Can one close out the history of the end of the 1600s without learning about the Salem witch trials? These took place from February 1692 to May 1693 in Salem, Massachusetts. Here are three books on Salem witch trials that we found useful.
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The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History
This picture book approaches the Salem witch trials as a mystery. At the end, author Jane Yolen presents the case: Why did the accusers behave the way they did? Were they bewitched, vengeful, or seeking attention? Yolen also has a similar picture book about the Lost Colony of Roanoke.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond
This Newbery Award winner is not directly about the witch trials in Salem, but rather about the general superstitious attitude of the times in colonial New England. The Witch of Blackbird Pond will transport you to colonial Connecticut in 1687. Kit is an outsider to the New England community from Barbados and already viewed with suspicion because she can swim, a skill she learned on the island. Then, she befriends an old Quaker woman, already outcast and labeled as a “witch.” Will she find herself in over her head when the friendship is discovered?
History Smashers: Salem Witch Trials
Kate Messner takes an investigative look into the witch trials, using primary resources and quotations to explain the Salem witch trials. She also broadens the Salem witch trials by comparing them to other witch trials of the 1600s in Europe. Primarily for a middle grade audience, there are short comic-strip drawings throughout to add humor. We listened to the audiobook with all the kids who were ages 14, 14, 10, and 9. We also read this series when learning about Columbus and the PIlgrims.
Posts related to Books on Salem Witch Trials
Recommended Resources from this post
- Find the book list here: Amazon Store, Salem Witch Trials
- Lost Colony of Roanoke
- Columbus
- Pilgrims