4.5 stars

"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is truly one of my all-time favorite books. It holds a special place in my heart. Shortly after borrowing a copy from the library during my eighth grade, I simply couldn't put it down. I devoured the book with great enthusiasm and had it finished by the very next class. This is because it was just so incredibly good. The writing was superb, the plot was engaging from start to finish, and the characters were vividly brought to life. Oh my stars, it was truly a wonderful literary experience. I was completely captivated by the story and couldn't help but fangirl over it. I think the straightjacket on my fangirling heart just broke. *winks* It's a book that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a great read.

I’ve been struggling through a few “serious” books over the past several days. So, I finally decided to pick up an old acquaintance: Elizabeth George Speare’s The Witch of Blackbird Pond.

The protagonist of the book, sixteen-year-old Kit Tyler, departs from 17th-century Barbados to live with her aunt in Puritan New England. It’s not overly astonishing that Kit doesn’t adapt well to her new surroundings. She has been cosseted and spoiled. She is a Royalist and an Anglican, and she can swim.

Kit isn't the ideal heroine for a 21st-century audience. She is self-centered and an unapologetic former slave owner, yet Speare manages to make her a sympathetic character. Kit, being a misfit herself, demonstrates great strength as she takes in the town’s outcasts: an elderly Quaker woman, a neglected young girl, and a lively sailor, Nat.

Witch is one of my childhood favorites. It was my entry into the world of literature and romance, and Nat might have been the first fictional character I fell in love with. However, this book isn't the typical fairytale. Kit isn't the perfect heroine, her relatives aren't terribly mean to her, and Nat doesn't show up nearly enough.

I wasn't let down by this reread (although I could have used a bit more romance). Speare is a talented writer, and Witch is more than suitable for an adult audience. Moreover, it's a quick and enjoyable read. Now, the question is, where can I find myself a feisty sailor like Nat?

I truly adored this book. As a result, I have reached the conclusion that books crafted for children can possess a higher quality of writing compared to those written for adults. The reason being that there isn't the burden of impressing with profound metaphors and poignant declarations about life. When adults pen works for adults, there is an excessive amount of pressure. However, adults who write for children comprehend that it is the story and the characters that hold the utmost significance. If these two elements are skillfully written, then I firmly believe that one has a profound and gratifying book.

This distinction in the writing approach for different audiences is quite remarkable. It shows that simplicity and focus on the essential aspects can often lead to more engaging and memorable literary works.

Moreover, it makes me wonder if adults could learn something from the way children's books are written. Maybe we should simplify our own writing and focus more on telling a good story and creating relatable characters.

In conclusion, this book has not only entertained me but also made me reflect on the different qualities of writing for children and adults.

When I was ten years old, my mom decided to send me to camp. Along with my other belongings, she gave me a copy of this particular book and a copy of Rabbit Hill. Little did I know that it was going to be a rather lousy camp experience.

There was a group of teens at the camp who seemed to find joy in chasing around the little kids and beating them up. Fearing for my safety, I took to hiding in the woods with a book in one hand and a cudgel in the other for protection.

I started reading this book and to my surprise, I absolutely loved it. It was like a whole new world opened up to me. After a while, I left the book in the little kids' bunkhouse and took Rabbit Hill with me to the woods. However, Rabbit Hill turned out to be such garbage that I couldn't bear to read it for long. So, I came back a little early to retrieve my copy of the book I truly loved, Blackbird Pond.

To my utter shock, when I returned to the bunkhouse, I found that the other little kids had torn it up and left it on the floor of the cabin. My heart sank. But I couldn't just leave it like that. I carefully and lovingly put it back together, page by page. And to this day, I still have that book.

That incident was the first time that I became aware that reading could actually make people angry at me. It made me realize that reading truly sets you apart from people who don't read. I learned that people who read have the power to choose to avoid negative situations by escaping into the world of books, while people who do not read might remain stuck in those situations and become resentful. It was a valuable lesson that I have carried with me ever since.

NAT IS THE BEEEEST.

Network Address Translation (NAT) is truly an amazing and essential technology. It plays a crucial role in today's networking environment.

NAT allows multiple devices within a private network to share a single public IP address. This not only conserves the limited pool of public IP addresses but also provides an added layer of security.

With NAT, devices on the private network can communicate with the outside world seamlessly. It translates the private IP addresses of the internal devices into the public IP address, making it possible for them to access the Internet and other external resources.

Moreover, NAT simplifies network management by hiding the internal network topology from the outside. It reduces the complexity of IP address management and makes it easier to configure and maintain the network.

In conclusion, NAT is indeed the best. It offers numerous benefits and is an indispensable part of modern networking.

