An Outbreak of Witchcraft

May 1, 2024

Gr 7 Up-The notorious Salem Witch Trials are brought to life with gripping visuals in this narrative nonfiction graphic novel. Beginning with the events that lead to accusations of witchcraft, the story broadens to explore the social conditions that fueled the trials. Taking details from primary source documents, including court transcripts, Noyes crafts a suspenseful and detailed account of witchcraft frenzy. Using a dark and moody palette, the full-color illustrations bolster the sense of unease and paranoia that sweeps the population. Fans of horror graphic novels will appreciate the supernatural elements in the text and imagery. Stories of the Salem Witch Trials still spark fear and curiosity even after three centuries. Noyes and Duffy use historical research to detail the accused and their communities. Portrait gallery images of key people involved will help readers follow the whole arc of the trials. There are several standalone sections detailing the social conditions and religious attitudes of the time, helping readers better understand the fervor in the populace and the intensity of the trials. VERDICT A good supplemental option for teen graphic novel sections.-Meaghan Nichols

Copyright 2024 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

June 1, 2024
Grades 7-12 In the late 1600s, panic filled the small town of Salem, Massachusetts, as two girls accused their servant of witchcraft to get out of trouble. However, this was only the beginning, as many more accusations were brought forward. This turned friend against friend, neighbor against neighbor, and family against family. Fear and mistrust lead to false accusations and wrongful convictions, resulting in the loss of two dozen innocent lives. Noted nonfiction author Noyes offers a thoughtful account of this moment in history, exploring paranoia and how it can take over a small town and destroy it from within. Duffy's dark, haunting artwork zeroes in on faces to highlight emotion and evocatively renders moments of tension and fear. To help readers keep track, an array of portraits introduces key characters in the opening pages, and Noyes opens each section with several pages of historical context about not only what happened in Salem but also the wider reality of witch hunts in New England. Supplemental reading and source notes close out this well-researched, engaging work blending heartbreaking fact and unsettling fiction.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

April 1, 2024
A dramatization of the people and events surrounding the 17th-century Salem witch trials, tied together with relevant nonfiction information. Through scenes and conversations based on careful research, this graphic novel informs readers about lesser-known aspects of the infamous trials, which have become embedded in popular lore and imagination. The volume opens with a gallery of portraits of cast members, a helpful reference for readers navigating a story with many characters: "The Afflicted," "The Accused" (and their family members), and "Witch Hunters and Men in Power." Each of the book's four sections opens with a few pages of text explaining the historical context. The illustrated panels that follow try to pull together a related narrative thread. There are so many people at play in the scenes, however--often not easily distinguishable from one another--that it can be difficult for readers to keep track of them. Duffy's illustrations are often stunning and moving, showing haunting eyes peering through darkness, as well as depicting Gallows Hill, with five innocent bodies hanging from a tree as day turns to dusk and then becomes the dead of night. Noyes discusses the roles of racism, patriarchy, and economic turmoil, all of which set the stage for the witch hunt. Overall, this work provides fascinating insights for those already interested in this episode in history as well as those who know little about it. A haunting representation of a true American tragedy. (author's note, list of those executed, works consulted, further reading) (Graphic nonfiction. 12-18)

COPYRIGHT(2024) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.