Witness

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Summary: Jeff's review
Review: Witness was a great book. It had a lot of real things in it that actually happened, such as the Ku Klux Klan. Mr. Field made me laugh a lot. However, there was a lot of death and segregation in many of the poems. The way Esther talked made the book funnier than it already was. It was a good book.
Unfortunately, there are no perfect books and I thought it deserved four stars. I took off points for two reasons. One, I took off because of all the death, such as when the Ku Klux Klan killed Jerry the dog. Two, it was hard to understand. However, I did understand it and do not think it would deserve four stars if I didn't understand it. Overall, it wasn't bad.

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Summary: Witness
Review: "Witness," is a must to you readers that love books that are packed with suspense. It is a story about a small Vermont town and the people who live in it. It is based in the 1920's. The Ku Klux Klan comes to town and tries to spread hatred and racism. The colored people are threatened by the Klan especially, Esther Hirsh, (a six year old Jewish girl) and Leonora Sutter, (an African American girl.) The book, "Witness" also deals with the strong emotions of the people. Will the town stick together and get through this rough time? Find out in the book, "Witness!"

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Summary: Witness - one of the best books I have read.
Review: Twelve year old Leonora Sutter was treated poorly because she was a black. The Ku Klux Klan wanted to kill Leonora and her father. Esther Hirsh was the only one who didn't care that Lenora was a black. Esther and Leonoras' mothers were both killed. Esther wanted to see her mom so bad she almost killed her self to see her in heaven but Leonora saved her. Harvey Pettibone, the comic relief, joined the Klan and so did Merlin Van Tornhout. Harvey told Merlin to poison the Sutter's well, but when he got to the well he could not do it because Leonora was there too. The preacher named Johnny Reeves shot Esther's father through Sarah Chickering's keyhole in the door. Johnny Reeves was found in the forest with the letters K.K.K. branded on his back. Merlin ran away. Johnny Reeves climbed to the tallest bridge in the city and jumped into the river and died. Merlin thought that he was being followed by Johnny Reeves and when he came back Leonora told him Johnny had died.
I read this book for my fifth grade literature class. I really liked the way it was written. It was easy to read and the story was interesting.

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Summary: I Have Thinkings That This Book Is Good
Review: When I first started reading Witness for school, I was skeptical about it being written in free verse poetry. Now I know it's the perfect way to tell this story. Witness is about a town torn apart by racism and hatred - personified by the Ku Klux Klan and the crazed preacher Johnny Reeves, whose insanity soon grows to dangerous levels. One central character is Leanora Sutter, whose family, the only black family in town, is forced to face the Klan. Another is six year old Esther Hirsh who, after coming to live with the Christian Sara Chickering, becomes a target of racism that she finds illogical. After an excellent climax, which showcases the power of the people, this book turns out to be a powerful tale of people trying to hold their lives together. (By the way, if you don't understand the title of this review, read the book!)

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Summary: Will Pabst [Mrs. Burg's class] from RSPS Greenway
Review: Witness is an interesting and exciting book. It is written infree verse poetry with eleven characters. In the book two girls, Esther Hirsh and Leanora Sutter, try to stay alive with the threat of death and racists surrounding them. The book takes you back to 1924 and tells you what it was like back then. It talks about some very important events and some not so important events. Events including the election of Calvin Cooldige. Witness has many important things you have to pay attention to but that is ok.

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Summary: Exceptional Witness
Review: Witness is a wonderful novel that takes place in a small town in Vermont in 1924. There are many twists and turns for the people in the town since the Ku Klux Klan came. Many people are joining the Klan and they're becoming unbeatable. If someone isn't white and Protestant, they could be looking toward some harsh times. There might even be some problems in store for the people in the Klan. What a catastrophe! Can the people bear the Klan? You can find out if you read Witness by Karen Heese. It's so good, you won't be able to put it down. It is garuteed that you'll absolutely love it.

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Summary: Witness Review
Review: Karen Hesse did a prodigious job writing Witness. She does not come right out and say something, she makes you think. Witness takes place in a small town in Vermont in the 1920's. When the Klu Klux Klan moves in nobody is safe. Especially twelve year old Leonora Sutter, an African American, and Esther a six year old Jewish girl. Esther is a girl who thinks every thing has a bright side. Take my advice read Witness by: Karen Hesse.

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Summary: Witness by Karen Hesse
Review: I rated the book "Witness" with five stars because I thought it was excellent. It takes place in a small town in Vermont in 1924. With small town come big rumors. And when the Ku Klux Klan comes to their town no one can be trusted. Poor Esther Hirsh, a six-year-old girl from New York, might have to learn that not everybody is good the hard way. Leonora Sutter , a black girl , might have to learn a lesson too. That truth and forgiveness should be done before things get "out of hand". Karen Hesse writes a story about love, hate, and fear. It is a historical story that takes your breath away. Even one poem can change your perspective on the past, present, and future.

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Summary: Witness, A Literature Assignment
Review: The book Witness starts out in a small town in Vermont. The year was 1924 and tells about how the town deals with the Klu Klux Klan. There are several people that tell the story. They share how they feel about what happens as they decide if they will join, not join, or act as if it isn't happening. One person, named Lenora Sutter is the only African American that tells her part. Another person is a 6 year old Jewish girl who tells her feelings about moving to this small town to live with another person, Sara Chickering, who is a farmer. The little girl tells her feelings of being treated different because of her religion. One man, Merlin Van Tornout did not like African Americans and decided to join the Klan, he tells his feelings. There are 11 people in total who share their side of this story about the Klan in their town. I am glad that I read this story, because it told me all sides of what the Klu Klux Klan was. I am sorry that it happened.

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Summary: Deanna's Review
Review: Witness was a pretty good book, but I thought there was too much death. I didn't like the Klan in the book because they were always killing people who were different than them. I liked most of the other characters in the book, especially Esther because she always had a positive attitude. My favorite part of the book was when Leanora saved Esther from being hit by the train. I was so surprised that Leanora had risked her life to beat the train and save Esther. Overall, I really liked the book.