pond" was a great book to read.The characters were very realistic.Kit was a rich and stuck-up girl who changed after she was in Weathersfeild for a while.I dont really think that she was a witch because she didn't put spells on people, wear all black or anything like that. I think that Mattew Wood was a very mean man and I think that Kit felt the same way, until he stood up for her when she was on trial.To me Judith didn't like the idea of Kit coming to live in Weathersfeild because she would lose attention, after a while she seemed to become nicer.Rachel and Mercy were alike to me because they both like the idea of Kit coming to live with them. On the other hand I wouldn't read the book for a couple or reasons. One is because everything happened to slowly, which made the story a little boring.Another reason why I didn't like the book is because some of the events were hard for me picture of in my head.Pictures would of helped a lot.Lastly,I didn't like this book because it was on a topic that didn't me, expecialy because I already read it once.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spears is an excellent book. You won't be able to put it down until you are finished reading it. You learn a lot about the way that life was in colonial America while you are still reading an interesting story. This book is about a young girl named Kit who has just come from Barbados to America, to her aunt and uncle's house. Kit's grandfather had passed away so she had no other living relatives. In Barbados, an old but rich man had asked to marry her, but she had said no. Kit then decided to go to her aunt and uncle's house in Connecticut. There she is given work to do that she has never done before. Kit used to be rich and thought that slaves did the work that she is now doing herself. She feels as though her aunt and uncle do not want her. Then she meets an old and gentle woman named Hannah who is believed to be a witch. They quickly become friends. But then, Kit is put on trial for being friends with Hannah. Will Kit ever find true love? What will happen to Kit? Will she ever go back to Barbados? Read the book, and you will find out!

This book is a classic. The main character, Kit, is a strong role model for society today. She shows that through perseverance, she can overcome life's struggles. Through her struggles, she shows others around her that prejudice is unacceptable.
Looking at Kit's struggles to survive in a society she is not used to, a young adult can easily relate to her. Young adults struggle with all sorts of issues growing up. Even though Kit's problems are inherently different than those of young adults today, there are many similarities that young adults can relate to, such as fitting in.
It's a shame that because a book is written well and depicts the life and times of people from over three centuries ago, it's considered horrible and boring.
I read this book over fifteen years ago, and read it again in college, and the book still has the same effect on me. It's still a favorite book, and as a teacher, I will recommend it to my students as a mandatory book.

The Witch of black bird pond was a very interesting, yet excelent book. Many times in this book it got very intence. An example is when the towns people went to go find Hannah to burn the house down becuase they believed she was a witch. I like books when they get exciting. This gives you the thrill of wanting to read more to find out what happens next. This book also was not only a good book, but told you about how hard life was in the colonial times. Next to all these things, this book created alot of suspence. At the begining of the book, Kit jumped into the water. It was suspenceful because it never told you if she could swim or not. It made you believe that there was a chance that she could drown. This book gave you a very good idea of what it was like for a young girl to move to a whole new land where everything is different. I think it really helped young readers better understand how it was back then. I know it helped me! I think everyone should read this book.

"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is one of my favorite books. I've read it four times! The strong heroine,struggling with the injustice and prejudice of the Puritan colony in Coneticut is interesting and exciting. The charcters are vivid and interesting, showing different ideas and personalitis. I love Katherine, the hero of the book, her love for books, sailing and the outdoors; her lively spirit.I like her family-the strong uncle, the caring aunt, and especialy the two cousins, Mercy-kind and unselfish,and Judith-happy and beautiful. Out of the family are Nat-a sailor,lively,mocking and careing. John,studing to be a minister,quiet, thoughtful. Hanna-the "witch".A old and kind woman,living by her self with her cat. Katherine,or Kit, has come to Coneticut from from Barbados, where she ran freely. She feels cooped up in the strict and gray Puritan colony. So she befriends Hanna, "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" and at her house she finds calm and quiet. But now she is convicted of witchcraft!

i read "the witch of the blackbird pond" when i was around 13. it has made me not only fall in love with the characters and the narrative, but also with the wonderful world of books and reading, and the magic of listening to the voice of the writer telling a story through the pages. the story made me cry, laugh, cheer, and reflect. most of all, it engaged my mind and made me, the reader, a part of the story. i saw the Dolphin sail laborously through the Connecticut River, i saw Uncle Matthew's stern face surveying Kit's luggages, i saw Prudence writing-- scratching :-)-- her name across the paper, i saw Nat clutching the soaking Kit as she swam across the freezing water... i saw the "witch" with her kitten, and felt the beauty and warmth of human kindness. i love this book. of all the books i've had, this is the one which i have reread the most. cliche as it is, this book is timeless. honest!

Kit Tyler has lived her whole life in the beautiful, Caribbean country of Barbados. Her first glimpse at her new home in Connecticut tells her that her life in colonial America will be nothing like the beautiful and elegant world she has always known. She doesn't understand the stern and somber people here--especially not the mischievous sailor, Nat Eaton, who always turns up when she least expects it. In her loneliness, she develops a dangerous friendship with an outcast widow many of the townspeople think might be a witch. But how much will that friendship cost her?

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a wonderful story about coping with change and learning to be true to ourselves. Through the gentle affection of the Widow Tupper, Kit learns to find her vocation in life--and in love.

This book was very well written and engaging. I think it's intended for YA, so it's not particularly challenging, but the characters are likeable and the content is interesting. The main character, Kit, is a strong and relatable heroine, and the witch trials aspect is scary but historically pretty accurate. And several love stories woven throughout, plus vivid imagery of both Connecticut and Barbados make this a very good read.

There were many good aspects to the story. One good aspect is the setting of Blackbird Pond because that type of setting seems to be a good place for a witch to live in. Another good aspect to the story is the characters, because each one has his or her own special ability and personality. Good aspect is the date and century it took place because witches were mostly feared at that time.
There were also many bad aspects to the story. One bad aspect is that the author was telling more about Kit's adaptation to her new home instead of telling more about the whole point of the story, which is the witch. Another bad aspect to the story is that there were just too many conflicts in the story. Another bad aspect to the story is that the mood is mostly depresing because of Kit's hard time adapting to her new home. In conclusion, those are the good and bad aspects to the story.

Written by our 10 yr. old daughter as a critique of her favorite Sonlight reader:The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a story about young Kit trying to adapt to a new life in the Puritan colony of Connecticut. She meets a nice Quaker woman named Hannah. Soon Kit is accused of witchcraft and must find a way out of trouble. This is my favorite book, when I read about Kit getting into trouble I could picture it in my mind and I felt sad for her. My favorite part was when she was accused of witchcraft. I think that you’ll want to read this book because it is full of adventure and mystery while Kit is learning to get used to to her new life.

7th Grade Student

I thought the book was good but no great. There was some things it was missing like more suspense instead of just filling in the parts where a big plot point isn’t happening. The book included lots of facts, people that actually existed and interesting characters. You can learn about the time period and the people back then and sometimes it got really interesting. The author is good at keeping the wording interesting but does not do the same with the plot overall I would rate it ⅗ stars.
-S

When Katherine Tyler, Kit, comes to stay with her Aunt Rachel's family in the Connecticut, she knows her new home will never be the same as her old home, Barbados. Kit doesn't seem to fit in in this strict Puritan colony. When her young sailor friend, Nat, is around, he's always teasing and that doesn't really help, either.
Then Kit befriends Widow Hannah Tupper, a.k.a. (also known as), the Witch of Blackbird Pond. With Hannah Tupper, Kit can let go and speak her real feelings. She feels almost as happy as she did back in Barbados. And she cannot understand why everyone is so misunderstanding towards Hannah Tupper.
So when Kit's new family warns her to stay away from Hannah Tupper, to avoid trouble from the rest of the town, Kit ignores them. Unfortunately, her friendship with the so-called witch is discovered. And Kit is also accused of witchcraft!

Kit Tyler traveled to Connecticut to live with her aunt and uncle after the death of her grandfather. She had to contribute to their family farm. This is very hard for Kit because she is used to having slaves do all of her work for her. I don't really know what it is like to have chores like hers but I do know that change is very hard. After a few weeks Kit feels unwanted and as if she can't do anything right. One day, she meets an old woman. Kit's aunt and uncle tell her never to go back. The people in the town believe she is a witch. Kit disobeys her uncle and goes back to the old woman. A disease descends on the town and the town accuses the old woman of witchcraft. They also accuse Kit of witchcraft because of her association with the old woman.

This is a short summary of the award winning "The Witch of Blackbird Pond". This isn't my favorite book. I have read a lot of books, good and bad. Although this is a well-written book, I don't really like the idea of witchcraft. Also, the most suspenseful part is when she is in court and being accused of witchcraft. But this part is very short. I like books that have long suspenseful parts. This way, you have to stop in the middle of it, predict what might happen, and hold your breath until you can find out what happens the next time you pick up the book.

The part that I do like about the book is that it really shows you how Kit feels. I feel really bad for her. She is accused of things she didn't do and she has to change her ways and that I know is very hard. It is even harder when your family doesn't even care.

You should read this book if you like stories about girls who struggle to fit into a new life and you don't mind that it's not so exciting.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is Elizabeth George Speare's (1908-1994) second novel. It won the Newbery Medal with full votes in 1959, one year after its publication. Similarly to her previous "Calico Captive", Elizabeth George Speare draws her inspiration for this historical novel for young adults from real events. In "Calico Captive" it was Susanna Johnson's captivity, while in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" episodes of witch hunting, that had taken place in the Author's hometown of Wethersfiled, Connecticut in 1648 and 1650-51, are the basis for a breathtaking story .

It is 1687, year of fighting of the Connecticut colonies to preserve their Charter menaced by the English, when young Kit Tyler, after the death of her grandfather in Barbados, decides to go live with her only relatives in Wethersfiled Connecticut, one of the many settlements on the Connecticut River. At her arrival in her new home she finds a colony of Pilgrims of strict confession which reluctantly accept her as long as she "behaves" according to their unwavering rules. Her adoptive family is sincere, but mentally and emotionally closed, except maybe for her cousin Mercy, physically handicapped. Slowly Kit adapts to her new environment, but she cannot renounce her true character, her curiosity, her need of culture and spontaneous affection. She befriends a forlorn and neglected child, Prudence and an old and estranged Quaker woman, Hannah Tupper, two outcasts of society, and because of her sincere affection and care is accused of witchcraft. Through hardships and real dangers and the help of true friends she finally finds out who she is and what she wants.

Three intermingling love stories make the plot even more captivating and the book is hard to put down once started. All the characters are lifelike and perfectly described and unforgettable, from cousin Mercy (modelled on Elizabeth George Speare's real aunt who was physically disabled), to Nat Eaton, the nicest, most sarcastic and challenging young man encountered in young adult literature, to Prudence the unpromising child who turns out to be Kit's most successful pupil and ultimate saviour.

I learned many years after having read the novel in 1967 that this book is today used as a text in English classes in elementary and middle school. Surely it contains many elements to dwell upon and it is hard to forget that Elizabeth George Speare was a teacher particularly dedicated to the study of childhood in the early days of American history. The historical setting of the novel is absolutely perfect with real characters such as Sir Edmond Andros and the royalist Rev. Gersholm Bulkeley that play the role they had in history. The detailed historical research behind the book is also evident from many elements: the pointing out of religious differences, the anti-Quaker bigotry, the psychological explanation based on ignorance of the fear of witchcraft, the difficulty of living in a Pilgrim entourage for a person with sound Faith but educated according to different models.

Elizabeth George Speare's knowledge of adolescent problems is evident as well in the way she conveys the sense of feeling a stranger in a different world and in the attempt to fit in while maintaining independence. Another very New Englandish emotion one gets from the book is the beauty of the changing of seasons from the glory of autumn, to the first snow that can be understood only by people who have lived there.

After so many years, I ask myself how much influence can a writer have on children. Elizabeth George Speare had an enormous influence on me in particular, but I think she did on many through the development of an instinct of independence and especially of compassion and acceptance. I want to remember that in the acceptance speech for the Newbery Medal for "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" she said.. "I do not believe a historical novel should gloss over the pains and the ugliness. But I do believe that the hero .. should on the last page.. still be standing, with the strength to go to whatever the future may hold."

Another small notation, the Author makes a recall to the poetry of Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672), the first woman poet of American literature, for a long time ignored and forgotten by many and only recently rediscovered in her actuality. Mrs. Speare's citation of her shows us not only her culture and knowledge of early American history but also stimulates the reading of these beautiful poems that immerge us into the atmosphere of "The Witch of Blackbird Pond".

"Everlastingly interesting" simply means that it seems that she is wondering a lot about if she truly loves somebody, or if she wants him for his money. She wonders if she would be happy with him. She longs for home, but at the same time longs for the meadows and her old, dear, friend who is under suspicion of the town for practicing witchcraft. And after a time she is also under suspicion of practicing witchcraft herself. This book says it is for ages 12 and up but I am 10 and I still enjoyed it very much. This book makes you long for the ending, to see whether she escapes from suspicion, and finds true love, or if she retuns home. It is old history from the year of 1687. It really brings out the feeling of this girl, Kit Tyler, as she struggles through this difficult life that her cousins, aunt and uncle live in. This difficult life of working days on end that she can barely grasp the hang of. Journey into this book along with Kit Tyler, you will discover that this witch of blackbird pond may not be who or what you think she is.

I wanted something short that was considered a classic. I must have picked this book because of the Newbery Medal. I like to purchase books for my grandchildren, and since I hadn't read this before (for some reason), I bought it. The writing was tight and well done. The title and the picture of Kit on the cover threw me off; I was glad the witch wasn't her--until later. One can read the story outline in other reviews. Suffice it to say, I am tremendously glad I read this book--finally--I graduated from college in 1958. So it's not just for young adults, as many of the reviewers have noted. I'll add my adulation to other adults who were "late" reading it. You won't be sorry.

