A Break with Charity: A Story about the Salem Witch Trials by Ann Rinaldi

A Break with Charity was the book most recommended when I asked my book club for books on witch trials. Out of the books I have read so far on this subject, it was not my favorite; however, it is also the book that has brought out the most emotion in me.

(Source: Kelsey Darling)

Susanna English lives in Salem at the start of the the witch trials. While initially wanting to be part of this circle of girls who meet at the parsonage and listen to Tituba's stories and have her read their palms and tea leaves. She wants to fit in with them, and she wants to find out if her brother William, who is a seaman, is okay. While she is not able to become part of the circle, she does meet with Tituba and get some answers, although they are mysterious. But then the girls of the circle begin having fits and naming people as witches. Susanna knows why they are doing it, but says nothing. As more people are named, tried, and sent to prison, Susanna battles with keeping quiet and keeping her family safe, or speaking up and risk her or her family being named as witches. Told from Susanna's point of view fourteen years later as she remembers "the recent tragedy" and wonders if lives could have been spared if she had broken with charity.

The plot of the novel is well written. I can remember what it is like being fourteen and wanting to fit in and keep my friends secrets and have bonds that will last forever. And I remember the pain of realizing people do not want you around and being left out.

"The girls of Salem Village had formed their circle as the cold set in at the end of November in 1691. In the beginning, the circle consisted only of Mary Walcott, Elizabeth Booth, and Susannah Sheldon. And every time I chanced by the parsonage and saw them being admitted by little Betty Parris, who was only nine, and her cousin Abigail Williams, who was eleven, I would wonder why Mary and Elizabeth and Susannah would bother to be friends with the younger girls. For Mary was seventeen, and Susannah and Elizabeth were both eighteen, and they wouldn't even bother to speak to me since I was only fourteen and not worthy of their favor." (p. 7)

(Source: Giphy)

I understood Susanna's hurt when she was turned away by the girls. After the circle starts naming members of Salem as witches, Susanna is confused as to why the girls would do something like this. She begins to understand after talking to Abigail Hobbs. Abigail is not a member of the circle, she is an outsider who eventually claims to be a witch. Before that though, Abigail confides in Susanna that she likes to read and write and live outside because it causes an uproar in their Puritan society, and she likes the drama. This is part of the reason for the circle claiming their fits are caused by spells cast upon them by witches; they want to break the monotony of their boring lives. When Susanna confronts one of the girls about their behavior, she is told that if she says anything, her family will suffer. While I was never faced with such a life and death situation, I do know what it is like to be given an ultimatum where no choice feels right. So Susanna is a very relatable character.

While she is relatable, I also found everything childish. I wonder if I would feel that way had I lived through it; and it definitely becomes less childish once people start dying. However, by that point, I was annoyed. This is a point in our history where we were on the precipice of so many discoveries; we were on the brink of Enlightenment and older generations were clinging to the past trying to keep things the same. It was easier for the town elders and clergy to believe these children (ages of the accusers ranged from nine to twenty) were afflicted with witchcraft. In reality, they were bored and, by the peak of the trials, spoiled. I could not stand their behavior or the fact that so many adults were falling for it. In my opinion, this was America's first case of affluenza. 

(Source: Giphy)

Like the other books I have read, Ann Rinaldi does a brilliant job of blending historical accuracy and artistic liberty. Most of the characters were real people, and their lives are pretty accurately represented. Susanna English's parents were accused of witchcraft and fled to New York; she had a brother, William, and sister, Mary. While in the story, William returns; in real life, he was lost at sea. In the story and in real life, Susanna marries Johnathan Hathorne, although the reason for the marriage is not known in real life. What I did find interesting is that they ended up adding a w to their name, making it Hawthorne; one of their descendants is the renowned author, Nathaniel Hawthorne, who wrote The House of the Seven Gables, which has some inspiration from witchcraft and supernatural. I appreciate the accuracy when reading these books as it adds more passion to the book; it shows me that the authors care about this time in our history and portraying it as accurately as possible.

Rating: 6/10

Author: Ann Rinaldi

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Witchcraft

Dates Read: May 25-27, 2018