The Witch of Blackbird Pond

by GINA N on 2009-07-30
I have to say my 9yo son did not love this book I think primarily because many of the issues it addresses are feminine. I loved it, though!

by KERRY H on 2009-06-19
Excellent book that leaves you hanging at every chapter's end. We started it as a read-aloud and my daughter got impatient with me not having time to read to her so she decided to read ahead and couldn't put it down. She kept saying, "I feel so bad because you don't know what's happening, but I just have to read it!" Loved watching her enjoy it. It was terrific.

by BRITT Q on 2009-05-11
This was my favorite book so far. I really enjoyed listening to my mom read it to me because every time the chapter ended, I couldn't wait 'till we read again. The characters in the book also seemed so real. When they spoke, it seemed as if you were there too! The story came alive. From the sweet old lady, Hannah, to the wild, strong-willed Kit, the story gets better and better. It's a wonderful book! It's a story of adventures, kindness, love and friendship. Why not have fun and learn at the same time?! (review by Cali, 11 yrs.)

by ELEANOR R on 2008-11-21
Great book! We loved it both times through Core 3!

by SANDY D on 2008-09-17
We loved this book both times through Core 3. The first time I read it to my 9 yo and my 6 yo listened in. The second time, my 6 yo was now nine and her 7 yo sister enjoyed it, too. It does require explanation for younger children, but is well worth it! Great story! My kids still talk about how Kit ruined the corn mush every time we make polenta!

by DENISE B on 2008-08-02
My absolute favorite book of all times as a young girl and now as an adult!! My mom had the old record with the story read out loud with all the different characters played by different actors, but it was unabridged. My sister and I played the record so often, my mom made us read the book before we could listen to the record again. We read the book (which was no problem-loved the book) and then kept on listening to the record! I'd love to find the old record somewhere again, but this book is awesome. I've got my niece hooked on it now. I'm glad to see that it made the cut here in the read-a-louds.

by KETA J on 2008-06-22
Wonderful story, worth the slow start, and heavy vocabulary that must constantly be explained to a 3rd grader, (or 6th!) Learn lots of vocabulary words with this one. Boys bored with the first few chapters were on the edge of their seats and squirming with excitment and anticipation as we entered the last few chapters. Not an easy read, but well worth it, and the parent who gets to read it aloud will be so glad they did! EXCELLENT choice, and worth repeating in Core 100!

by TINKA L on 2008-06-02
This book is exciting, suspenseful and full of feeling. It is a book about a girl who learns to be brave. In a strange land, Kit Tyler meets an old lady called a witch and discovers someone with hardships more than hers. It is a good book because the writer is so good at helping you picture what’s going on, and it is very well-written. by Isabel L. age 7

by LOIS B on 2008-05-12
This is about The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare. Published in 1958, it is a Newberry Medal Winner. It has a wonderful storyline, with all kinds of elements woven into it. The story goes like this: it’s 1687, and Katherine Tyler has left Barbados to go live with her uncle, aunt, and cousins in Connecticut. She is terribly out of place there, because she was brought up very differently from her plain-living relatives. Kit befriends Hannah Tupper, an old Quaker woman, who some people in that community think is a witch. Eventually Kit’s friendship with Hannah, and some unusual incidents, make people believe that Kit herself is a witch. Will she be able to thwart their ridiculous ideas? Or will their superstitious beliefs take over? This is a marvelous book, which I really enjoy. My favorite parts happen during the husking bee, the witch trial, and the very end. One reason I like the trial is it’s very exciting and intense. You don’t know whether Kit is going to conquer their nonsensical beliefs or not. I like the very end because it has a happy ending for everybody. For one thing, Kit gets to be with the person she loves. This book made me feel many different ways, such as happy, excited, worried, sad, and angry. It has a perfect combination of all of these emotions, which leads to a magnificent book. I think you may want to read this book, because for people who like stories with elements such as love, excitement, incongruousness, and history, it is extremely pleasing. This is a wonderful book. I give it five stars, and I recommend it strongly. by Grace B. age 8, 5/12/08

by LYCIA E on 2008-05-09
Throughout my studies this year with Sonlight, my favorite book by far has been The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare, published first in 1958 by Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing Group, Inc., New York, New York. It is the story of Kit Tyler, an orphan from Barbados who goes to live with her uncle and his Puritan family in the state of Connecticut. During her stay there she meets Hannah Tupper, an old lady whom everyone thinks is a witch, but Kit and her sailor friend, Nat, are the only ones who believe that she is not. After Kit starts spending time with Hannah, people begin thinking she too is a witch. Nat joins Kit in her efforts to clear her name. This book is my favorite because of the diverse characters like Kit’s uncle, Nat the sailor, Hannah Tupper, William Ashby (the young man who wants to court Kit), Mercy Wood (Kit’s cousin), and many more. I also like the rich and broad plot, the subtle humor, the romance between Kit and Nat, and the suspense when Kit is threatened with a hanging. But my absolute favorite part of the book was the ending. I won’t ruin it for you, but I’ll just say that it will surprise you. I guess this book made me feel sad when Kit is accused of witchcraft, but happy at the end when everyone finally falls in love with the right person. I think you’ll want to read this book because no matter what you like in a book, this one has a little something for everybody. By Parker D., 6th Grade