I’m sure you all know the concept of #throwbackthursday. I thought I’d bring it to my book blog as a good way to bring back some of the books and stories that came out a while ago, but are still great reads! I hope you guys enjoy these book as much as I have! This isn’t going to be an every week kind of thing, but I’ll do it every so often! If you’ve got a book recommendation for me, please comment or email me and pass it along!
The Review:
Orphaned Kit Tyler knows, as she gazes for the first time at the cold, bleak shores of Connecticut Colony, that her new home will never be like the shimmering Caribbean island she left behind. In her relatives’ stern Puritan community, she feels like a tropical bird that has flown to the wrong part of the world, a bird that is now caged and lonely. The only place where Kit feels completely free is in the meadows, where she enjoys the company of the old Quaker woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond, and on occasion, her young sailor friend Nat. But when Kit’s friendship with the “witch” is discovered, Kit is faced with suspicion, fear, and anger. She herself is accused of witchcraft!
Witchcraft and early colonial America have always been some of my favorite topics for book, have been since I was in elementary school and probably will be until the day I die. If there was ever a way to travel back to a particular period in time and place on earth, colonial America would be it for me.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond has always been one of my favorite books. I read it for the first time in third or fourth grade, and I accidentally booknapped its paperbacked self from my classroom. It became my own once I realized that it would be far too embarrassing to go back ten years later, and say, “Oh, I accidentally took this when I was in your class, but here it is back! I’m really sorry, bye!” Not to mention the front cover had begun to fall off, as it is a fairly old book. Since then, the back cover has come off, and the spine is looking pretty sad. It really needs replacing, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of the copy
I re-read The Witch of Blackbird Pond at least once a year, and I never fail to love it. It’s a great look into the Puritan lifestyle that was the beginning of America, even though 90% of the characters were fictitious, as was the storyline. I think it teaches a great message about judging too swiftly, as Kit did her relatives, and they (and the rest of the town) did her, based only on the differences in their lifestyles. It shows both the good and the bad in both the strict Puritan lifestyle, as well as Kit’s more colorful one. There’s no actual witchcraft in this, but it’s a beautiful piece of historical fiction.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is an incredibly easy read, and thoroughly enjoyable no matter what your age is, though it is recommended to Middle Grade and Young Adult audiences. I’ve read this book more times than I can count, and it still stands up to the first read, despite that the binding hasn’t!
I’ve rated this five stars with a clear conscience, and this is on my list of books to recommend to anyone who likes a good historical fiction book. I hope you’ll enjoy it as much as I have.
Oh wow, it’s been years since I read this. BUT I am glad to hear that I’m not the only inadvertent booknapper — I accidentally stole a copy of The Elements of Style from my eighth-grade English teacher, who was super good to me and whom I loved, and I feel guilty every time I look at it. It was a huge relief when she retired and I didn’t have to think about what she’d say if I tried to bring her book back to her.
I did this all the time when I was younger – not out of a general thieving nature. I just forgot to bring them back and then I was embarrassed! I did go back and return a bunch of books sneakily in like 7th grade to my elementary school, but this one was already kinda messed up so I didn’t return it. I’m really glad I’m not the only one who did this, though!