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Reviewed by: Taylor Coonelly, Elementary School Librarian Title: History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials
Author: Kate Messner
Illustrator: Falynn Koch
Publisher: Random House
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 3-6 Genre/Type of Book: Chapter/Graphic Novel
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Mentions of death, religion, occult
Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: Nominated for the CYBILS award for Elementary/Middle Grade Nonfiction
If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be:
The TRUE story of the Salem Witch Trials - filled with religious prejudice, changing worlds and gender bias.
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Review:
The Salem Witch Trials begin in 1692, where Puritans in Salem Village began accusing women with strange behavior of working with the devil as witches. These accusations began with Minister Samuel Parris, whose own daughter and niece were among the first in this village to become 'sick' with the devil's influence. Witch hunting didn't originate in Salem, however, and first began long ago in England and moved to colonial America with groups of settlers. And contrary to popular belief, there were no witches in colonial America that were burned at the sack like media would suggest. This misconception and more are reviewed and debunked in the newest book in the History Smashers series Salem Witch Trials.
The style of these books is really fun while being incredibly informative for elementary audiences. The book has a great mix of both textual information, cartoon drawings, and information in comic/graphic novel format. The information in the book is digestible and appropriately leveled for upper elementary audiences. I really like how one of the goals of the book is to debunk misconceptions about this time and history, and how the author also makes a point in noting how the history we know is written by men, and not with direct sources from those affected by these trials. I would absolutely recommend these books for upper elementary students hoping to lean about historical topics. I could see this book being read independently because of student interest, but also as a historical source for learning about this time in American history.
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