4.5 stars

This rating indicates that the product or service in question has left a very positive impression. It has likely met or exceeded many of the expectations set by the reviewer.

However, the reviewer also mentions that more thoughts are to come. This could imply that they are still in the process of fully evaluating the item or have additional aspects that they want to consider before providing a more comprehensive assessment.

Perhaps they need to use the product for a longer period of time or explore some of its less obvious features. It could also mean that they want to gather more information or compare it with other similar offerings in the market.

Overall, while the initial rating of 4.5 stars is highly encouraging, the anticipation of more thoughts to come adds an element of mystery and makes one curious to see what further insights the reviewer will share.

3.5 Stars

The issue that often arises when re-reading the favorites of our childhood is that they seldom measure up to the vivid memories we have cherished over the years. In the case of this particular book, I still had a great deal of affection for it. However, I find myself in a bit of a quandary regarding the ending. I'm left wondering whether I felt disappointed with it simply because the nostalgia had built up my expectations to an unreasonably high level, or if the ending is, in fact, truly lacking. It's a difficult question to answer. On one hand, the power of nostalgia can sometimes distort our perception. On the other hand, perhaps there are legitimate flaws in the story's conclusion. Nevertheless, despite this uncertainty, I can't deny that there were still many aspects of the book that brought back warm and fuzzy feelings from my childhood.

I loved this book when I was twelve.

It was a source of great joy and entertainment for me back then.

Recently, I decided to re-read it, and to my surprise, it opened up a whole new world of understanding.

Now, I can see all of the amazing themes and morals that were hidden within its pages.

The book explores topics such as friendship, courage, and perseverance, teaching valuable lessons that are relevant even today.

It makes me realize how much I have grown and how my perspective has changed over the years.

Re-reading this book has been a truly enriching experience, and I am grateful to have discovered its deeper meanings.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone, regardless of age, as it has the power to touch hearts and inspire minds.

It is a classic that will continue to be cherished for generations to come.

The Witch of Blackbird Pond was an incredibly interesting witchy book that I was eager to explore. I must admit, initially I was a bit hesitant about picking up this book as I was worried it might become overly preachy. However, to my relief, things did not take that turn at all. Instead, I found myself completely immersed and enjoying the story from start to finish.

In the book, you will be introduced to Kit, a sixteen-year-old girl who is quite likable for the majority of the narrative. She is a strong-willed and determined character who refuses to give up easily. When she decides to venture into the side of danger to visit Hannah, a kind and sweet old woman, my excitement peaked as I eagerly anticipated what would unfold next.

Well, it turns out that Hannah is not only visited by Kit. Nat also pays her a visit. He, too, is a likable character who, despite knowing the severe consequences that could come his way if he is caught, still chooses to visit Hannah. Hannah is just so endearing that I couldn't help but love her. So, I was all in favor of Nat and Kit visiting her, regardless of what society might think!

Now, Hannah is believed to be a witch, for no particular reason other than the fact that this is a witchy book! The story had its fair share of drama, but everything managed to work out in the end. All in all, it was a pleasant surprise to delve into this book, and I'm glad I did as I ended up really liking it.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can have a far more profound impact.

\\n  Sticks and stones will break my bones,
but words will never hurt me....\\n

Well, that's not always the case. Just imagine being in court, accused of witchcraft.

\\n  \\"You will listen to the charges against you.\\"
A clerk read from a parchment, emphasizing every terrifying word.
\\"______ _____, thou art here accused that not having the fear of God before thine eyes thou hast had familiarity with Satan the grand enemy of God and man, and that by his instigation and help thou hast in a preternatural way afflicted and done harm to the bodies and estates of sundry of His Majesty's reign, in the third year of his majesty's reign, for which by the law of God and the law of the colony, thou deservest to die.\\"

Mistress _____, you are accused by Adam Cruff with the following actions. Firstly, that you were the familiar friend and companion of the Widow Hannah Tupper of Blackbird Pond, an alleged witch who has disappeared suspiciously within the past week. Such friendship is considered a lawful test of guilt, as it is well known that witchcraft can be learned and passed from one person to another, and often a witch, upon dying, leaves an heir to her witchcraft.

\\"Secondly, that you are guilty of actions and works which infer a court with the devil, which have caused illness and death to fall upon many innocent children in this town.\\"
...

Her head spinning, ___ stood helpless as one after another, people she scarcely recognized rose to make their complaints. The evidence piled up against her like a dark and menacing wave.

One man's child had cried out all night, claiming someone was sticking pins into him. Another child had seen a dark, horned creature at the foot of her bed. A man swore he had seen ___ and Goody Tupper dancing around a fire in the meadow on a moonlit night, and a great black man, taller than an Indian, had suddenly appeared and joined in the dance.
...