I read this as an adult for my mother-daughter book club. I thought it was amazing (though my 9 year old only likes it so-so.) While at its heart an age-old story of feeling like you don't fit in and looking for love, The Witch of Blackbird Pond's setting is what made this book so extraordinary for me. It takes place in the late 1600s in the Connecticut Colony (one of the locations is just a few miles from where I grew up). The descriptions of Puritanical life are quite well drawn, and -- as a Native New Englander -- somewhat familiar. I can see how my view of the world has been shaped by my Puritanical New England ancestors. This characterization, more than anything, is probably what made the book so compelling for me (and not surprisingly, not obvious to my daughter). I can highly recommend this book -- unless you are 9. :-)

Elezabeth Spear's book " The Witch of Blackbird Pond" was fantastic! It really pulled you into the story, and made you feel as though you were there witnessing the action event yourself. Spear does a great job of describing the characters, and giving you a opoion of them. The main character Kit Tyler, is a girl in her late teens. She hates her new life in the Connecticut Colony, it is so different from the Caribbean Island, Barbados, from which she moved when her Grandfather died. Now her new life with her Aunt, Uncle, and cousins , leads he to the place where she meeets the woman Hana Tupper,known as "The Witch of Blackbird Pond". When their friendship is discovered, Kit is accused as a Witch herself! This book is a great story of friendship,loyalty, and adventure. If there was a rating higher than the Newbery, this book would get it!

I was looking through my little sister personal 'library' a few weeks ago when I came across this book. I faintly remembered having heard something about it when I was in fourth grade, so I decided to read it. The Witch of Blackbird Pond isn't hard at all to read (as long as you know your 'thees' and 'thous'), but it is still an excellant book. It tells of a story of a young girl from the Indies that was forced to come to New England to begin another life. As one might expect, she's not all that welcomed by her Puritan relatives. She struggles to fit in for a year, but nothing seems to work. I don't want to give anything away, but I really liked the way that this story was written because it sends an important message to the reader--You can't always get what you want. Nevertheless, it's a wonderful, short story, and I think that just about anyone would like it.

This book about a girl adjusting to a new environment is a very warm touching book. If I was Kit, I probably wouldn't have been able to survive going to Lecture, mass, and enduring all the hard work. i felt really sorry for kit because she had to do all the work that her slave used to do. One thing good about that is that she learned to do a lot things during her life in Whethersfield. I think that kit was pretty lucky, however, because she got a lot of support from her "family". She had found friends that stood by her. She also had proved to others that she was useful. I think that in the end, it was really nice the way it turned out that Judith got to marry William, Mercy with John Holbrok, and Kit with Nat. They were all nice matches and I am sure they would turn out to be all happy because that's who they wanted to be with.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond may be a work of fiction, but there are many parables with modern life. It's about a white girl, from the sunny West Indies, who moves to the cold, unwelcoming colonies in New England. Her uncle, a Puritan, reluctantly takes her in. Though they treat her as good as as their own children, they're clearly not happy to have her. For starters, the Puritans are serious people, and she's used to play and leisure. The Puritans are austere and Spartan, while she's used to flamboyant luxury. The family's life is preoccupied with hunting, farming, cooking, and cleaning; the kind of stuff one has to do in order to eat. She, however, comes from a wealthy family and has never even cooked for herself.

But she learns. The family are Puritans after all, and it's their duty to teach her self-sufficiency. Soon she settles into the routine, cooking meals, cleaning, and teaching young children to read.

But Puritan life comes with a problem. The people believe in the existence of witches, and anybody who appears unusual is a suspect. Hannah, a kindly old woman who lives alone, was once a suspected witch. She has a scar on her face as a reminder of how she suffered under the Puritans' paranoia. Worse, she's a Quaker, and the Quakers are despised by the Puritans.

Faced with an inquisition-like investigation, she faces the harshness of the Colonial laws of the time. Judge's decisions are not based on codified laws, but on the religious and social mores and norms. Every single good thing she's done since arriving is suspected as an act of witchcraft and subversion.

But there is hope. As with today's legal system, success depends on getting the right advocate! Will the townspeople stand up for her and denounce the witch hunts, or will she be tortured by religious hysteria?

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is set in Connecticut in the late 1600s. It tells the story of Kit Tyler, a 16-year-old girl who sails from Barbados to Connecticut after her grandfather passes away. Kit travels to Connecticut to live with her aunt and her aunt's family, none of who have met her and who do not know that she is coming. Connecticut was a Puritan community struggling for independence from England at this time and the culture shock is difficult for Kit, who grew up affluent and independent. The townspeople are not very welcoming to her and some believe to fear that she is a witch because she is different from them. Kit's troubles get worse when she becomes friends with an old Quaker woman people called the Witch of Blackbird Pond.

I would recommend this book for ages 10 and up. Most children have felt like they didn't fit in at some point and will be able to relate to Kit. This book teaches children about tolerance, acceptance, and not being judgmental. I would use this book in a school setting as part of a social studies curriculum. It is appropriate for discussions about witch trials, Puritan history, and Connecticut history. I would also recommend this book for pleasure reading.

I probably read this book 20 times in elementary school. I kept taking it out of my elementary school library and when the librarian teased me about it I bought my own copy. I dont know what happened to it, and I havent read it in years and years. I was searching through Kindle Unlimited looking for a halloween-y book to read and this popped up. I couldnt resist and I was pleasantly surprised to find this read's just as well at 36 as it did at 9. Just proves that a good story is a good story, no matter your age.

The book Witch of Black Bird Pond was an adventurous book as well as a bit of romance. It was about a girl who travels to America to find family to live with since her family died. She ends up finding them and they are taken by surprise by some things she can and can not do. As well as thing she posses like, beautiful dresses and money. She needs to help on their farm but is not used to that so she runs off only to find a little house in a meadow of flowers about a mile away from where she lives now and the lady walks up to her, the one from the little house. She returns home and they become pals but many believe that she is a witch. What happens in the end, read the book to find out.

I loved the book! It is probably a ten (10) and older book, and a book for adults too. It is an exciting book because who knows what a response or action will be next. I would rate The Witch of Black Bird Pond a five star (*****) book for its simply wonderful story. It's a book I would recommend but mostly for girls who love a bit of romance but mostly adventure.

Overall I think that the author did a good job on the book " The Witch of Blackbird Pond". I thought this for many reasons. First of all the characters were realistic and they made it seem like it was back in the olden days. For example Kits uncle was furious when he saw his daughters in Kits fancy dresses and he said that they didn't need that stuff. But today almost anyone would be glad to get nice new clothes. Another reason I liked this book was because it was suspenseful. It was very suspenseful when the townspeople were going 2 Hannah's house with the torches because you didn't know if Hannah would be alright or not. Another suspenseful part was in the courtroom scene because you aren't sure whether kit will accused of witchcraft or not. For these reasons I enjoyed the book " The Witch of Blackbird Pond".

ISBN 0440495962 - Excellent, well written book for ages 12 and up, Witch is more likely to appeal to girls. This book has enough romance to make it unappealing to some, but it deserves the Newbery Award it won in 1959.

Kit Tyler was orphaned years before, but it is only now that she feels like an orphan - her grandfather, Sir Francis Tyler, a well-off plantation owner on Barbados, has died and Kit finds out that all he's left behind is mountainous debt. His entire estate is sold off to pay those debts and Kit's own slave has to be sold, as well, to finance her journey to Connecticut. There, her mother's only sister, beautiful Rachel, lives with her family. She befriends Nat Eaton, the captain's son, but fails to tell him that her family isn't expecting her. He is surprised by their surprise, when Kit shows up on their doorstep, where they part ways. Kit, too, gets a surprise, when she finds that her aunt, once a great beauty, is a somewhat worn, plain woman. Clearly her life has changed her.

It takes some time for Kit to get accustomed to the ways of her aunt's family, who are Puritans (Kit had even disparagingly referred to them as "Roundheads" while still on the boat). Their simple life of hard work is a harsh existence with little joy and Kit misses much about her old life. Still, she has no one else and tries to learn to do the chores she is given to the best of her ability. When William Ashby, a young man of some means, begins to court her, Kit realizes that he might be the best chance she has to escape from the drudgery of her life under Uncle Matthew's roof. Judith, Kit's cousin, had previously set her sights on William, but when he favors Kit, she turns her attention to John Holbrook, a budding clergyman. Judith is unaware that her crippled sister, Mercy, has fallen in love with John and even less aware that John also loves Mercy.

While the prospect of escape via marriage to William is in the future, Kit lives in the present, becoming friendly with Hannah, an elderly Quaker woman who lives alone on the shore of Blackbird Pond. The townspeople believe her to be a witch, mostly because she isn't Puritan. Consorting with Hannah doesn't do much to improve Kit's standing in the town, but she laughs off the idea of herself or anyone being a witch - until they lock her up and put her on trial. Her friendships with Nat and Prudence pay off in a big way, when they appear at the trial, but Nat runs before she can thank him - and before she realizes that it is Nat that she really loves.

As a teen or pre-teen, this book would not have impressed me much, and I'd have found the romance gag-worthy. Everyone ends up with the guy they should end up with and all, it is implied, live happily ever after. As an adult, however, I really enjoyed the story. The prejudice of the time, not unlike the prejudice of ANY time period, was interesting. To read that the ability to swim was an indication that one was a witch is funny now, but a nice bit of irony for the time - the only way to prove your innocence was to die by drowning! Not perfect, and a little more "historical romance" than plain old "historical fiction", but still very nicely done.

- AnnaLovesBooks

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an historical novel that pits the Puritan beliefs against the Quaker beliefs using the character of Kit, an orphaned girl who moves from Barbados to Connecticut. Kit, having been brought up in a less Calvinist environment is met head-on with the stringent practices of her extended family - the Puritans. Within this scope Kit sees romances develop and witch hunting ensue. Speare has told an exciting story of times gone by. It is sufficient to raise the reader's ire and find comparison to some practices in place today.

A beautiful and captivating story about a young girl who is forced to leave her finery in Barbados to join her puritan relatives in Connecticut. Everyone in Wethersfield disapproves of her carefree, headstrong conduct except the few friends she has: an accused Witch, Hannah Tupper, a cocky young sailor, Nat Eaton and a young, abused child, Prudence Cruff. Now, though never commiting any crime in reality, nearly every citizen of the town is declaring her a witch! The end has a twist and a surprise but it makes you feel good in general. I was dazzled by the accuracy of the puritan lifestyle and the romantic, creative nature of the story itsself. Though young children may not understand the themes and language, it's great for anyone 11 and up. It's a wonderfully happy story to cheer you up! :)

I thought that the book was good for several reasons. One reason was that the author didn't leave us hanging. Another reason was that the author made it so that we could understand what was happening in the book. A third reason was that the author made the character's feelings so that we could understand them and sympathize with them. This is why I thought that the book was good.
I thought that the book was bad for several reasons. One reason was that the author put too much details and unimportant information into the book. Another reason was that in some places the author bored us and made the story boring and uninteresting. A third reason was that the book didn't have much suspense to it which would increase the readers interest. This is why I thought that the book was bad.

This is a really good book. My teacher highly encouraged us to read it. It is about a girl named Kit in the Salum Witch Trials times. We were studng about this in school so we read the book. The Salum Witch Trias actualy took place. People in the 1800s (?) were acused of bieng witches. Of corse they wern't but it just tells you about the time period. Kit is also acused of witchcraft... Another good one is Bloold on The River. It is not how it sounds. It is around the time period that Kit is in. It is about a boy and he goes on a ship looking for new land. Read both of these books!

"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" has charmed readers fordecades now. Kit's journey from the warm Caribbean to the coldPuritan valley in Connecticut has been read again and again, and will likely be read for decades to come. A charming romance of an outsider trying to fit into a new and strange culture, the novel immediately brings the reader a sense of what it is like to try and fit into a world very different from the one you grew up in. My only complaints about the novel are minor: the picture of the Puritans is far too cold, given what we now understand about the Puritans (although their persecution of the Quakers is dead on in the novel), and the ending seems a little too pat and contrived (I won't tell you, other than to say that everybody ends up with somebody they deserve). Still, a wonderful read after all these years.

I am in the midst of reading this book for about the twelfth time. I love everything about it. It is a mixture of bravery, homesickness, and love. Kit Tyler makes the journey from Barbados to Wethersfield because her Grandfather died. After paying all debts necessary, she had no money and no place to live. When she gets there, she realizes that there was much more work than she had bargained for in Puritan life! When she makes a huge mistake in teaching a dame school, she seeks help in the meadow with the accused witch, Hannah Tupper. She befriends both Hannah and Prudence, an abused child. She teaches this overworked child to read, learn, and love. She falls in love with Nat Eaton, the captain's son. She is accused of being a witch and put to trial. These words can barely describe the brilliance and excitement of this novel, and I will never grow too old to read it!

I've read this book four or five times over the years, and it always satisfies. Of course I had to Google Barbados and find out what life was like in the 17th century. I love the story of a strong minded, kind, and compassionate girl, coping with a new world and a new way of life. Nice romance too. Any woman of girl would relate to the story and find it highly satisfying. Highly recommended for female readers of all ages.

Kit is an 16 year old girl who lives in Barbados with her Grandfather. When he dies, she is forced to leave Barbados and go live with her only relatives, her Aunt and Uncle, who live in America. Set in colonial times, she quickly finds that she doesn't fit in, wearing her expensive dresses, not liking to attend church, and holding loyalty to the King of England. She begins to change and fit in and as she does she meets an old woman who lives near Blackbird Pond. Hannah is a Quaker and everyone in the town suspects the old woman of witchcraft. Against her Uncle's wishes, Kit spends many enjoyable afternoons with Hannah. She also discovers that Nat, a seaman she met on her trip to America, is also a friend of Hannah's. Kit spends more and more time with him and finds another friend that makes this new world eaiser to live in. Everything then turns into an uproar when the people of the town attack Hannah, accuse her of being a witch, and burn her house. Kit manages to get Hannah safely away with Nat, but then she is accused of witchcraft and put on trial. Having alienated so many people in the town, will anyone try and save her?? Or will she be hung as a witch?
This book is filled with friendship, hardship, trust and love; an unbelievable combination you won't want to miss. Definitely a five star book. It couldn't have been better in any way.

