A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi
Be still my heart! A young adult book about the Salem Witch Trials. There are few things I find more interesting than the Salem Witch Trials, and when I saw this at the bookstore, I knew I had to have it. Even better, it was fairly accurate in terms of historical events.
This is the story of Susanna English, who comes from a fairly wealthy family. She gets the opportunity to travel to Boston, work in her mother's store, and not be constrained by Puritan life like most young people in Salem. That is not to say that everything is perfect for Susanna. She has an older brother who is a sailor, and he hasn't been heard from in several months.
One day while on an errand for her mother, Susanna sees several girls going to the parsonage while Reverend Parris is out. These girls participate in fortune telling with Tituba. Susanna wants very much to be a part of this circle of girls, but they will never let her in because of her station in the town. Susanna finally gets into the house, and Tituba tells Susanna things about her brother.
Not long after this, young Betty Parris takes ill. She claims she is being bewitched, and the other girls of the circle begin acting afflicted as well because they see the attention Betty receives. Living in typical Puritan households, they aren't paid much mind, but crying witch gives them the attention they yearn for.
Susanna knows that there are no witches, given the conversations she has had with Ann Putnam Jr. and Betty Parris, but they have threatened to accuse her family if she says anything. What will Susanna do? Will she tell the truth, or let the chips fall where they may?
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