Rating: 
Summary: A Break With Charity Review- Michael Jenn Annie Jason Sandra
Review: A Break With CharityOur Rating: :( Two thumbs down Ann Rinaldi's historical fiction, A Break With Charity, is about an adolescent girl's view of the Salem Witch Trials. She must choose between her family and the truth. Sounds enthralling? It could be, but it's not! A great theme...wasted. No excitement, monotony, and wordiness wreck the novel. To our minds, the story is like a rubber band, forever stretching, chasing the color away as the story line grows thinner and thinner. While reading Abigail Hobbs's trial, we were falling asleep. Although Rinaldi wastes this one, we recommend other Witch Trial books because most are exciting, edge-of-the-seat thrilling, and not as wordy as some books we know!
Rating: 
Summary: A really life-like book
Review: It is 1692 - the year of the Salem Witch Trials. 14-year-old Susanna English wants to be part of the circle of girls who meet with Tituba, the reverends slave, at the parsonage. But they don't want her in their circle because she comes from the rich Salem Town, and she is of a gentry family. Instead, Susanna meets with Tituba alone. At her second visit she finds out what the girls of the circle are up to, and is glad that she isn't in the circle. Surprisingly, the leader of the group is 12-year-old, sickly Ann Putnam. Ann and her mother are reputated as being evil and putting blame on others. The Salem Witch trials start as a sport for the girls. They are tired of living eventless lives. They start to pretend that witches are torturing them. The town magistrates really do believe that witches are in Salem and demand that the girls tell them who they are. The girls soon realize that they have the power to put anyone they want in prison. Or, as it happens later, have some hanged. Susanna knows what the girls are about, and has proof. Ann tells Susanna that it is all for fun and sport, and it will rid Salem of the bad people. But Susanna can tell no one, for Ann threatens to name her family as witches if she "breaks charity" with the circle. And all Susanna English can do is watch as many innocent people get persecuted by the powerful girls. Ann Rinaldi is a great author. I have read almost all of her books and this book has the most information. Although Susanna is not fictional,her part in the Salem witch trials is made up. But Ann Rinaldi can make a good story with real facts!
Rating: 
Summary: Maybe not up to standard, but still an awesome read!
Review: Alright, right off, I'd like to say, I did like this book, it was interesting and everything, but I definitely think it was not up to Ann Rinaldi's usual standard. Normally, she has the skill of keeping her reader's in rapt attention all the way through the book, but there were points in this book where I just wanted to skip a page or two, to get past one slow part. Other than that though this book was excellent, very interesting to read a story told from the point of view of one of the early puritans, definitely worth reading, just be forewarned, it's not her best work.
Rating:
Summary: A Break With Charity
Review: In my opinion this book makes you feel as if you are really there while all these trials are going on. Ann Rinaldi made me actually enjoy reading about history. Now I realise how difficult it was to live back then, how anything you do could make people suspect you as a witch. When reading this book I felt how most people did about the way people were dying and been noticed as a witch. I feel that the actions of the girls were just to protect them selves. Another book I suggest reading is A Wolf By Ears because you get the same feeling of devestation.
Rating:
Summary: A Must Read!
Review: This book was very good! Not only was it imformative about the details of the Salem Trials but it also took you places deep into the heart of the city. The story is about a girl, Susanna English, as she wants to be a part of the circle of afflicted girls and even goes to see Tituba on several accounts. Her mother and father get convicted but I don't want to spoil it! The author writes about the English family, who really were part of the trials, in a story form but not in such a story form that you feel that it is JUST a story! The author reveals the truth about this day and leaves you with a sense of wonder and opinions! If you want to know about Salem then this book is a must read! (It is hard to explain the full context of the book)
Rating:
Summary: Great!
Review: I definitely liked this book- I have not read an Ann Rinaldi book that I haven't liked... and I've read quite a few! Anyways, this book really told about the famous witch trials in Salem, and why these accused people got arrested and what they did to them. It really showed how some people were really innocent but accused of practicing witchcraft, and some were even killed because of it. I took away one star, however, because I felt that for the most part, the book concentrated on the main character (i see this in her books sometimes, but it isn't bad) and her problems instead of what the book is really about. But I would definitely recommend this book!
Rating:
Summary: Ann Rinaldi does it again!
Review: I'm 13 years old and recently read this book. Ann Rinaldi is wonderful! Every book of her's I've read in one day because it was impossible to put down. When I visited Salem two years ago I became so interested in the With Trials and read everything on it. But this book was one of my favorite historical fictions. The whole genre of historical fiction is my favorite kind to read which is why I reccomend all Ann Rinaldi books. They're wonderful.
Rating:
Summary: A Young Adult Blockbuster!
Review: I taught this book for three years in various seventh and eighth grade classes, and it was the biggest hit with the students of any literature we'd read. Students at that age love "the macabre", and the Salem Witch Hysteria provides a provocative topic for both the study of literature and society. There is plenty of intrigue and just enough romance in the book to interest both boys and girls. Incidentally, I recommend "Three Sovereigns for Sarah" (PBS production starring Vanessa Redgrave) as a great complimentary movie to the book.
Rating:
Summary: A historical fiction book that seems so real you think it is
Review: This is definately one of Ann Rinaldi's best books, and I've read every single one. The feelings and decisions made by Susanna are very real and easy to relate to. From Tituba's viewpoint to that of Ann Putnam and her mother, it is an interesting mix of different tales of the time. This is my favorite story about the Salem Witch trials, and I have read several. I strongly suggest this book and its author to all girls, especially middle schoolers. It is a wonderful way to learn about history, with just a twist of untruth.
Rating:
Summary: An awesome book!
Review: I'm 13. I recently read "The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre" by Ann Rinaldi and loved it. As I returned it to the school library, I casually looked for a book but was drawn to Rinaldi's books. I read Charity's summary and thought it was a little interesting, and figured I might not even read it. I read the first 5 or 6 pages and was drawn to it. I checked it out Tuesday and began reading it. I have just now- Thursday- finished it, even with my hectic schedule, I was barely able to put it down. Rinaldi scores another point with me in this book.
|