The book " The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is an excellent story! It teaches you about friendship, love, and sticking up for what you believe in. Elizabeth George Speare made the characters very realistic and she made it seem like it was back in the olden days. Like when Kits uncle was furious when he saw his daughters in Kits fancy dresses and he said that they didn't need that stuff. Today almost anyone would be glad to get nice new clothes. Speare also did a wonderful job creating suspense. For example it was very suspenseful when the townspeople were going 2 Hannah's house with the torches because you didn't know if Hannah would be alright or not. Another suspenseful part was in the courtroom scene because you aren't sure whether Kit will accused of witchcraft or not. For these reasons I enjoyed the book " The Witch of Blackbird Pond".

Kit comes over to the 13 colonies becuae her grandfather died. When she arrives, she finds a place very diffrent from her former home, Barbados. She is forced by her strict uncle to be a solemn as the puritans, and to set aside her silk gowns and wear homespun dresses. she feels completly stifled by her new life, and one day, after almost cuasing her crippled cousin her teaching job, she breaks. She runs to the "meadow" where she meets Hannah Tupper, a Quaker who is shuned and thought to be a witch by many. All she really is is a kind old lady. She takes kit home and feeds her, and helps her be brave and get her cousins job back. kit goes back to Hannahs house and eventually meets Hannahs seafaring friend, none other than Nat, the son of the man who brought her to America.And yes Nat was on the boat the whole time kit was. Then one day Kit is accused of being a witch. Something not to be taken lightly in the 1600's. She is rescued by none other than Nat. Then hannah is going to be burned out of her house, or if the people have their way, in her house. But Kit goes and helps Hannah get out before the evil people come, and she gets her on a ship... whose ship? Guess. Nats. And so Hannahs gone and Kits life is drudging on a usual.... and then someone comes... like you can't guess who... and something happens...

This boook is about a girl named Kit Tylers. She is coming to Connecticut from Barbados to live with her uncle Matthews, Aunt Rachael, and her to cousins Judith and Mercy. Barbados is a very different place; girls can do whatever they what and they have slaves so they don't have to work. Kit is very different than everyone in Connecticut. Kit swims, also know a "floating." If you know the saying then you know what will happen but if you don't what "floating" means only the guilty ones float. Guilty of what you ask? Guilty of being a Witch. What well happen we she is caught hanging around with someone whose is said to be a witch.

This book was awesome! I loved it. I thought that the book is a little difficult at first but then it turns into a book that you won't ever want to put down. There is also a play about the book that my class saw after I read it. It was a little different but also very good. I couldn't really find any other books that were like it. But like I said there was the really good play at Crown Center in Kansas City, Kansas.

This novel was not the best I have read. Sure, it was OK, but I have read books that are much better. It had parts that I liked to read, but the majority of the book was slow and hard to understand. It might have been better, had the author made less filer and more storyline. I got the key portions of the plot, but it was hard to understand most of the minor characters in the story. The main parts I understood I liked, but during the important parts I usually did not understand what was happening. There are books that are much better, so go and read something else. For the average reader, this is a very hard to understand book that I would not recommend. Basicly, this book had some parts that were good that I enjoyed, but most of the time it was hard to understand. Now, this is my view of the novel, and other people might have a different opinion than I, so if you have read other reviews and choose to read this novel, hey, I'm not stopping you. This review was my thought of the book. In all, this is not a very good novel to me.

I've listened to this book 3 times now, intending to teach it next semester. While I usually read much of a book to my students, I may actually have them listen to this audio book. The characters' personalities are so accurately represented, I can't imagine my students getting more from the book if I read to them!

Horrible, I'll never buy a book by that author again, a waste of time. These are some things that don't describe how you'll feel when you read this story. I personally think that this is a great book. It's the tale of a girl from Barbadoes named Kit. She travels to new England where she's forced to do non-stop chores around the house and live with people that don't really care for her(At first) and would probably be better off without another mouth to feed. Kit has to endure a terrible whitch trial, just because she was friends with a gentle old woman. (Who everyone just happened to think was a whitch) Will Kit be proven innocent, will she ever find true love? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Horrible, I'll never buy a book by that author again, a waste of time. These are some things that don't describe how you'll feel when you read this story. I personally think that this is a great book. It's the tale of a girl from Barbadoes named Kit. She travels to new England where she's forced to do non-stop chores around the house and live with people that don't really care for her(At first) and would probably be better off without another mouth to feed. Kit has to endure a terrible whitch trial, just because she was friends with a gentle old woman. (Who everyone just happened to think was a whitch) Will Kit be proven innocent, will she ever find true love? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Horrible, I'll never buy a book by that author again, a waste of time. These are some things that don't describe how you'll feel when you read this story. I personally think that this is a great book. It's the tale of a girl from Barbadoes named Kit. She travels to new England where she's forced to do non-stop chores around the house and live with people that don't really care for her(At first) and would probably be better off without another mouth to feed. Kit has to endure a terrible whitch trial, just because she was friends with a gentle old woman. (Who everyone just happened to think was a whitch) Will Kit be proven innocent, will she ever find true love? You'll just have to read the book to find out!

Read this some 35 years ago or so and it was gripping then; It hasn't lost any of it's strength as I read it now! It's moving in so many ways. watching the fear of ignorance and the fear of the innocent are equally astonishing. Can't believe I recognized the title so many years later, clearly it made an impact!

I first read this book over 50 years ago as a young girl. It stayed with me long after. I bought a copy some time ago and wore it out. Bought another copy and now will buy the Kindle copy to make sure I don't wear this one out!

There is something about the characters that become so important to you. They are true to their time, yet timeless in their appeal. It doesn't matter whether you are young or old, you will relate to the people and find their story one that you can't put down and will never forget.

I loved this story because it carried me into a distand world of the past and into her challenges. As Kit, the main character of the story has to adapt to a completely different life with completely different mores, her uncle first seemed abusive. However, his real character was developed throughout the story much more loving than one would have granted initially. I liked this development of that character because it shows how easily a person can be misunderstood.
The story is also full of adventure, loss and gain.

Kit’s character resonates with me. The idea that you are working hard and growing in an environment that you were not made for. That where you are is where you were meant to be for a season, but is not where your heart is. She tried to find beauty in a place that she didn’t fit in.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Written by Elizabeth George Speare

The Witch of Blackbird Pond was a very different book. There were parts in the book than were kind of slow and drug on. I would give this book two stars. Some of the parts that should have been long were very short and not enthralling. One example of this would be the witch trials. I thought that would be thrilling and exciting, but instead it was was short and down to the point. If it would have been more gripping, it would have got a better rate. I didn't like how this book bounced from one spot to another. In some some places you got lost. I didn't like the beginning because it didn't draw me in or keep my attention. She didn't give me much of a physical description of the characters or the setting. The plot was unclear and had many different problems, so it was hard to keep straight what was happening. The ending was a good ending it was probably the best part of the book because everybody got what they wanted. If it would have had more detail and suspense. I enjoyed some of the parts of the books but it could have been a lot better.

Recently two of my 5TH grade students read The Witch of Blackbird Pond. We were studying the Puritan Time period of history and this book was a wonderful depiction of the lifestyles and beliefs of people living during this period. The language was challenging in the beginning but the students were are to grasp the message of the book. We noted similarities with the main character Kit and the girls growing up in today's world.
Kit portrays the life of a 16 year old girl amongst a new and unusual Puritan community. She is from a foreign shore and therefore she is disliked and thought of as suspicious (because she is different). Kit befriends a Quaker woman far outside of town, the two develop a wonderful relationship. The community casts scorn on the women and eventually Kit is scorned as well.
This book was a wonderful teaching tool because it depicted how belief and presumption can cause great pain and suffering for individuals that have "different" beliefs, attitudes and feelings. It also helped my young students understand the tribulations of history and how being different can at times cost one their home, their lively hood and even their life. We had a lively discussion on how Kit remained strong and self assured among so much bitterness and hatred.
This is a must read for any social studies class learning about Puritan history and the Salem Witch trials.

Just like the story says to me, don't judge people. So, don't judge this story by its title. It's not really about a witch, its about people & how easily people can simply make superficial judgements of others. The main character is displaced from her home & has to start a life in the colonies & thus hangs a tale. There is also some Jane Austin storytelling going on which doesn't feel out of place at all. Although this book may be aimed at young readers, I found it simply wonderful. Not to be missed & one that can easily be read over & over again.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond By Elizabeth George Speare takes place in Wethersfield Connecticut. The main character's name is Kit. Kit is from Barbados. She came to Connecticut to live with her aunt and uncle. She came because there was a guy in Barbados that wanted to marry her, who she didn't like. On the boat ride to Wethersfield Kit met Nat. To her surprise, Nat was also going to Wethersfield. They became good friends. Nat also knew Hannah Tupper. She met her cousins and tried to fit in at Wethersfield. He cousin's names were Mercy and Judith Wood. At first she did not fit in with the Puritans, then after a while she got the hang of it. Kit met Prudence who was a little girl that Kit tutored. Kit didn't think she was getting a good education out of school. Kit met William Ashby, William was a rich man who really liked Kit. Kit also met Hannah Tupper, who everyone thought was a witch. Later on, people started accusing Kit of being a witch. Kit got charged of witchcraft and had to go to court. Prudence Cruff helped Kit a lot. Read on to see what happens at Kit's Trial!

I really enjoyed reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond. It gave good lessons about friendship and compassion. This book really keeps the reader interested. One thing I did not like was that there were too many characters. I found it hard to keep track of all the characters, without getting mixed up. I would still recommend this book to all readers.

Kit Tyler was once a rich girl of Barbados, but upon her grandfather's death, she finds out that she now is poor. She goes aboard the ship, the Dolphin, heading for Connecticut Colony, and wishes to live a better life at her aunt's house. While on the way, she becomes friends with the captain's son, Nat Eaton, John Holbrook, a man planning on becoming a minister, and Prudence, a little girl. When she finally arrives at her destination, she tries to fit in with the Puritans, and to keep up with her lively cousin, Judith, and her gentle one, Mercy. After a number of different accidents in the family and outside, she finds becomes friends with an old Quaker woman named Hannah, that lives at Blackbird Pond, who is said to be a witch. Kit does not believe this, and she keeps on being friends with the old woman. But, the villagers see Kit as a threat to the community, since they do not trust her as being a friend to their witch, and she goes on trial. Just as she thinks she is doomed, Nat Eaton and Prudence save her. However, Kit discovers that she will never fit in with the Puritans, and planned on going on the Dolphin the next time the ship came. Finally, the ship docks, and she goes on it, for what seems to be a much better future.
My favorite part of the book was where Kit goes on trial. I thought of this at my favorite part for I think it is very interesting to hear how other people act to problems and try to blame it on someone else. I think it is very funny how people think of small problems and turn them into what sounds like a major disasters performed by a witch. I like the part where Prudence comes in, and stuns her own parents by doing what they had never thought she would be able to do, which was reading the Bible and writing her own name. I think it is not right when parents think very little about kids and think they are still their little babies that always need their parents to help them.
I recommend this book to kids the ages of 10 and up. I also recommend adults to read this book and learn the facts of how kids can do things without any help from their parents or any one else. I believe Elizabeth George Speare is a great author who has written many books that I have enjoyed. After reading this book, I came to really enjoy it. At first I thought it was very boring, but in the end, it became more interesting and fun. I also learned not to judge anyone by what people say about them, but you should always think about your judgement before actually thinking about if it is true or not. I now understand the meaning of "Never judge a book by its cover."

Well i thought this book was good. I mean once u start u want to finish. I starts with a girl moving into a whole new city, family, and life. Then is sort of turns into a big love triangle. One thing though is that at my age, 12, it was kinda hard to actually understand what was going on in some parts of the story. For example, the story would talk about the colonial days, around 1689, and religion was very important, and kings and queens wanted to buy land, and (very important part in the story) the people think if you can stay afloat water and swim, then u are considered a witch. Or if a plague was going around, it was automatically the "witches" fault. This book is a very good book for school, and teachers.

I was in class one day, when my teacher said that we were going to read a new literature book. She said the book was called Calico Captive. When we finished the book, I immediately wanted to read another book by Elizabeth George Spear. Then, before I knew it, Christmas was right around the corner. I got The Witch Of Blackbird Pond for Christmas. Turns out that my teacher was the one who recommended this book for a Christmas present. I absolutely adored this book. It has a double thumbs up for me. I also have all of my 4 friends reading it! :)

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is the book to read! It's about a girl name Katherine Tyler (Kit) who comes to a small New England town from nice, warm Barbados. As soon as she gets there many people think she is a witch because she can swim. She's not, but no one believes her except for her aunt and uncle who she's staying with. Then one day Kit meets someone who is different from anyone else--Hannah Tupper, a Quaker. Kit becomes good friends with this elderly woman and winds up in trouble as a result. If you want to find out what happens to her next, READ THIS BOOK!! Also, if you're interested in witch-hunts, mystery, and excitement you've got to read it!

After trying to get all my closest friends to read this book, I was informed by one that "This is a kids book!". Yes it is a book that is written at level that young adults can both comprehend and enjoy, but this doesn't mean that more mature readers can't devour this story.

Set amung the shores of the newfound 13 original colonies, the story centralizes around Kit Tyler, a rich 16 year old orphan from Barbados who is sent to live with her stict and pious Aunt, Uncle, and cousins. Needless to say, her new life is drastically different from her opulant life in the west indies. She befriends an old woman who is known as "The Witch of Blackbird Pond", who seems to be one of the only people who understands her position. The other is Nat, a dashing sailor who doesn't exactly fit in either.

Eventually, Kit is accused of witchcraft and must use her considerable charm and wit to save herself.

Not only is this an empowering and interesting book, it also is a great read for people of any age.

I read this great, great story as a kid, and I'm not sure I've ever learned more from one book.

