Rating: 
Summary: A great summertime-- or anytime-- read
Review: Recommended to me by a 10th grader, my student said she felt like she was there with Mary. She's right! At the beginning of the book Mary's grandmother is being tortured, tried and burned for a witch in England. By the book's end Mary is chased out of her Puritan community in the New World for being a witch herself. She runs to the woods, where she has an Indian friend. She can scry the future, she can see people's animal guides, but it is petty teenage girls who call her a witch. What is a witch? Surely she has abilities, but she is not evil, not like the witchfinders say she is. There's another book to come with more of Mary's story, including her many times granddaughter in the present. That should be *fun!*
Rating:
Summary: Surprisingly Interesting
Review: This is an interesting book on the witch written from the perspective of the witch. Hopes and fears abound, as Mary must live amongst the folk of the New World leaving her tormented past behind her. The spiritual kinship she finds with the native Americans can release her tormented being but can easily put her under scrutiny and peril by those around her. Mary must hide in plain sight. This is really an intriguing and fascinating book that will enthrall you with emotions and question your own conceptions on the nature of order in the world.
Rating: 
Summary: absolutely realistic and beautifully written
Review: This mesmerising novel is really "magical".The first chapter is far from boring and the plot is brilliant.Every reader of that book is going to love Mary,the girl who suffered so much but found the courage to stand up in the croud and not let others dicide who she is and what she is going to do in her life.The book gives insight to whitch hunting in Medeaval times.
I would strongly recommend it to everyone:children,teenagers and adults.
Rating:
Summary: A very good read! Page-turning!
Review: "Witch Child" Is a very good book. I'd recommend it to possibly anybody! When I read the first few pages of the book, I knew exactly that I'll never be able to put it down. Loads of emotions filled my heart as I go through the life of Mary. Pity, Anger, Sadness, Wonder, Joy, friendship, love...You'll feel every emotion you could possibly feel while taking a journey with Mary through her struggles, pain and happiness. After reading this book, I assure you that you'll feel somewhat connected to this girl, this girl named Mary Newbury.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional telling of a "Witch"
Review: The 1600's are a time of lies and fear. For Mary Newbury it is a time of sadness. Unable to do anything, she watches a grandmother condenmed, tortured, and then finally hanged as a witch. Mary knows her life is in danger too, for the crowd will soon have to find someone new to blame for their troubles, someone like her. When offered passage to America disguised as a Puritan girl, Mary immediately accepted. Taken in by a kind widow, named Martha, Mary finds that her new life isn't that bad, but there is always the danger of people finding out that she is a "witch child." When the settlers finally arrive in the New World they make a home in place they name Beluh. Mary secretly makes friends with a Indian boy named Jaybird, but when witch frenzy begins to tear apart her new home Mary finds herself once more tormented. This was one of the best books on witches I have ever read. It was a very emotional book and one to be enjoyed by everyone. I can't wait for the conclusion to Mary's story in Sorceress. The cliffhanger ending makes you want more and more!
Rating:
Summary: Awesome
Review: I just finished reading this book (got it today), looked at the publication date and thought "hey....if I'm lucky, the sequel is already out....maybe I'll be heading back to the bookstore tomorrow." I really, REALLY enjoyed this book--had a hard time putting it down, actually. I will agree that it ends rather abruptly, but that just makes me want to read the sequel that much more. I'm looking forward to finding a copy of the sequel so I can find out what happens...
Rating:
Summary: Excellent book, very realistic
Review: I and my daughter Katie (who is 11 years old) really enjoyed this book and look forward to the next in the series. I think it presents a very realistic look at the time period and at least one girl's possible experiences.
Rating:
Summary: Finally an historical witch book where she really is a witch
Review: I am Mary. I am a witch.
Mary has travelled to the New World to start a new life after her old one was taken by the Witch hunters noose. Even in the New World Mary will not be safe - especially amongst the strict and forbidding folk in the new town of Beulal. Told in journal form, Mary speaks to you with her own voice - sharing her loves, her dreams, and her fears. A not to be missed novel of witch-craft, persecution - and hope. This book is one of the best books that I have ever read that deals with witches and witchcraft. From the opening pages you are drawn into the world of Mary, a young woman who follows the old ways. Mary would be called a witch, but he powers and beliefs are stronger than that. Mary is a character that has stayed with me for a long time and the sequel "Sorceress" has been taunting me in the local book shop for the past couple of weeks and I can't wait ti read it. This book is nothing like the popular witches in Sabrina or Charmed, it is closer to real Wicca and the thought and research that went into this novel make it one of the best witchcraft books that I have ever read. This book is best read in one sitting so that you don't spend a restless night wondering what happens to Mary next.
Rating:
Summary: "Witch Child" is an AMAZING book!
Review: I read the first 41 pages of "Witch Child" in my World History class (we were watching a boring movie). I could only get through the first 41 pages because the book belonged to my friend. I could barely part with it, due to the fact that I was in love with what I had read so far. That night, I went to the book store and picked "Witch Child" up. I read the rest of the book in 4 hours the next day. I has so captivated by Mary and her story. The way she saw people, how she talked about them, and the fear that something bad was going to happen to her was very addicting, and I just couldn't bare to put the book down. After reading the book from cover to cover, I am anticipating the sequel, even though I don't know when it is supposed to be released...If you want an amazing story of a young girl who has to hide what she really is, and deal with the fear of the truth, PICK THIS BOOK UP! I HIGHLY recomend it!
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful book club book
Review: Experiencing Mary Newbury's life as a "Witch" was more compelling to me than anything I've read on the lives of "non-witches" during Witch trials. I could not put this book down. I felt such a range of emotions while reading it; sadness for the loss of the beloved grandmother, anger toward the ignorant, anxiety for Mary Newbury in her escape to America, intrigue by the woman who helped her escape. Celia Rees' story is an easy read. It encourages group discussion on witchcraft, intolerance, religion, past history and current events.
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