One of Jackson's lesser known works about a topic that is very familiar to many, but she still manages to make it compelling. She leaves a lot of details out (such as the full extent of Giles Corey's bravery), but the concise approach is understandable, because this is actually meant for younger readers.

No matter how many times I read about Salem, it always baffles me how easily fear and beliefs won over common sense, when a group of girls decided there were witches in their community. Not only did the accusations target mostly those who were considered different, non-conformist, or enemies of certain families, the "evidence" considered at the trials was on shaky ground as well (e.g. spectral evidence).

In the end, although there were contemporary critics, more than 200 people were accused, 30 were found guilty, and 19 were hanged. When the tide turned, so much of the damage was permanent. People had died, and the community had been so wrapped up with the devil's business that they had neglected farmwork and upkeep: "-- food became scarce and taxes higher. Farms were mortgaged or sold, first to pay prison fees, then to pay taxes; frequently they were abandoned."

The girls retired from public life and one of them said she never meant any harm, some of the wrongly accused received monetary compensation, twelve jurors asked for forgiveness in a public document, and Judge Sewall regretted his involvement.

John Hathorne thought for the rest of his life that the accused were witches and that his actions had been honorable.