At that age, seeing the protagonist (a good girl!) consider marrying for social reasons, not romantic ones, was revolutionary for me. This portrait of the English colonies, the Puritans, the tropical plantations, the slavery, the daily life in 1600s New Hampshire were a very entertaining education.

This book is a little girly. Romance is a major theme.

In addition to history, this book teaches a lot about getting along with people vastly different from yourself without giving up your identity.

I just read this book for school I am in 6th grade this book shows romance,adventure,and an idea about histroy.It tells about a young girl named kit of whom comes from barbados.After Kit's grand father dies she is persued to go live with her aunt and uncle she becomes friends with an old guaker woman who all the townspeople call a witch!Then they plan to kill the so called witch,But Kit helps her acasape.Soon all the children in town become mystieasly ill, and Kit is accused of witch craft? Is kit awitch? Will her friends help her? Will she be found Gulity? These are just a few questions to ask your self while reading this thrilling epic novel.

This is an excellent historical fiction about a girl in early america. One of the best I have ever read. It was written for children but is very excellent for all ages. Elizabeth George Speare has an amazing gift with words. I love all of her children's books. However, this one holds a special place in my heart and is one of the best books I've ever read. It is a book that I will have all of my children read (boys and girls) to help them understand life in early America and the sacrifices and difficulties that gave us what we have today. I wish every youth would read this book. Better historical fiction can't be found.

When I was a girl in the 1960's, I would come home from school, grab an apple and The Witch of Blackbird Pond and climb our willow tree in the backyard. The wind, carrying the scent of mint from the fields nearby, would sway the branches, and send me away to the shores of Saybrook Harbor, Conneticut to a world where Kit visited Hannah and fell in love with Nat. It affected me to the point of naming my middle son Nate and also encouraging me to write historical fiction for children myself. How much influence does a writer have over children? I'm living proof that Elizabeth George Speare's writing hours were well spent and changed my life forever

We used this book for our book club of 9-11 year old children. They all complained that it was difficult to read due to usage of 'old' language and 'boring'. The girls seemed to like it better than the boys (the romantic portion) but thei consensus was also negative. Tho it got the Newberry, it was disappointing.

I read this book almost 30 years ago in 5th grade. I remember having trouble getting what was going on at first. When I finished it the story stuck to me and I kept the book for the longest time. I think I may actually have a copy in my childhood trunk along with all my yearbooks. For some reason, I looked it up randomly today and I was amazed to find out the author wrote the original in 1959 and that it has been re-released several times and includes a digital copy. Way to go Elizabeth; Your work lives on!

I can see how the youngsters would consider it boring. It's not the easiest book to read and it is set so far back in time. However, I would still recommend it to any youngster or adult looking for a good coming of age book. I hope I have that copy somewhere...

This is one of my favorite books. I first read this book while in middle school and have re-read it so many times that I can recite some of the passages! The story of the girl who leaves her island home and must adjust to the harsh New England environment struck a chord with me, as I was a military kid and always moving from place to place. This story is about a girl who finds herself in a new environment that goes against everything she has ever learned or experienced, and she must learn who she is in order to survive this new land. It's also a romance story, and an intriguing story that shows what can happen when people become so closed-minded about what is "right" and "proper" that they refuse to look past a person's supposed subversive actions in order to really see or understand that person. Highly recommended reading.

TWOBP (The Witch of Blackbird Pond) is one of the most exciting and riveting books I have ever read, right up there with NUMBER THE STARS, A WRINKLE IN TIME, and my other favorites. This book is beautiful and touching. You can read the plot synopsis above, but I wanted to add my opinions. I've read about these "witch hunts". No wonder they suspected Hannah Tupper. No, not because she had a broomstick or cast spells on people, but because she was a Quaker, and she wasn't like the Puritans. And different scares people. The lonely old woman lives by the swamp because she loves the Meadows. She doesn't go to "Meeting", so they make her pay fines. And then, one chilly night...but you'll have to find that out yourself.

I don't feel that the author did too good of a job on the plot which was supposed to be on witches and witchcraft. The theme of a "witch" of Blackbird Pond was really not presented until close to the end of the book. In the beginning of the story when Kit jumped into the river to fetch Prudence's doll, and she was floating, Goodwife Cruff and other ship passengers accused her of witchcraft. It was much later that the whole story about Hannah Tupper came together. Waiting to the middle of the book to really start getting into the witches seems to weaken the book. To me, it took the author too long to get to the point. I lost interest in the story.

In April of 1697, sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler's life is about to change. Kit, who had been raised by her grandfather, while living in Barbados, has forced her to move in with her aunt and uncle in Connecticut, due to her grandfather's death. Things are much different in the colonies of Connecticut though. Life is not the same for Kit, doing chores and having strict adult figures is not something she is used to. People around town look at Kit in disbelief, as her dress, attitude, and disrespect is unacceptable.
Of course with all of the new, bad news, comes some good news. Kit has made some friends. William, one of the most attractive men in town has shown interest. Perhaps Kit will find love in this unknown place? Then again, she has become fond of the one person who is despised and disowned by the town, who is believed to be a witch. Will Kit ever be accepted by the residents of Wethersfield, especially after they find out who her new friend is? Can Kit learn to not be judgmental, or will she struggle forever to once again find happiness? This book will keep any read hooked as its suspense, setting, and many sub-plots within, will urge you to keep reading. I loved this book and think that many could enjoy it. I believe it is a great way for children, or adults, to learn about an interesting time in history, all while having an amazing story to follow.

CL3301

This story is a very interresting book full of exsitment, sadness and love. It's a sweet tail of a loveing kind hearted girl who is out for edventure in her new home. In this book the main character will find her ture love and the real meaning of freindship. When every she is to do something wrong she will make it up by just doing an extra chore around the house because of a missing family member or save someones life. This gives a lot of information and teaches you how to be a freind even if your family thinks your crazy and forbids you to go see them. I would recomend this book for years 10-18. It is PERFECT!

Great story that reflected the certain witch trial period. The author did a great job in painting an accurate picture of that time. The characters were well rounded and very believable. I liked that there was a happy ending to such a terrible time.

I really enjoyed this book. It was a well written-novel and I enjoyed it very much. There was a lot of foreshadowing. The end was kinda predictable but I thought the ending was great.. To see what I am talking about read this book. I highly reccommennd it. A brief summary is... This book is about a girl who moves across the world in the 1600's and is accused of witchcaft. there is also some romance between some of the characters and all of the love is sorted out by the end of the story. I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too. Hope you read it. You are the one missing out if you don't.

I recommend this book to any girl that likes romance and Puritan life. In this book a girl called Kit has to leave her home and come to her Uncle Matthew's house in Connecticut. It's a very different life to get used to from her easy life in Barbados, but when she meets Widow Hannah Tupper everyone goes agaist her. She does not understand why kind Hannah Tupper is being accused of being a witch. A boy named William Ashby asks her to marry him time after time again. What will she say? Will she marry him? Read it and find out! It's a book filled with romance, adventure, and facts of of Puritan life. Enjoy!

At first I judged this book by it's cover. DON'T DO THIS!
This is a really good book. It's about a teenage girl, Kathrine, who meets a Quaker woman and a little girl and they become friends. Then When a bad sickness comes that clames a lot of lives the people blame the Quaker woman, Hannah and Kathrine. Kit leads Hannah to safty with the help of her friend, Nat. Kit is caught and must stand trial.
There is no witchcraft or anything in it. It is not a very fast-past book but worth the read.
It is a really good book and I would reccomend it to any Christian or non Christian 12 - adult

I just finished reading this book aloud to my 3 children. They are a tough audience but this book made the history lesson extra smooth. They were begging for "just one more chapter".

This book delves into the Puritan lifestyle,touches a bit on some of the sentiments of the colonists and their fierce independence, briefly touches on some of the archaic medical practices of the times, shows how easily innocent circumstances turned into witch hunts and sparked a conversation about how people can fall into a mob mentality and much more.

Our Family highly recommends this book!

The book starts out with the main character sailing to America. I immediately liked the main character due to her courage and determination. Historically, the book was accurate. The book was a wonderful insight. I couldn't put it down when I first started it. The only thing I can say that I didn't enjoy about this book was that it was a bit slow. True, it wasn't slow all the time it only had slow parts. Other than that the book was utterly amazing. Without thinking I gave it five stars. I recommend this book to everyone, of every age.

I've been able to connect Language Arts with American History in ways that keep my students and myself constantly enthusiastic. We have discovered layers of meaning together, countless references to everyday colonial life, and just enough historically accurate information that it doesn't bog down the book. Instead, my students have increased thier understanding of America's early days, as well as increased thier empathy for our founders' hardships. All this wrapped into a soap opera that could stand up to any modern day teen romance book. I intend to use this book for years to come.

I loved this book as a girl, and loved it again as a re-read. Such a great story about trying to fit in, what true family means, and what real love is. Recommended for older children/teens because the vocabulary is more fitting for those ages. A must read!!

The characters were well developed, and the author painted a complete picture of their personalities. Great story of the rigors of early Americans, their joys, challenges, sorrows, and growing up. Good storyline about Kit as she grew, developed, and came to know her own mind, what she loved, and how she could shape her future. Loved the contrast of compassion, superstition, and hatred.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a good book. It is about the early American settlers, the Puritans and their witch trials. Kit has recently moved to America from a Barbadoes after her father's death. What she finds there are strict religious rules, pious settlers, and bad fashion. But she takes refuge in the company of Hannah, who is called evil because she is a Quaker. When Hannah is acused of casting sickness on the town and escapes, the town acuses Kit. In the end, Kit must learn to change her attitude and the town must learn to conquer religious differences.

This book was a wonderfully light and entertaining read. Kit is a young girl who is forced to leave her island home of Barbados in the late 1600's and live with a strict Puritan community in Connecticut. She has many new relationships some good and some bad in this land where life seems so harsh. One of her special relationships is with an elderly Quaker woman, the Witch of Blackbird Pond. The author is detailed in showing early New England life. The characters are a charming and I will always remember Hannah Tupper. A fabulous book for adults, young and old.

Having read "The Sign of the Beaver," I was looking forward to reading this book. I liked the book overall, and it ranks fairly high among the 80 Newbery books I've read, but I didn't enjoy it as much as I had hoped. It was, however, a relatively quick read.

Set in pre-Revolutionary Connecticut, this story depicts the struggle between the colonists who wanted to remain loyal to the crown and the new breed of American who felt they deserved the freedom to be independent in a land they had carved out. It also touches upon the issue that every person faces at some point, do we accept people who are different than we are or do we brand them as outcasts?

How has this book managed stay on my “to-read list” for so long? Such a fantastic read about a spirited girl anachronism, Kit Tyler, thrust into living a life of propriety on a god fearing colonial farm. Can an outspoken ostentatious young woman survive in a small town where even a simple swim can set her apart as a heathen? Someplace kindness, compassion and friendship to the wrong sort may lead to the hangman’s noose? A wonderful read to share with intermediate/middle school age students when covering pre-civil war era or just for the joy or reading.

Elizabeth George Speare "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" Set in the time period just before the Revolutionary War. late 1600's.I have loved this book from the first time I opened it. The story is heartwarming and leaves the reader satisfied. It offers intrigue, romance and some unexpected twists. It's well written and the plot definitely held my attention. The characters were well developed and believable. One of my favorite books. I enjoy reading this book every few years. Highly recommended!!

It all started when Kit Tyler's grandfather dies. Kit is left helpless and hopeless in exotic Barbados. She must fall to her last resort and board a ship to New England where her aunt lives. When she arrives, she is discouraged by the puritan lifestlye that her the family leads. Romance, suspense and history are interwoven throughout the rest of the story as Kit learns and adapts to her home. I would definately reccomend this book to all whether your desire for it is the history involved, the romance involved, or the uniqueness involved. A five star book!

The book intitled The Witch of Blackbird Pond was written by Elizabeth George Splare. This story takes place in mid-April during the year 1687 at the mouth of the Connecticut River that flows into the Saybrook Harbor. The main character named Katherine Tyler, called Kit for short, is a Puritan orphan. Kit has brown-wairy hair, tall, and slim. Kit's home is in Saybrook, but now since she has no other place to go she is going to stay with the aunt and uncle in Weathersfield. While waiting on the dock to catch the sail she meets a boy named Nathaniel Eaton. His mother calls him Nat. Nat is tall, thin, with sandy,sun-bleached hair. Nat is also the captains son. Kit gets to her aunt and uncle's house to find that they have some daughters that she gets along well with, but her uncle doesn't care that much for her. The only place that Kit feels free and happy is in the meadows of Blackbird Pond.At the pond she meets a old Quaker woman, which Kit enjoysher company very much, and often Nat would visit. The Quaker woman was very nice to Kit and soon Kit finds out that this woman is known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond because she studie's Witchcraft. After people finds out Kit hang's around with her everyone accusses her of Witchcraft.Kit doesn't practice Witchcraft, but finds out that it is better to know someone before becoming close friends with them. The theme of the story is that the people you hang around with reflects back on you. As a individual. This book is a very well written book that is wrote in third person. This book contains alot of details and keeps you interested during every page.

I thought this was a pretty good book. I liked it because there was a lot of action and it was sort of realistic. I thought the first 5 chapters were boring because all it was aboutwas Kit on the boat. The part I liked best was at the end when they burned Hannah Tupper's house down and she ran away with Kit in the woods to escape because there was a lot of action there.
This book was mainly about a girl named Kit and she moved in with her uncle and it was so different there. Then she met a "witch" and became very good friends with her. ...

