This was one of those remarkable books that I simply didn't want to put down!

It was truly captivating from the very first page. The story drew me in and held my attention throughout.

In 2022, I had the wonderful opportunity to read this book with my husband and two of my daughters during a trip to Salem and Concord, MA.

The setting of our trip added an extra layer of charm and significance to the reading experience.

We would gather in the evenings, after a day of exploring the historical sites, and lose ourselves in the pages of this amazing book.

It was a special time shared together, creating memories that will last a lifetime.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an engaging and unforgettable read.

I know this is a classic. It's a Newberry award winner for juvenile fiction, and it's truly a beloved book that I can hardly bring myself to criticize. Sadly, I didn't read it at the appropriate time, when I was a youth grappling with the realization that it's more crucial to do the right thing rather than simply fit in with the crowd.

The lesson it imparts is important and worthy. However, after reading two young adult novels this week with strikingly similar themes (does this happen to anyone else? I always seem to inadvertently pick books that fall into certain "themes"), I sense that there's something amiss when an adult delves into young adult literature. Maybe it's the lack of innocence. It all seems too simplistic. The protagonists often don't quite mesh within the story. They're almost invariably ahead of their times and possess an understanding that their peers seemingly don't have access to. Take Kit, for example. She's from Barbados, yes... but could she also be from the 20th century? As modern readers, we have the advantage of hindsight to observe and learn from the flaws and limited comprehension of our ancestors. But the author bestowed this kind of vision upon Kit right from the start.

I'm not sure if this is ever debated (and why am I even arguing, didn't I promise not to?), but a part of me feels as though there's an anti-obedience theme in this book. Kit is nearly always disobedient, and yet her disobedience always leads to the right outcome. Since it's young adult literature, everything works out well in the end. But there's a distinct difference between doing the right thing and doing what one desires. This is a much deeper discussion that I won't expand on here, as I don't want to desecrate this excellent book any further. I'm well aware that it's a favorite.

"A man's first loyalty is to the soil he stands on."

This book, while not exactly what I had anticipated, was still quite good. I had been hoping for more elements related to witches, but unfortunately, that aspect was not as prominent as I had wished. However, in other respects, the book shone. The writing style was engaging and held my attention throughout. What truly stood out, though, was the amazing foreshadowing. There were numerous instances where I was left in awe, even though the overall plot was somewhat predictable. The characters, for the most part, were a bit one-dimensional, but Kit's character arc was truly excellent. I liked how she gradually came to understand Uncle Matthew, and Judith became less irritating as the story progressed. Mercy was truly fantastic, and Hannah had some great lines that added depth to the narrative. Nat was an okay character, but I thought the relationship between him and Kit was really cute! "I hadn't gone ten miles down the river that day before I knew I'd left the real witch behind.... When I take you on board the Witch, it's going to be for keeps." Come on, how adorable is that? It was also quite humorous to see how jealous Nat was of William. William, by the way, was extremely dull. "The answer is in thy heart. Thee can always hear it if thee listens for it." "People are afraid of things they don't understand." These quotes added an extra layer of meaning to the story and made me reflect on the themes presented. Overall, despite its flaws, this book was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to others.