witches the absolutely true tale of disaster in salem

It’s hard to read the historical facts of the Salem Witch Trials and not feel infuriated. ( )Īs the title suggests, “Witches” documents an “absolutely true tale of disaster in Salem.” Beginning with the initial witchcraft accusations in 1692, the book tells the story of the supernatural-fueled hysteria that swept over Salem, MA and its surrounding areas, resulting in the executions of twenty people. The interplay between the primary source accounts and the stylistic illustrations creates a well-balanced story that conveys emotion and fact. These illustrations are dramatic depictions of the themes that run throughout the book, portraying the division between community members, the various allusions to the Devil and contracts signed with him, and the violence and sadness of accusations that took peoples’ lives. The most stunning feature, despite the humanistic and thrilling tale of the Salem Witch Trials, are the scratchboard illustrations found throughout the book. At the front of the book is a collection of portraits portraying a stylized face of each of the characters of the story, giving them personalities and providing contextual clues for readers who might have trouble remembering such an expansive cast. This book presents the compelling stories of the victims of accused witches, the accused witches, and the hysterical town residents that propelled the Salem Witch Trials to their infamous end.

This book is striking at first glance the black-white-and-red scratchboard illustration on the cover presents the duality of the Salem Witch Trials, which pitted people against their communities by aligning them with the Devil.

Witches the absolutely true tale of disaster in salem