With no other choice, other than marrying an old 50 year old man, Katherine Tyler, a 16 year old vivacious girl who preferred to go by Kit, was forced to leave her beloved home of Barbados for the bleak, desolate, and unfriendly territory of Connecticut. As they sailed up the river to Kit's new home, Kit was filled with apprehension about her unexpected arrival to her Aunts home. Kit was received by her Uncle in a less than welcoming manner though, her Aunt and two cousins Mercy and Judith were glad to have her. What she didn't count on, however, was how different, and hard, her aunt and uncle's grim, cheerless, and strict Puritan way of life was. The suspicious townsfolk looked upon her warring of satin gowns as frivolous, and her habit of questioning her elders as evil. When they learned she could read and swim, she was accused of being a witch. When Kit befriended Hannah Tupper, an old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond it was more than the community could take. Yet, Kit learned that "Hannah Tupper was far from being a witch, but certainly she had worked a magic charm. In one short hour she had conjured away the rebellion that had been seething in [her] mind for weeks." However, the townspeople didn't know this, or want to, and Kit was forced to save Hannah's life and defend her own.
I loved this book! (...) I loved this book when I read it in fifth grade, and now, years later, it is still a delightful tale of endurance and love!

Speare, Elizabeth George. The Witch of Blackbird Pond. New York: Yearling, 1987
Martin, Michelle H. "Hey, Who' the Kid with the Green Umbrella?: Re-evaluating the Black-A-Moor and Little Black Sambo." The Lion and the Unicorn 22 (1998): 147-162
Kit Tyler gazes for the first time at the cold shores of Connecticut Colony. This is going to be her new home, and it doesn't compare to the Caribbean Islands she left behind. Not only does she feel like an outcast when she moves to this Puritan community, but when she meets a witch and they become friends, Kit encounters suspicion, fear, and anger. Elizabeth George Speare has written a well constructed and outstanding historical novel, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, of a girl who wants to overcome the hatred of this place she is made to live and call her new home. The use of such words as "staring hungrily at the first sight of land..."(Kit) gives us a better picture of this particular scene and the emotions she felt as she saw land for the first time in a while. This also sets the scenes in the book because the reader can feel like they are part of the book. Kit feels like a social outcast, and her community made her feel this way. Although this story was written in the 20th Century Speare wanted to portray life in the 17th Century. This is done by sharing the values the Puritans had and the way the people in her community feels. This novel depicts a never-ending battle that has been going for many centuries between the so-called `outcasts' of society. In her article "Hey, Who's the Kid with the Umbrella?: Re-evaluating the Black-A-Moor and Little Black Sambo", Dr. Michelle H. Martin says that black children were virtually invisible in children's literature until the 1960's, and this is shown to be true in this story. (147) Even though this story was written in the 20th Century, there were not any black children in this book. In fact, there were not many of the other races either in the book. I am sure there were other than white people on this boat so why aren't they mentioned in the text? Martin's article goes on to talk of the two books that depict African Americans better but I feel that more stories should, especially recent stories, should talk about other cultures in some way. Despite this problem, however, I feel that The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a wonderful and intriguing book filled with unexpected events and an outstanding ending.
This was a wonderful way to depict the hardships going on during this time period.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond was one of the first Elizabeth George Speare books I read as a young teen. It has everything you would want for a young girl: adventure, family values, and exotic locations both in the West Indies and aboard a ship - though most of it takes place in colonial New England. That makes it a comprehensive historical novel as well. Also, there is just enough innocent romance to make the story interesting and the whole package grabs one's imagination. Even your tomgirl will like this.
Bernardette Costa
Author, The Six Colorful Annies

I enjoyed this book mainly because it is a Historical fiction novel. I think this book would be a good reading source for anyone between the ages of 11-13 because it has alot to teach about life in the 1800's while letting you read a facinating story about a girl and the troubles she goes through after she moves away from her home in Barbados to her uncles home in New England. I think the auther needs some more detail in her writting as to create a more vivid picture of the senery. I think that it would be wonderful if this story could have a sequel to it because like all books it cuts of into ablivion.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond By: Elizabeth George Spear
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a great book for the age range of ten to fifteen. This book deals with love and marriage, but you do not know who is going to marry who. The book also deals with parts of laughter, parts of history, and parts of serious business. There are real characters like the King, and Governor Andros, and last the Puritan people. A girl named Kit is ACUSED OF BEING A WITCH !! It is a wonder what you will read in the Witch of Blackbird Pond.

Don't let 249 pages scare you because once you have read past the first few the book's length won't matter: You'll not stop for anything! Suspense will grow to the unbearable, filling you with emotions: anger, love, sadness, fear, and relief. The old woman, Widow Tupper, was said to be a witch, but she has mysteriously disappeared. And strong rumor has it that sixteen-year-old Kit has taken her place as a witch. And what happens to witches? The suspense keeps building until you find out.

The Creative Teacher: Activities for Language Arts (Grades 4 through 8 and Up)

It is a wonderful story of a girl who is very layed back and careless. My class read it together and I coldn't put it down. This is the only book where we would ask for homework to read the next chapter. I think everyone in my class loved the book. I felt like I was there through the whole book. I could picture the courthouse where Kit was pleading for her freedom. I was very scared when the large town group came to Hannah's home to burn it down. I was a great book and if you are thinkiing about buying it I think you should.

I love this book. I like how it's old fashioned and it has surprises and adventure. It's really cool how you think in the end Kit is going to marry William. But really Judith ends up doing it. Mercy of course marries John. I believe in the end Kit will end up with Nat. And it is really cool how it is a Newbery Medal book

It was a good story. I thought the title of the book was misleading and an odd choice compared to what the story was really about but I liked how the characters were easy to distinguish from each other and were memerable. A great ending. I learned something from it too, on how people were treated during the war when they were not from this country - which is sad. Though it wasn't one of my favorites, I'm glad I read it.

This book is about Kit short for Katherine Tyler. She goes to live with her aunt and uncle and thier two daughters because her grandfather past away and she lost all her money. In Connecticut, she mat her aunts family which is aunt Rachel,uncle Matthew,Mercy, and Judith. She also met William Asby who wanted to marry her and Hannah Tupper known as the witch of blackbird pond. When ever she feels down and stressed,she goes to Hannah's and she also teaches a girl named Prudence how to read. When she tells her only family now about Hannah Tupper they tell her not to go there. However, Kit still goes there and she meets Hannah's seafaring friend Nat shoet for Nathaniel Eaton. There was a sickness going througout the town and they blamed it on Hannah. Kit went to go to help her escape. They burned her house and Kit and Hannah went where no one could see them and as the sun rose, she saw the Dolphin, the boat in which Nat would be on.
Nat took Hannah to to his Mom in Saybrook and asked Kit if she wanted to go but she couldn't. Kit and William had a talk and decided that they should see other people. What ended up happening was John Holbrook and Mercy got married and Judith married William asby and it was a double wedding. Kit on the other hand had feelings about Nat but she didn't know what to do .Nat came back and said that he wanted to talk to her uncle about things ans then asked in a non direct way if she will marry him.

I like the book because it keeps you intrested and the end is romantic and it has a really great ending.
I didn't like it when Judith just assumed that John wanted to be with her because what she didn't know was that John liked Mercy and mercy liked John, the only preson other than John that knew was Kit. My favorite part was the end because I love the way Nat asked Kit to marry him.

I love this book. I have listened to it about five times, and never get tired of it. It is such a great story. From the indepth descriptions of the hard life of the Puritains to the rivoting witch hunt. It had my attention from beginning to end. A great story for all ages.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a book about how a 16-year-old girl,Kit, is trying to survive in a new town with people unlike herself. As someone who has never done work in her life, it is hard for Kit to be accepted in a hardworking town. From the first day she came to Wethersfield she was suspected to be a witch as well as her new friend Hannah Tupper. At the same time love is in the air and is causing a problem at the Wood's house. The love plot might be too predictable, but it still very enjoyable to read.

I had to read this book for school and I kind of liked it. Some of it was entertaining but a lot of the words were hard and it was confusing because of the way they talked. It was hard to understand. But mostly, I liked it.

The book takes place in 1687 and is about a teenage girl named Kit Tyler. She lives on her grandfather's plantation on the island of Barbados. The weather is always sunny and nice and she can swim and play all day and doesn't have to do any work. One day, Kit's grandfather suddenly dies and she is left with no money so she has to go on a ship called the "Dolphin" to live with her aunt and uncle and her two cousins, Mercy and Judith in a Puritan colony of Connecticut. Life is a lot harder because she has to work all the time and the weather is not nice like it was in Barbados. The people are very religious and strict and she feels like she doesn't fit in. She takes a job as a school teacher but the schoolmaster doesn't like the way she is teaching so he fires her. One day, she meets a kind woman named Hannah Tupper who lives in the meadows. Hannah is very nice to her and she likes to visit her. But when Kit tells her aunt and uncle that she is seeing Hannah, they tell her that she can't see her anymore because she is a witch. Kit disobeys her aunt and uncle and decides to keep seeing Hannah. One day, when she is at Hannah's, a man comes and it turns out to be Nat, who she had met on the boat coming over and they became good friends. During the cold winter, many people in the town get very sick, including Mercy. The people think that Hannah has put a spell on everyone and that's why they are sick. The people go to Hannah's house to arrest her and put her on trial for using witchcraft. Kit gets to her first and hides her and the townspeople burn down her house. Kit gets Hannah on the "Dolphin" and she goes to a safe town. Her aunt and uncle and the people of the town find out that she has helped Hannah and think that she is also a witch. They arrest her and during the trial they accuse her of witchcraft. Her friend Nat comes to help her and gets her out of trouble. Nat leaves for the sea again and Kit is very homesick for Barbados. She is thinking of leaving and going back there, but she realizes that it's not Barbados that she is homesick for, it is Nat. She realizes that she loves him. At the end, Nat comes back and says that he loves her too.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare won the Newberry medal in 1957. This book is historical fiction. The setting was in 1750 in an east coastline shore in the Americas in a village of farmers with a high character value. The general public at this time and place thought of witchcraft as the devil's art and burned witches (or anybody they thought was a witch) at the stake. These were unjust times for many accused of being a witch. I thought Ms. Speare did a great job of portraying feelings and the time and era in which the story takes place. The story runs smoothly from event to event and the details in the story help you get a sense of what's happening. The author includes many concrete descriptions and gives you a very vivid idea of what's going on. The best part about this book was it was actually exciting and you never knew the entire truth till the very end.... Historical fiction is a fiction story but it is based on an event that actually happened in history. This book meets the standards of historical fiction because in the 1750's (the time in which the book takes place) the scenarios with the characters are what it was like. For example when a male wanted to marry a girl he would "call" on her and on certain evenings he would come over and talk with her. He would also make a house for both of them to live in. Both these things happen in the book and lots of other things. This book was a great book and had great detail! It is at children's reading level but is a great book for all ages because of the great literature in it.

I think the character, Mathew Wood, which Spear created was the most believable in the entire book. He was the one character in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" that, when Kit came unexpectedly, was not the least bit pleased, nor was he ashamed to express it. I think that Spear did a tremendous job showing Mathew's personality and true character. One of the events which I thought best represented Mathew was in the beginning of the book, he looked Kit right in the eye and "Laid down the laws" about her wearing such horrendous clothing. On the other hand, there were a couple of events which changed my perspective on Mathew Woods' character. One includes, when Mathew decided not to go on the witch hunt. I thought thought that it was an interesting change of events. Over all, if I were to rate the character of Mathew Wood on a scale from 1-10 I would give him an 8. There were many moods which created "The Witch of Blackbird Pond". My favorite of all of the moods through out the book had to be the intensity. If you think back to the book, you will recall many, very intense moments. One of them includes, when Kit was on trial for being a witch, which had to have been my personal favorite. I hear my heart beating while reading that part. Another very intense moment was when the witch hunt was going on. My eyes were glued to the pages during the section of the book. I think that the way Spear creates the mood in this story best represents her a writer. I would give the mood of the story a 10 if I were to rate it on a scale from 1-10.

Kit Tyler was the whole reason this book was written. She came to Wethersfield because her grandfather died in Barbados. She had to sell all of her possessions including her house and even her slave. Then she met John Holbrook. He is a very intelligent man. She left the Dolphin, the ship she took from the Caribbean to Connecticut, to go live with her Uncle Matthew, Aunt Rachel, Cousin Judith, and Cousin Mercy. Then she is introduced to a man named William Ashby who starts to like Kit very fast. They became acquainted and he then started coming to the house every Saturday where he announced that he was going to start building a house of his own. When men built a house of their own, that meant they had finally chosen a wife. She then became friends with a Quaker woman named Hannah Tuper. She was told not to visit her, but kept on anyway. John Holbrook announced he wanted to marry Mercy. Kit's dear old friend, Hannah Tupper's house had finally been swallowed up by Blackbird Pond after years of flooding at the pond. And at the very end, two weddings were announced, John Holbrook and Mercy Wood & William Ashby and Judith Wood.
I like this book because all of the characters had something interesting about all of them. They each had their own personality. I would tell anyone who wanted to read this book to go ahead and read it. This book awaits many adventures for other readers to explore. It will always surprise you!

I recommend this book to everyone:children, young adults and adults. It is not only a page turner but a lesson teacher, too. The book is about a young adult named Kit who leaves her fancy home in Barbados to live with her aunt and uncle in Weathersfield,Conn. She is not only put on trial for a witch, but a man she does not care for picks her to marry him. Will she be hung for a witch or have to marry the man she dislikes. I am not going to tell you; you will have to find out for yourself.

This story is a story of love, trust, friends, and listening to your senses. When Kit Tyler reaches Wethersfield she thinks it gloomy and a dreadful place compared to her former home the wonderful Barbodos Islands. Here the only real refuge she can find is at the old Quaker woman's house. Then when her friendship is discovered with the so called "Witch of Blackbird Pond" she too is charged with witchcraft! This story is wonderful and should be read by many people of all ages!!!

_The Witch of Blackbird Pond_ is a very entertaing historical-fiction. The time it took place was during the time when the American colonies were being settled. This book was well written and would be great to read for people who love soap operas. There was not a lot of action in this book and no adventure. At times I didn't even want to read the book and other times I was locked on to it. There is some irony in this book and it can get very exciting. I think a lot of people would enjoy this book very much!!