Dr. Bulkeley cleared his throat. \\"In my opinion,\\" he said deliberately, \\"it is necessary to use the greatest caution in the matter of testimony. Since the unnatural events so far recounted appear to rest in each case upon the word of but one witness, the legality of any one of them is open to question.\\"

\\"It is ridiculous to talk of legality,\\" interrupted Matthew. \\"There has not one word been spoken that makes sense!\\"\\n

Right, it's all nonsense, but it's lethal nonsense.

Even if you're not in jail, imagine waking up one morning to find your reputation in tatters, destroyed by the words in a newspaper. You've become a pariah. Life and liberty may not be immediately threatened, but when power is involved, who can say what will happen?

If, as Nassim Nicholas Taleb says in The Black Swan, ...our highest currency is respect, then words truly matter. If you're going to deal in words, I say get your black belt. Then have fun. Dance whenever you're not in the stocks.

\\n  Stocks in Keevil, Wilshire, from the Wikipedia article\\n

But I digress.

This book, although targeted at adolescents, is a great read. It's better than many movies, really. While it may not perfectly capture the essence of people from another era (despite the period language), you do get a sense of the flavor, especially with the excerpt above.

What struck me first was the anti-authoritarian tone, the routine questioning of authority. In the '50s, it would not have been appropriate to recommend it in schools in the South. But by the '70s, it was on a school reading list in this very county. I thought my generation brought about changes for ourselves, but it seems society was evolving right along.

It's worth noting, though, that according to the plot, the \\"real\\" witch was still a woman.

------------------------------------------------------

\\n  Personal narrative\\n: When I was around 9 years old (fourth grade), my mother gave me two books. They were hardbacks with flimsy lightweight covers like Nancy Drew. One of them I adored. It was about two little girls who ran away from an orphanage where they were being mistreated, going hungry and suffering in other ways. They found a loving family. (I think the new mother figure made them waffles, and that's where I learned to read the word \\"recipe.\\") It had, in retrospect, an anti-authoritarian theme. All I remember is that over the next year, out of all my books, that was the one I constantly reread. Then one day it was gone! My mother had decided that my preoccupation with it wasn't healthy. She had given it away, and it was lost forever.

That's the first time I can recall the spark of anger and rebellion smoldering within me.

It's always a risk, to re-read a book you cherished as a child when you're grown. Sometimes the book doesn't live up to the fond memories, and then it ends up tarnished.

That was not the case with this one. I saw a used copy of this book at a charity sale, and snatched it immediately. I was thinking I'd put it on my daughter's bookshelf, hoping someday she'd pick it up and adore it as I did.

It's been talking to me ever since, begging to be read. So, I finally gave in and started reading. To my great delight, I enjoyed it just as much as an adult, perhaps even more.

The story still had the same magic and charm that it did when I was a child. The characters came alive on the page, and I found myself completely immersed in their world. It was a wonderful reminder of the power of books and how they can touch our hearts and souls, no matter how old we are.

I'm so glad I took the risk and re-read this book. It's a treasure that I'll cherish for a long time to come.

If you don't like this book, I don't want to hear it. I don't know how I missed it during my childhood, but I'm making up for it now.

Like Arthur Miller, Elizabeth George Speare wrote about witch hunts during the 1600s as a parallel to the Red Scare of the 1950s. A question bubbled up in my mind as I read this: is good historical fiction timeless?

Published in 1958, during a period not exactly known for its tolerance, The Witch of Blackbird Pond beautifully depicts Kit Tyler's year living in the colonies. A wealthy girl who grew up in sunny Barbados, it's not just the weather she needs to get used to, but an entirely different way of life. Speare, an awesome lady who was also a Sunday school teacher, writes about the colonies with depth and complexity. She shows not only the hard-working, pious, independent villagers, but also their bigotry, intolerance and mob mentality. When I came across the passage where Kit mentions her personal slave had to be let go, and her Puritan uncle glaring her down for it, I was like, "oh crap, how's this going to go?" Well Elizabeth George Speare, you kick a lot of ass.

Moreover, Kit is just awesome. Despite the slave bit, she's easy to sympathize with, and is so good-hearted you can't help but like her. As Karen Cushman notes in her lovely introduction, Kit is just an ordinary girl discovering her own identity, and after her year in Connecticut, she now has two places to call home. Anyone who says this book is unoriginal or offers nothing new, did you figure out what the pub year was? This was YA before there was YA.

P.S. Nat, you can take me on a seafaring voyage anytime.