First published 1996
Strange afflictions grip the young girls of Salem. They writhe and cry out, claiming invisible forces torment them. The villagers whisper of witchcraft. Fear spreads through the community like wildfire. Mary learns the terrible news slowly. Her friends suffer from mysterious spells. The townspeople point fingers and make accusations. They believe witches walk among them, casting evil magic on innocent children. Then Mary discovers the most shocking truth of all. The villagers have named her own mother as one of the witches. Her mother stands accused of the very crimes that terrorize Salem. Mary faces an impossible choice. Her brother Caleb stands beside her as they wrestle with doubt and loyalty. Do their neighbors speak the truth about their mother? Has the woman who raised them really practiced dark magic? Or do innocent people face death based on lies and hysteria? Time runs short. If Mary believes in her mother's innocence, she must act quickly. The accused rarely escape Salem's justice. Mary and Caleb must decide where their loyalty lies before the village claims another victim.
Genres: historical, historical-fiction, mystery, young-adult
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, loyalty
Setting: Salem
Period: 19th-century
288 pages · Mass Market Paperback · Scholastic Paperbacks
Content warnings: death