First published 2008
Sarah Carrier lives with her family on a farm in Andover, near Salem, Massachusetts. Her father works the land with quiet determination, hiding secrets from his past. Her mother Martha practices herbalism and raises her children with fierce love and iron will. Sarah clashes often with her strong-willed mother, yet Martha knows her daughter better than anyone else. When neighbors begin whispering accusations of witchcraft against Martha, the family's world shifts. Martha makes Sarah promise never to defend her if the accusations reach court. The promise proves crucial when authorities drag Sarah and her brothers to prison alongside their mother. Inside the jail, the Carrier family faces starvation and brutality as Salem's witch trials consume innocent lives. Sarah must find the strength her mother taught her to survive the hysteria that will claim Martha's life on August 19th, 1692.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical, historical-fiction, family-drama
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-drama, strong-female-lead
Setting: Andover, Salem, Massachusetts
Period: 1692
332 pages · Paperback · Little Brown and Company
Content warnings: abuse, violence