Rating: 
Summary: It was very true to the real sad time.
Review: Having read this book twice, I have come to be very interested in the late 1600's and other historical times. As I read, I came to know each character better and better and understand their reasons. I felt as if Mary Chase was someone whom I had known forever, yet it was only 4 days. When the book became very detailed with gore, I realized, that this really happened. People were really forced to live like this. I totally recommend this book to many history loving teens (such as myself) with much enthusiasm.
Rating: 
Summary: Accusations of Witchcraft in Salem
Review: How would you feel if someone betrayed you and said that you are something that you are not? In the novel Beyond the Burning Time, by Kathryn Lasky, the people of Salem Town thought that Ann Putnam, Mary Walcott, or Mercy Lewis were saviors because they were supposed to the gift to spot witches. These girls would say they saw something and then they would accuse someone of witchcraft. Their word alone was enough to put people in jail and on trial for witchcraft. It was thought that there were five witches in Salem. The Chase family of Salem Town did not believe in witchcraft. Imagine the surprise of Mary and Caleb Chase when the three girls look closer to their own family. Are the accusations of the girls real?
I liked this novel because it taught me about a specific time in American History. The witch-hunts in Salem are not one of the proudest moments in our history. They are an example of how hatred and fear can destroy innocent peoples lives. One thing that I disliked about the novel was how arbitrarily people made accusations. There was no way to verify whether the accusations made against the people were justified.
When I compare this book to other books that I have read, this one of my favorite books. I liked this book because it was interesting to read. It interested me because I could never imagine living in a situation like Mary did. It is hard to imagine living at a time when life could be a living hell.
This was an enjoyable book for me to read. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about American history. This story gave more than the facts of what happened in Salem Town. It gave us a glimpse of the experience through the eyes a person who lived through it.
Rating:
Summary: So far a 14 year old reader
Review: I am only on chapter 16 of this book but so far I must say that it is very enjoyable. I just started reading it but once I read it I could not put it down. There are some dull points to the story however such as when the author goes on for a page about Gilli's eating habbits. The book is very detailed and though it doesn't have much in the line of action, it is some how still addictive with it's suspence. If you enjoy stories about long ago when many people were thought to be witches then you will most certainly enjoy this colorful tale of witch trails, lies, and suspence.
Rating: 
Summary: Which witch and whose who
Review: I liked that this was a fictional story about a non-fictional topic. It tells you about a time in history and the events that happened. It was true that they hung people but the names of the people they hung in the book are made up. I disliked that there were so many names. It made it hard to tell who was who. In the book someone's first name was the same as someone elses last name. This book is similar to the book Farewell to Manizar because in both books people are unjustly accused of things they didn't do and persecuted for them. Overall I thought the book was O.K., it could have had a little more detail about the surroundings.
Rating:
Summary: It was simalar to true witch trials books.
Review: I love the salem witch trials and I know everything about it. This fictional book had non-fiction in it also. It had all the people like Tituba and John Proctor. The book is in the first person, which gives it a little view, but a little girl, Mary Chase, can't see much. It still was a good book.
Rating:
Summary: LOVED IT!
Review: I loved this book. I couldn't put it down. I've already recommened it to a couple of people and I just finished it this week. I learned more than I thought you could from a fiction book. Did you know that there was really only one true witch in Salam? You learn more than just that by reading this book. It was excellent. Kathryn Lasky obviesly took a good amount of time in writing this book, since so much detail was put into it. Anyone can tell that she did a good amount of reaserch since there were many acounts of true life happenings in Salam in this book. Should defintly read. If your not interested in Salam now, by the time you finish this book you will be.
Rating:
Summary: At first I thought it was cinfusing. In the end it got good.
Review: I thought the book was confusing at first because I didn't understand who was who. When I got to the tenth chapter, everything started to get good because a group of girls who practiced witchcraft were making believe they were possessed and called out names of women who were suppose to be witches. One of the names they called was Virginia. Virginia was Mary's mother. Mary is the main character who throughout the story goes through alot of phases. At the end.............Read the book yourself! I hope you enjoy as much as I did!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring and stupid
Review: I thought this book was the stupidest book I have ever read in my whole life. It was so pointless to read about this because it's not happening now, so who cares?
Rating:
Summary: Burning with RAGE!!!
Review: Mary and her brother, Caleb, lost their dad to a raging fever after he caught a chill. Their mother was widowed, but still wanted to fulfill her husband's dream of growing/making things that would be shipped around the world. They finally did it, but when they get it going, Mary's mother is accused of witchcraft. There have been some girls who have been "afflicted." They are the ones who cried out that they saw the "shape of Mary's mother" doing witchcraft. Caleb thinks that he sees a pattern of the people being accused. He thinks that this whole "strangeness" is due two a rival of two groups over money. Mary is positive that her mother isn't a witch. She is determined to save her mother before it's to late. Can she save her mother in time with the help of her brother? Lasky has captured the thoughts and feelings of Mary and Caleb. It feels like you are right there with them. You want to cry for them and RAGE AT THE UNFAIRNESS OF IT ALL along side them. I thought that this novel was very emotional. It told of the unfairness of the Salem Witch trials. It also had examples of discrimination and tolerance.
Rating:
Summary: One person's look at Beyond the Burning Time
Review: Mary Chase was born and grew up in Salem in the late 1700's. She lived a normal life until one day several of the girls in her town began to act strangly. Some people thought they had become afflicted and many of those girls were beaten to make them stop. Mary never thought it was a big deal until the priest told her that it may be witchcraft and could affect anyone. Mary was scared of becoming afflicted, until one day it became much worse. Mary's mother Virginia Chase was accused of witchcfraft. It was up to Mary and her brother Caleb to save their mother. Mary Chase had no idea what to do. The only thing she knew was that her mother and Cleb were all she had left. She would do anything to save her mother. Mary and her brother set off with only one thing on their minds. No matter what happend they would find out where their mother was and save her from dying although innocent.
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