I first read this book when I was ten years old and now six years later I still condider this one of the best books that I have ever read. By reading the myriad of fantastic reviews already published for this book one already knows the basic plot of the story, but not only is the Witch of Blackbird Pond a wonderful story but it really teaches the young reader what life was like in New England during the time, what females felt over their oppresion, and the real fear that a women felt, knowing that no one was really brave enough to stand up agianst the mob to defend her if she was ever in trouble. Kit is a stranger to the world of Puritanism just like the reader and she discovers what life held for women in the time along with the reader. I belong to the class of thinking that believes it is very important to rember our history, and this book is a wonderful way to really get a child into the exitment that is American history!!

Leaving a life from a shimmering Caribbean island to the bleak shores of a Connecticut Colony, Kit Tyler voyages to a new land to begin her new life. Completely unaware of what she will experience, Kit will be shocked to find that life as she knew it would vanish

Laborious hours were spent cleaning her uncle's house and working in the fields. Nothing is the same for Kit; a life of paradise and sunshine is no longer where she stands. Not wanting her uncle to assume she is useless, Kit works her fingers to the bone. However, Kit is not able to fit in with her new surroundings. She feels as though she "is a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely." She attempts to find her voice in this new world, but that voice can't seem to break through. It is drowned by stress and overwhelmed with work around her uncle's house. The only place Kit can escape and feel comfort and freedom is in the meadows. Here she enjoys the company of an old Quaker woman, Hannah who many townspeople don't accept and call a witch. When Kit's friendship with the "witch" is discovered, both Kit and Hannah find their lives in danger.

This book tells a heartwarming tale about the strong friendship between two unlikely people. Elizabeth George Speare shows the true power of accepting people for who they are and the importance friendship. The Witch of Blackbird Pond has both romance and action. Personally I loved this book and whished there was more to read when I approached the end. I believe that this historical fiction story will warm your heart.

This was an excellent book on a young woman who has just arrived from the island of Barbados to live with her aunt and her family. I liked this book because it's full of adventure and suspense like when the whole town is against her. The main character, Kit, behaves differently than most sixteen year old girls and is friends with the town scapegoat. Because of this, she's accused of being a witch and is tried. What will happen next? You'll just have to read the book to find out.

The book, Witch Of Blackbird Pond, was actually pretty good. The authorr kept you thinking about, who would marry who at the end, and what's going to happen to Hannah the "witch." The book is also very suspensful. It leaves out important parts until later on in the book. For instance, when Kit was being put on trial for witch craft, you didn't know that Nat would be involved beczuse the author made you believe that he left with the ship.
The book was also a little frustrating. I think it was because, you obvisiouly knew that Mercy and John were inlove and yet, the author made you believe that John would be to shy or intimidated to speak up and admit to Judith that he was inlove with Mercy and not her. You also knew that William and Judith were made for eachother because the author made Judith really seem to want to live in a big house with lots of money, and thats what William did. The author actually did a good job there beczuse it made the book not be boring and long winded, because she made you think about a lot of what was going on. She did very good at making the book suspensful. I hopee you decide to read this book because i enjoyed it and it takes a lot for a book to keep me reading and not get bored:0)

Though this book is recommended for 6th grade and I'm only in 5th, this book was one of my favorites. It is exciting while it also gives you true historical information. The book truly deserves the Newbery Honor Award. It covers many different subjects, including love. The characters had personalities all their own. There was an amusing variety of personality. You go from soft-spoken John Holbrook to strictly puritan Matthew Wood to very vocal Gershom Bulkeley. This book was great!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond, written by Elizabeth George Speare, is one of the greatest historical fiction novels ever written! The Witch of Blackbird Pond is the coming of age tale of sixteen-year-old Kathrine Tyler of Barbados as she comes to live in the late 1600 colony of Connecticut. Coming from luxurious Barbados, Kathrine, also known as Kit, has a lot of surprises awaiting her in the bleak colony of Connecticut. As Kit sees the bleak New England shoreline from the boat, she begins to wonder whether or not coming to New England is such a good idea after all. When she arrives in Connecticut, her Aunt Rachel, and her Uncle Matthew take her in. As she begins to live with her relatives, she starts to realize that living in New England is no easy task, for she must work all day carding wool, weeding vegetables, and doing other hard and time consuming tasks. Coming from a rich home in Barbados, this isn't at all what she had expected! Kit also attracts the attention of fellow townsfolk by revealing that she can swim, read well, and that she wears silk and satin dresses. Little does she know that many of her considered to be odd behaviors by the fellow townsfolk may end up getting her suspected of being a witch! After befriending an old Quaker, and suspected witch, it is only a matter of time before the townsfolk accuse her of being a witch! As the story progresses, it becomes intense and suspenseful. Aiding to the suspense is a witch-hunt, a government dispute, and many other intense scenes. I have only read the book once, but I can still tell that Elizabeth George Speare spent put tons and tons of effort into writing this book. Throughout the book, I noticed that she was very descriptive with the style of clothing, colonial architect, food, religion, customs, and scenery. Her description of the setting was so realistic that it felt like I was actually in the story, not just reading it. To be descriptive as she was, it must of token her hours upon hours of time just to do the research alone for her book. Her vivid descriptions of her characters and their actions and feelings really make you wonder how you would act and feel if you were in their position. Even though action is absent throughout much of the book, I still found it incredibly interesting and almost impossible to put down. Where the story lacks in action, it abounds in a detailed plot that is guaranteed to keep any reader hooked. And when you do get to the action in the book, it is literally impossible to put down! Why you might walk right of a cliff and still continue to read it without noticing anything! It's that good! I give this book a ten plus out of five for it's creativity and it's ability to grip any reader's attention. For these reasons, I would highly recommend this extremely good book to anyone, especially historical fiction fans.

Have you ever read a book that was so good it made you feel you
were going back in time? That is how I felt while I was reading this book about a 16 year old girl who has to move to the unfamiliar Connecticut colony to live with her relatives because her father has died and she has nowhere else to go. Everything is so different from her sunny Carribean home where she has lived most of her life.
This book takes place in 1687 in a small town in Connecticut called Weathersfield, a stern puritan community. Kit Tyler, the 16 year old, comes to live with her Aunt and Uncle after her father's death. Even after she settles in to her new life, she starts to feel caged like a bird. She is unhappy and unliked by the townspeople because she acts so differently. For example, she wears expensive silk dresses, knows how to swim and becomes friends with the local witch. She meets the local witch, named Hanna, in the meadows, by the swamp, the only place Kit can feel completely free. Her association with Hanna and the fact that Kit is different form the townspeople cause her to be accused of witchcraft. Can she prove to them she is not guity of witchcraft before it is too late?
The reason I like the book was because of the strong, action-filled plot. I also liked reading this book because it had portrayed the time period in which it took place accurately. The book seemed very plausible that a town in those days could panic and accuse a stranger of being a witch. I also liked the book because I liked the main character. Kit is someone that I would like to have met because she is independent, and wants to be accepted for being different. One thing I didn't like was the town's atmosphere. The atmosphere was dark, and strict, and loaded with witch hysteria.
I would recommend this book to people who like the genre of historical fiction, and particularly the time period of witchcraft. This book would appeal to those in sixth to eighth grade who are studying this time in American history. This book is more for teenage girls than boys given it female main character and narrator. There is also a love story in the subplot that would appeal to those who like romance. If you have read and liked the novel "The Scarlet Letter", this is another good book to read.
The climax of the story is when the main character is tried for being a witch. This review is not going to give away the outcome of the trial, but it is a strong finish to a well told story that will not disappoint the reader. I guarantee it! The conclusion will leave you feeling that almost anyone could be found guilty of breaking strict traditions in this stern peritian community where this book takes place. Can Kit escape the town's accusations and find happiness in this cold region, so unlike her native home?

My mother and I have just finished reading this book. It's terrific! Kit's daring and bold moves kept us on the edge of our seats! This story is overflowing with excitement and amusement and just a little touch of romance. Overall this is one of the best books I have ever read. I hope you will read it too and be caught up in the adventures of Kit in The Witch of BlackBird Pond.

Lauren, age 10

P.S. SOMEBODY NEEDS TO WRITE A SEQUEL FOR THIS BOOK!!!!

I have to say, the strongest feeling I brought away from this book was thankfulness that I do not live in a Puritan town! I shudder to think how quickly I would be hanged for witchcraft, if such simple things as knowing how to swim and read will accuse you!

Oct.20, 2000
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
I found the book by Elizabeth George Speare interesting and entertaining. I really think she did a good job on many aspects of the book. First off, I think she did a good job on the attitudes of the people in the book. She made the characters and made them their own, unique personality. And even though in the beginning you think all the towns' people are the same, in the end (and especially at the trial for Kit), you see that they are all different. She followed each of them throughout the book and always had a reason for their actions. For example, when Kit was sitting in the barn waiting for William to come, and William never did, she had William explain why he never did. That definitely stressed his character and entertained the reader. Also when Hannah put her foot down and wouldn't go with Nat on the ship until she had her cat, it made the reader think: is this Hannah in this kind of situation? And the answer is yes; because her cat was the only thing she had left, since they burned down her house and her husband's dead. That also brings out Nats' character and shows that he really cares about Hannah. That's why I think that Elizabeth George Speare really succeeded on the characters of the book. One thing I think that the author did not accomplish well is the priorities in the book. By the title and the first couple of chapters, you'd think that the whole book is going to be about witches, but it's not and in that way, it can be very misleading. Maybe she meant to do that, but the book isn't really about witches until the very end again. In the middle of the book, it's just focusing, on her life with Aunt Rachel and family. Also, Hannah is mentioned to be a witch, but a big deal is not really made out of it. They just mention it as the reason why nobody really likes her. That is something that I disagree with the author on the book, The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is poorly advertised. If you're expecting a novel filled with accounts of the Salem Witch Trials, like I thought, you're wrong. It is not until almost 200 pages into the book will the subject be touched upon, and then gingerly dropped. Much of the writing is fillers and dribble; this book could have been 100 pages shorter. I didn't care for any of the characters, and all of them were typecast. The angry, strict Uncle, the caring, soft-spoken Aunt, two cousins - one being the flirt and one being sweet. And, of course, the outcast niece. I was very disappointed, as I had my sights set on a captivating Salem Witch Trial book. The title is very misleading. I do not recommend.

From the moment she arrives from Barbados to live with her aunt and uncle, Kit Tyler is an outcast. Her flowery silk dress and free spirit do not fit in with the harsh New England climate, or with the strict religious legalism of this Connecticut colony. In her misery, Kit creates a family of kindred spirits: a good-humored young sailor named Nat, an abused child named Prudence, and a wise old Quaker woman who lives with her yellow cat near Blackbird Pond. When her Quaker friend is accused of witchcraft, Kit must find a way to save her life. Read this book to find out where Halloween jack-o-lanterns come from. Also--what was it like to be locked in the stocks back then? All I can say is--this was one of my favorite books when I was a 13-year-old student, and I still enjoy it as a teacher today.

I first read this book as a child and loved it. I re-read it now as an adult and find that it has lost none of it's magic, as so many things from childhood do. This is a beautifully written story that has a life of it's own. It is very much worth reading.

This is one of my most favorite books. Kit Tyler is the main character. Her parents died, so she went to America to her aunts house. There, was a bad-tempered uncle, sensitive aunt, and two stuck up, but mostly kind girl cousins. This story takes place in Salem Massachusetts in a time when they prosecuted witches. I thought the book was compelling, realistic, and unpredictable. I reccomend this novel to anyone especially if you enjoy historical-fiction.

A Witch at Blackbird Pond was a very well-written book. It was filled with excitment, love, and suspense. Elizabeth George Speare kept me going with wonder. I could hardly wait until I got to the end. Speare has a way of fitting everything together with her characters. The main character, Kit Tyler, is brought to life by her nobility attribute, her independent disposition, and her careless and brave ways. The way Speare brings couples together in the novel is amazing. I am a firm believer in helping people and having healthy relationships; Speare displays this so thoughtful through the witch and Kit Tyler. Even though it was entirly fiction, you feel like you are really there through the whole thing. As I had said before, this was a very unique book. The way that it skips what could be boring events and goes straight to the important ones in each chapter is impecable. It keeps the reader focused on the true plot of the story. The only thing that disappointed me was the fact that the trial was not as suspenceful as I hoped it would be, but other that, my imagingation ran wild. Read this book as soon as you can, it is well worth the time.

The "Witch of Blackbird Pond" is an excellent story. I have only read it once in a couple of weeks and was surprised at how colonial it was. Everything in the story is 1700 colonial like, including the type of works they did, the stocks, the type of clothes, calling instead of dating, the types of food, etc. I could go on and on. Speare must have done lots of research to make her story so genuine. Although, it is sort of old (seeing as though my mom read it in 3rd grade), it seems she wrote it 300 years ago, not 50. The descriptions of everything make you feel you are really in Wethersfield, Conn. She also wrote about the witch superstitions, like wearing odd clothes, being able to swim, and reading and acting out plays. When I first read the cover title, I thought the book was going to be about witches. Although there is a small witch trial in the back of the book, it is basically about Kit's life in Connecticut, in colonial times. I was a little disappointed about the fact that the book was not about witches. I read the book because I was interested in witches, not in colonial life. Nevertheless, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in American history.

I loved this book! I enjoyed the confusing romance and getting to know the characters! I also liked the way that Elizabeth Speare wrote how there was a lot of political conversation at this particular time. She also did very well at painting a picture in your mind of the magnificent scenery of the meadow.
I would definitely recommend this book to all ages, especially if you enjoy a little drama and Romance!

Katherine Taylor (Kit) is a fancy girl from Barbados going to live with her aunt and uncle in New England. When her grandfather died, she had to leave her life from swimming in the ocean to cold winters in Conneticut.

I loved reading this book but sadly if you wanted a book about the Salem Witch trails, you may be disapointed with "The Witch of Blackbird Pond". Witches and trails do play into the storyline, but only briefly. None the less, it's a great action/adventure/romance which you'll want to read again!

The book was off to a good start, but as you approached chapters 5-11, the author began to provide useless information and was repetitive at points. Kit Tyler was portrayed as a smart, unique girl who was not accepted in her new home of Connecticut. It could have been better at the romance part of the novel, but otherwise you would really enjoy it. As far as the boringness goes, it would not be noticeable, unless you were forcing yourself to read it.

