Witch Child

by Celia Rees

This book is the fictional diary of teenager Mary Newbury, chronicling her journey to the New World. Her journey, however, is precipitated by her grandmother’s conviction as a witch. A mysterious woman wisks Mary away from the public hanging, and sends her to Southampton where she will join up with a group of Puritans heading for America. Mary acts the part of a good Puritan girl, but has been brought up as a witch…a wiccan, not the wart-nosed, evil incarnation of a witch on Halloween night.

This was an easy read, since it was geared toward teenagers, however I quite enjoyed it. I liked how Rees set up the scenes, in particular the cramped, smelly ship crossing the ocean.