This book is simply wonderful! I once suggested that Hallmark Hall of Fame make a movie out of it. It is great for anyone who wants to learn something about early New England and the witch trials. It interested me that this was not set in Salem, Mass. but in Wethersfield Conn. I would definitely like to learn more about the Deerfield raid, mentioned at the end of the book. Please make a movie of this soon and Lois Lowry's The Giver too!

Kit Tylers grandfather has just past away, now she uninvitedley boards the "Dolphin" to the expressionless hamlet of Connecticut Colony. As she takes her first steps upon the bleaky shores of Wethersfield she perceives that she would never return to the sun-showered,shimmiring shores of the sweet Carribean Islands.Know, she must do her best to fit in with the townspeople who are ignorant of her wereabouts, and soon acuse her of practising witch-craft with a harmless old widow. Kit is then sarrounded with fear, suspicion and anger.The only people that can dig her out of this deep hole are her Aunt Rachel, Uncle Mathew, cousins Mercy and Judith and possibly a student named Prudence. This beautifully written novel will keep you reading untill tomorrow painting picture after picture of vivid images in your head.This novel is a recomendation to any reader for its pureness, calrity and interesting plot. I was able learn many knew facts about the colonies, such as the daily life of the people. This extravegantly written novel has engaging and unexpected turn of events that make this book worth reading.

The book that read is called the Witch of BlackBird Pond. I liked this book because of the interestind situations that Kit Tyler went through. This book shows a little about how people used to think and feel when we first started with the colonies. I geuss some of you that have moved great distances would know how she felt. I think that if you like history or are interested in the colonies and how they thought you would like this book.

A sixteen year old, high-spirited Kit Tyler, sails from the beautiful islands of Barbados. When she sees the town of Wethersfield, she feels like a bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world. She feels completely free in the meadows were she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman and on occasion her young sailor friend Nat. Kit's friendship with the "witch" is dicovered, she is accused of having studied witchcraft!

this is a great story for all ages and it really helped me understand more of what happened to people (women) who were seen as witches in the early american settlements great eye opener for kids and adults alike

I recommend this book to all who have children! THis book is an excellent addition to any library.

Set in a time that was full of suspicion and lies. If you wanted to get rid of someone that you didn't like, just accuse them of being a witch! This book is a great read. It keeps your attention and makes you think about the way we as a society judge others because they seem to be a bit stranger than us!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a enchanting story of a girl who finds herself in a new land among new people with her struggles to fit in. Elizabeth Speare does a good job of weaving a tail that keeps the reader captivated and interesting. This novel was easy to read making it a quick read. I thought the main strength of the novel was the vocabulary of the text. The reader is able to get involved in the story because of the imagery the author uses. It was interesting to read about what signs they looked for in a witch and what affect it had on the individuals life. I thought this book was very well written and was very enjoyable to read. I would read it again in the future and recommend it to my friends to read as well.

I discovered this book years and years ago in the fourth grade. The thought of it stayed with me through the years. I bought the book for my friend's son a couple years ago and reread it to see if it was as good as I remembered. It was even better because as an adult I can see some of the most important themes of the book that weren't evident to a child. Tolerance and acceptance are perhaps the biggest lessons of all to take away from it. Independence is another. I will continue to buy this book every time a child close to me comes to the age where they can understand it. The plotline is enough to keep them interested while at the same time teaching them valuable life lessons, without them even knowing it.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spears was a suspenseful and enjoyable novel. I can only imagine how Kit felt coming from Barbados where she had a lot of freedom, to Connecticut where she faced hard work everyday. Through Kit's journey, I learned about how it might have been to grow up in colonial times. I also learned about what it means to be a true friend. Kit was not afraid to get to know Hannah Tupper even though all of the townspeople disliked her. The novel includes many different relationships between all of its characters. I wanted to keep reading to find out how all of their friendships would grow and change throughout the story. I was surprised to see how the relationships ended up. The only thing that I did not like about the novel was that it seemed to start out slow. I had a hard time getting interested at first. Fortunately, the story did pick up and I enjoyed the rest of the novel. I think that anyone who reads this novel will learn a lot and enjoy the story at the same time.

This is a historical fiction set in colonial Connecticut around 1687. It is a story about an orphaned 16-year-old girl named Kit. I loved the book because of all of the romance. It includes Kit, her cousins Judith and Mercy, along with the sailor Nat, the student John, and a gentleman William. I was very intrigued by the charges of witchcraft against her. It is a fantastic book, and it describes the Connecticut colonies very well. I wish there were another book, and I would like a few pictures. Over all it is an extremely well written book.

Witch of Blackbird Pond is about a girl who comes from Barbados to Massacchusetts because her Grandfather dies. She is going to stay with her Aunt Rachel and her family . She rides on a boat called the Dolphin where she meets a lot of people . Also everyone thinks she is a witch! It is mixed with romance and historical fiction. You may not want to put it down. I loved it all the way through and you might too!

Witch of Blackbird Pond is about a girl who comes from Barbados to Massacchusetts because her Grandfather dies. She is going to stay with her Aunt Rachel and her family . She rides on a boat called the Dolphin where she meets a lot of people . Also everyone thinks she is a witch! It is mixed with romance and historical fiction. You may not want to put it down. I loved it all the way through and you might too!

Though this story of colonial Connecticut was first published in 1958 it is still a wonderful story for middle school aged students. Kit makes a spunky attractive heroine and the story illustrates colonial customs, beliefs and conflicts. And there is plenty of both adventure and romance to please all readers. A Newbery medal winner that really deserves the honor.

I read it when I was a child in my language. I read it again in English as an adult since I forgot most of it. It is very well written. The story is very interesting and captivating. It is definitely one of my favorites, and wow, I think I enjoyed it more as an adult. There were lots of hidden messages and meanings that I didn't quite grasp as a child. Highly recommended!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a historical fiction book by the great author Elizabeth George Speare, the author of Sign of the Beaver. It is probably one of my favorite historical fiction books. It takes you on a wild ride through 17th century New England. A girl from the tropics spends a year in a colonial puritan town. She is accused of witchcraft, because she associated with an old Quaker woman. Will she convince the judges or will what happened to 19 women and 1 man in Salem happen to her? I particularly liked how the main character, Kit, meets the Quaker woman in the meadow after a confrontation with her uncle, Matthew. At first, she's afraid because she's heard rumors about the Quaker woman being a witch. They become fast friends and together they teach another girl, whose mother thinks she is completely stupid. Reading this book allows you to really feel what it was like for Kit to want to do what was right, even when the people you love are going to be as hurt as you.

The first part of this book is sooooo... boring. I almost put the book down. The last half of the book got to be more interesting and adventurous.
This story is about a girl named Kit who moves to the American colonies from Barbadoes when her father dies. The last half of the book is more romantic. She almost marries a man, but decides to marry a sea going boy instead.
If you are going to read this book do not put it down in the first half, it will get better!!!!!!!!

The Witch Of Blackbird Pond

This novel was not the best I have read. Sure, it was OK, but I have read books that are much better. It had parts that I liked to read, but the majority of the book was slow and hard to understand. It might have been better, had the author made less filer and more storyline. I got the key portions of the plot, but it was hard to understand most of the minor characters in the story. The main parts I understood I liked, but during the important parts I usually did not understand what was happening. There are books that are much better, so go and read something else. For the average reader, this is a very hard to understand book that I would not recommend. Basicly, this book had some parts that were good that I enjoyed, but most of the time it was hard to understand. Now, this is my view of the novel, and other people might have a different opinion than I, so if you have read other reviews and choose to read this novel, hey, I'm not stopping you. This review was my thought of the book. In all, this is not a very good novel to me.

I found that The Witch of Blackbird pond by Elizabeth Spere was a very interesting story. In my opinion Spere did a great job at really letting the reader know what it was like to live in the 1700's. She made it seem so real by talking so descriptively of all the customs and the way of doing things in that time period. Spere clearly had to do a lot of research to know so much of that time. If someone is interested in learning about American history this book would be a great choice. I also found this book to be very exciting. There were so many times that you were left thinking did that just really happen. I think the story was so exciting because of how descriptive Spere was. She left you amazed in what she made some of her characters do and think. I would reccomend this book anyone, even if your not interested in American history because the novel is so exciting. Atleast in my case it left me wanting to know more about the 1700's even thow i had no interest in it before.

Kit Tyler--recently orphaned by her beloved grandfather--moves from the hot, wild life of Barbados to the cold, morally rigid New England. Because Kit's free spirit and love of life separates her from her family and the other townspeople, she quickly befriends another outsider, the "witch" of the title. A lovely, well-written blend colonial historical fiction and parlor-room romances. Grade: B+

I first read this book as a class assignment in the fall of 1975. I remember it being perfect October reading material and couldn't put it down; it was charming even then. I have now re-read it as an adult and appreciate the fictional history, description, and the magnetism of the characters which is what captivates the reader. An excellent choice for anyone to read, not only in October, but anytime of year.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is one of my three all-time favorite books. I reread it every few years and each time, I learn somthing new about the characters. Kit Tyler is a wonderful heroine, and her struggle to adjust to life in America is a wonderful metaphor that most children (and even adults) can relate to, whether it's moving to a new school, job, or community. Plus, the historical aspect separates this wonderful novel from the rest of the pack. You'll learn something while being entertained- what more can you ask for?!

At first, I really attracted only the " THE WITH OF BLACKBIRD POND" that seem mysterious and the concept of witch who ride with a magic broom came in my mind. But when I finished the whole story, I got some interesting idea changing my old idea of witch. I think the witch in the book means a person daring to create good thing but contrasts with others as Kit Tyler and her friends. It's a reason why they were accused to be the witches. Like Kit said " people are afraid of things they don't understand" this idea has existed in the real world since people always prejudge others because of differ. The witch is the good symbol of this matter. I also one phased of Hannah " There is no escape if love is not there" it's true that people can't run away from love. If your heart is there, don't exactly escape forever. Please listen to your heart carefully.

My son and I recently read this book for his Sonlight 3 curriculum. Sonlight intended for me to read this book aloud to him but with four other children I have opted for him to listen to the Audio book while I read the book at night when I have free time. First of all let me say that audio books are FANTASTIC. The book comes alive when read in a nice British accent and with the proper cadence. Half way through this book I couldn't put it down! Great book!

The book has its good times and a couple boring times but is still a good book, even though I don't really like historical fiction books. It is about a girl named Kit who has to move from cheerful Barbados to dull New England. She feels left out and lonely until she meets a quaker lady. She ends up being accused of a witch but a friend named Nat helps her out of it, with many good details along the way!

This historical fiction captures the hearts of all readers. It is the story of a young girl raised in Barbados struggling to fit in with the Americans of the 1600's. When Kit arrives in America she is like a tropical bird trying to mix with pidgeons. She is looked upon with suspicion because she can swim and read. As Kit's strong personality becomes clear to the reader, one grows to love her and applaud her actions. Elizabeth George Speare created a character who demands ones respect and a book that earns it. It's a good read, enjoy it!

In the story The Witch of Blackbird Pond written by Elizabeth George Speare. There is a girl named Kit. Her parents died when she was vary young and so her grandpa raised her. Her grandpa was a wealthy plantshen owner. After her grandpa died all her grandpas' money was lost. So she sailed to America to meat and lives with her aunt. On the way there she met a vary nice boy named Nate. He was the captain's son his mother was on the boat kit and her slept in the same cabin. When She got there they had to make one stop kit went ashore to see what it was alike in America she thought it was a gloomy place. When they were comeing back they brought some more people back with them. On the way were she was going the wind stopped so they were stock there for a little then the wined picked up and they started moving agen. When they got there When they got there she unload 7 bags, every one was stoned about how many bags she had. When she got to her aunts house she told her story and they let her stay. She had to cousins. Finely they gave her chores she thought they were slaves jobs but they did not have eney . She thought the jobs were really hard. She had never done such hard things in her life. After a wile she met a vary wealthy boy. Then she met an old woman that every one thought was a witch but she was not. They met when she was crying in a field and the old women she thought her to her house and helped her with her problems. After a wile she founded out that Nate new her to. After a wile all of the towns teenagers started getting sick and the old women new the remedy. Then the war of 1812 happened.

This was one of my favorite books as a young girl and just read it again simultaneously with my daughter. She is a good 12 year old reader. It was challenging thematically and with vocabulary but she ended up loving it.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a great historical fiction about a young lady named Kit who moves from her hometown of Barbados, England because are grandfather passed away. The only family she has left is in the New England colony of Connecticut. Kit makes her way to Wethersfield, Connecticut to find her new, hard-labored family, the Woods. There she worrks day and night, and gets aquainted with her once beautiful aunt Rachel, dour uncle Matthew, and two cousins, Judilyn (?) and Mercy. She runs towards Blackbird Pond when a dame school goes wrong, and meets the "witch," Hannah, who is not a witch at all. Hannah is the kindest person Kit has met in Wethersfield. She is a Quaker, and outlawed from all of Wethersfield. Kit is supposed to marry a rich man named William Ashby, but does not want to follow through with it. Now, there is a fuss about freedom and liberty with Andros and King James. This is all I have read so far, and it is already promising. I recommend this book already, so go ahead and read it.

I read this book when I was a teenager. I loved it so much than that I bought my own copy. This is definitely an enjoyable book and well written. I am an avid reader and as such have gone through many books throughout the years. I still find myself picking this one up every so often and enjoying it as much as I did the first time that I read it so many years ago. I definitely recommend this book to young and older readers.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a good book.
Friendship was clearly a theme of this good book, The Witch of Blackbird Pond. Kit, a thirteen year old girl, was friends with Hannah, although the people of Wethersfield said she's a witch. Kit goes to Hannah's house almost every day to keep her company. One day she went there with her friend Nat to help fix Hannah's roof, and when she got home, her uncle Matthew got mad at her. Another day Kit had to hide Hannah because the town thought she made the disease that was going around. Finally... Oh! I shouldn't tell you any more, you'll just have to find out by reading this good book. Enjoy!

THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND book is a thriller. It kept me on my feet. Kit had to go live with her aunt. She goes through so many adventures. Kit meets this old lady. The old lady is a Quaker and no one likes her. She is acussed of witch craft. Kit and her become very close friends. Kit is then accused of witch craft herself. Do you think Kit is convicted of witch craft? Read to find out.

Kit finds herself alone in the world, and so she makes a decision to surprise her Puritan aunt and uncle and hope that they will take her in. From the start Kit has trouble in her new home; the Puritan lifestyle is strick and not at all exciting, and Kit keeps making mistakes without knowing it. She finds a friend in an old woman who lives by the pond, and unknowingly brings herself and this woman into danger.

This book is a great read for children; it's interesting, historically accurate, and not scary.

This is a book about a high spirited girl named Kit Tyler. She is from warm, sunny, Barbados and is forced to move to cold, snowy, Connecticut to live with her Uncle Matthew and Aunt Rachel. Kit Tyler, with her fancy dresses,tries to fit in but she gets caught with the Witch of Blackbird Pond. The Witch's name is Hannah Tupper. Will Hannah Tupper be a witch? Will Kit make it? Find out now and read The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

*A Brief Summary*
Kit, a young girl has ventured to Wethersfield by ship to live with her aunt Rachel, Uncle Mathew, and two cousins Mercy and Judith after her Grandfathers tragic death. Coming from a wealthy life in Barbados, Kit has many things she is unaccustomed to. Along with facing many hardships of earning her keep because her new family isn't prosperous at all, as well as her daily chores and tasks, she manages to make many friends along the way. Hannah, a wise old widow accused of being a witch, Prudence, a young neglected girl, and John Hollonbrook, of which Kit becomes very fond of. Poor Kit couldn't have come to the new world at a worse of time however, due to the conflicts with the king in Europe and war breaking loose. The witch trials were also coming to a spark. Poor Hannah is accused of being a witch for she does not follow the traditions as everyone else in the town. However, Kit stays by her side through it all. Family matters become horrid as well when the whole family becomes fatally ill. Will the countries problems become solved? Will Hannah be executed for what she is believed to be? Will Kit's new family die of sickness? How does Kit affect the future of all these people? In a story of excitement and sadness, Kit becomes a woman and learns what she must do to make the right choices.
*Likes*
I enjoyed the book "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" for the most part. I enjoyed the character descriptions very much because the way they described what the characters were wearing and there setting was very lucid but fluently stated. For example when in the book it stated, "...The dolphin left the open sea, sailed briskly across the sound to the wide mouth of the Connecticut River..." (p. 1) I also enjoyed how so much history was based upon this book. It was a way for me to understand the colonial times better and really understand what life was like back then. For example, it really involved major milestones in history, which made it easier to understand. My last favorite thing about this book was the major twists and turns it took. Some of the major events you would have never expected. All and all the book was very enjoyable.
*Dislikes*
The dislikes I had about "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" were slim, however there were a few. The main thing I didn't enjoy about the book was although the descriptions were very thorough I just thought at some points of the book, they were too histrionic and went overboard. For an example when Kit is lying in a nearby field, it describes the field in a manor so much that I lost interest. Another thing I did not enjoy was the book was a bit childish for my age. This is my fault for choosing he book but I still thought that for me I could have read a more enthralling book. Lastly, I did not enjoy how many characters were placed in the book. Throughout the book so many characters with similar names were introduced. It became overwhelming at a point because I was confusing some characters. However the book was enjoyable at most parts but if I could revise the book, I would say these things based on my judgment.
*Conclusion*
In conclusion to this review, I would definitely recommend thins book to younger readers from the ages 9 - 12. However I being 13 I did not enjoy the book as much as I think a younger person might. I did enjoy the book but do not recommend it to anyone above the age of 12.

I wanted to give this book 3 1/2 stars, but I don't think you can... Oh Well!!!

The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a historical fiction novel that does a good job of portraying early colonial life. It has well developed characters and humor.

This is the plot:

Kit Tyler, a recently orphaned teen, boards a boat that is heading for America. After a long voyage, she finally sees the shore of the land that she will come to live at. She is not impressed. But, hey! You can't blame her. After living a luxurious life on the tropical city of Barbados, The Connecticut Colony must look pretty bleak.

Once there, she goes to her Aunt's house, where she is welcomed by her cousins, Judith and Mercy. Her Uncle...not so much...

The life she must learn to live there is much different from her old life, involving the work her slaves would normally do, and having to live through the boring Thursday sermons of the puritan church. Kit is not sure she will make it without death-by-boredom when she meets Hannah Tupper, an old women who lives shrouded in mystery, by Blackbird Pond.

She quickly befriends Hannah, and looks forward to escaping to her house to visit with her, and a sailor friend of hers that she met on the way over to America. Soon, she begins to teach a neglected child to read; all the more reason to excape to Hannah's.

But the Puritans are prejudiced and un-educated, and they hate Hannah, whom they believe to be a 'witch.' When bad things begin to happen around the colony, they blame Hannah, and when she disappears, they go after Kit!

You must read the book to find out what happens!!

Kathryn Tyler, Kit as a prefered nickname, was a young lady who had lived with privilage for as long as she could think back. She had servants, friends, a grandfather who treated her well, and a very nice home in England; but that all was taken away from her when her beloved grandfather died.

Kit decided to go to New England to live with her aunt Rachel. Things were really hard, now having to work herself when she had not so much as washed the dishes in her life. She loved her cousins and her aunt, but she just could not stand it.

Eventually, Kit meets this kind, sweet, elderly Lady named Hannah Tupper. Everyone thinks she is a witch and the blame every thing that goes wrong on her. It mostly is because she is a Quaker, a group of people that had a different religous beleifs than all of the other people in town. Kit knows that Hannah is not a witch and cares for her, and refuses to turn her down.

I like this book, but it was not one of my very favorites. The style the author used was a very interesting way of doing it, but it confused me, and got me lost at times. One of the reasons I admire this book is because it teaches you that everyone has choices in life, whether they are good or bad. People seem to be judging people at all times now, and back then, it was just as bad. I like this book, and suggest for those who like historical fiction, to read this book too.

I discovered this book in my elementary school library over 20 years ago. Of the few books that I remember distinctly, this is one. I think I re-read it at least two or three times. Viewed through the lens of memory, this book is about an outsider who enters a community, and is able to see that community through fresh eyes. Unfettered by the community's prejudice, she befriends an Quaker woman who is judged with suspicion and almost hate by the rest of the community, because of her religion. Though the heroine's eyes and emotions, we see the injustice of religious intolerance; and an insightful child might extend that to thinking about intolerance of all kinds. This book is not just about life in the 1600s. It is relevant today, and even at the age of 8 or 9 I "got" that. I can honestly say that this book was among my formative influences in thinking about issues of social equality and justice.

The Witch of Blackbird pond is about a girl from Barbados and when her grandfather dies she must go to live with her only relatives in America. When she gets there she meets an elderly woman, Hannah Tupper. People call her a witch because she is a Quaker. The way people treat her makes me sad. The ending pulls everything together and that is why I give this book 4 stars.

I had to read this book as an assignment in 6th grade. Ten years later, I have re-read it 10 times. That's right, one time for every year! That's how much the story stuck in my mind.

Rather than give away the plot, here's are a few reasons why The Witch of Blackbird Pond is so special to me, i.e. my favorite scenes:

1. I really related to Kit Tyler and I still do. It's the feeling of being out of place, of not belonging and not being accepted, of having people try to change you, and then running away and finding the meadows and making friends such as Prudence and Hannah Tupper and finally feeling at peace.

2. The scene when Kit accidently saw Mercy's love for John Holbrook and realized that Mercy loved him.

3. The scene where Kit walked out of the door and saw her hated Uncle Matthew as a lonely, defiant figure clutching the soil of his land! It was there that she first started to respect the strength within him.

4. And finally, without recounting all the sentimental parts of the book: I LOVE the character of Nat Eaton and all the scenes when Kit and Nat are together. Elizabeth George Spheres portrayed them with alot of subtle chemistry. They banter because they are, in truth, really attracted to each other. And Nat, despite his cocky attitude, really comes to Kit's rescue everytime. Coincidence? I think not!

This book really shows what it was like during the 1600's, and shows that Witch hunts and trials were held all over New England, not just in Salem. It is a true "Riches to rags" story. I can completely relate to what Kit was going through. I just wish Ms. George Speare would have had a small article in the back telling a little bit about what true witchcraft is.

I loved this book! It actually surprised me how much I loved this book. I loved the romance in it as well as the history. It always keep you guessing what was going to happen next. And the ending just puts a smile on your face. This is a great book for children to teach them about the historic atmosphere of it as well as the principles of friendship, loyalty, and being yourself. I recommend this book to both children and adults.

The title of this book made me think that it was about a witch in the story, yet after reading the book, it was still entertaining and held us on, making us want to read even more. However, though the book was very good, the climax of the story could have been stronger, or more interesting. We all recommend it to other readers who are historical fiction fans.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond deserves 5 stars because Kit always surprises the reader. For example, most readers would think Kit is going to like Wethersfield but when she arrived it was a major dissapointment to her. Another case is when Kit did not marry William, one of the most eligible bacheleors. The following reasons are why this book deserves 5 stars.

Books don't come much better than this. Elizabeth George Speare does a great job of making history come alive, and Kit Tyler is a fascinating heroine- imperfect yet trying to keep her spirits alive in a strange, unpleasant, and foreign world. Young teenagers may not grasp the complexities of Kit Tyler and her newfound family, but anyone who has felt like they don't fit in will appreciate this great book.

This is a well-handled yarn about a girl who comes to PuritanNew England from the Caribbean and struggles to fit in. It does seem abit dated now in its portrayal of the romantic relationship with thehandsome hero who keeps saving the day, but for the most part these characters are distinct and believeable, and Speare really brings the period to life.

I think this book is writen very neatly. It has all sort of intresting events. Elizabeth George Speare must be proud of this book. In Witch of blackbird pond's main character Kit's life is similer to my life. I live with my Aunt, I'm strange to American because i'm from Bangladesh ( which is next to India) and Bangladesh is more like Barbodas.

I believe that the author really out done himself with this fabulous book!The characters are great and unique in every way because each one has his or her own special ability a personality , and the setting is the best.Another great thing about this is that the time period was excellent, especially because witches mostly feared at that time.

The message is even more important now as we continue to vilify those who seem different. A fascinating look into the mindset of the people who created the Salem witch trials. (Follow up with "The Crucible") Also a feminist tale.
Young women will relate best to this story. Images and names stick with me still, 30 years later.

"My friend brought the bulb to me, a little brown thing like an onion. I doubted it would grow here, but it just seemed determined to keep on trying and look what has happened."

These words are spoken by old Hannah Tupper, a Quaker woman living in the outskirts of a small Puritan colony in Connecticut. Kit, an orphan from Barbados who is now living with her aunt and uncle, is encouraged by Hannah to try to adapt and fit in with her new suuroundings.

As a teacher of language arts and social studies, I find this novel to be a useful learning tool when studying the early Purtians. Speare combines accurate research with a compelling drama as Kit strives to adjust to her new environment. The plot thickens when Kit is accused of witchcraft, but who will testify to her innocence?

I didn't like the book so much. The author put to much detail about one person, Kit. I knew all of the background information about Kit and everything she owned. But when Hanna Tupper was introduced I hardly knew anything about her. The author also didn't write in any excitement in the story. Everyone was just plain everyday individuals that did everyday things, like cleaning and spinning wool, making meals, cleaning the house and making clothes. It would have been interesting if the author had put Kit or some other character on an adventure or made it a fiction not a historical fiction. I don't know anyone who would like to read a book about just everyday, ordinary people, that are living ordinary lives. I want to read a book about some adventure or action.

This is a great book for middle schoolers, teens and even young adults. I read it at 10 and again recently at 24, and I loved it both times. It's exciting without being violent or gory, and it gives a good account of the Puritans and how they lived. I recommend it.

This is an extremely satisfying read. I went on a foreign exchange and the flight lasted 7 hours. I started reading it when we took off and I had finished it before we landed. It was impossible to put down. If you don't like this book . . .well maybe it's not the book for you. But if you are thinking about buying this book, DO!

I read this book for my Children's Literature class in college, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Kit is a complex, dynamic, round character who gets sympathy and attention at every stage of the book. It helps young readers not only to understand the difficulties of moving to a new, unfamiliar place, but it helps them find hope as Kit finds friends, skills, and maybe even love. Great read for any age.

i read this book in three days only it was so good.i kept coming back for more.i felt heartbroken and entrigued at the same time.lojs lowry did an awesome job recreating the past for me. you should definetly read this book.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Spear is a great book. It's about a girl named Kit who used to live with her grandfather in the Caribiean Island. Now, since her grandfather died, she's moving to the Connectict Colony to live with her aunt and uncle.On the ship,she meets Nat and John Holbrook. Once she arrives at her uncle's house, she feels like she doesn't fit in because her uncle's family is Puritun and she brought all these fancy clothes.There she makes a few friends including Mercy and Judith her cousins,Prudence a girl who she meets in the meadows, Nat and John Holbrook who she met on the boat, and Hannah, a Quaker. The Townspeople don't like Hannah just because that she keeps to herslf . Then when sickness spreads, the townspeople blame Hannah because she herself was accused of witchcraft. If you want to find out what happens next,read the book to find out. My favorite part was was when Kit met Hannah. I liked that part because it made me feel good that Kit made a friend that she could talk to. I thought that Kit was very brave because even though she made mistakes, she didn't give up. I hope you will enjoy the book.

Having just finished reading The Witch of Blackbird Pond, I was pleased with the author's ability to make readers sympathetic to her main characters. The book is a real page turner in spite of being somewhat predictable. It was full of fascinating historical information on pre-Revolutionary America's political and religous climate. I really enjoyed it and am glad I read it.