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blairfrank's review
2.0
I love reading about the Salem Witch Trials, but this ain't it.
The characters didn't really develop, and I'm thankful it was written in verse because it was a struggle. I enjoyed the research at the end of the book more than the story itself.
The characters didn't really develop, and I'm thankful it was written in verse because it was a struggle. I enjoyed the research at the end of the book more than the story itself.
labunnywtf's review
4.0
This book pleasantly surprised me. The premise sounded great, but, well, I judge books by their covers, and this one looked extremely disappointing.
I didn't really care for the format of the chapters. It made for fast reading, which was nice, but the almost sonnet-esque style wasn't easy on my eyes. I loved that the story was told from the different girls' points of view. That was nice.
I have a serious love for all things Salem Witch Trial. This book was pretty awesome. Stephanie Hemphill did for peer pressure what Arthur Miller did for the Mcarthy hearings. It's a different take on the trials, but it's beautifully done.
Only one of the girls is sympathetic. The other two just made me want to slap them and scream "WITCH! HANG HER!"
A really enjoyable read, and seriously recommendable for teens (or adults, for that matter) who have to deal with peer pressure.
I didn't really care for the format of the chapters. It made for fast reading, which was nice, but the almost sonnet-esque style wasn't easy on my eyes. I loved that the story was told from the different girls' points of view. That was nice.
I have a serious love for all things Salem Witch Trial. This book was pretty awesome. Stephanie Hemphill did for peer pressure what Arthur Miller did for the Mcarthy hearings. It's a different take on the trials, but it's beautifully done.
Only one of the girls is sympathetic. The other two just made me want to slap them and scream "WITCH! HANG HER!"
A really enjoyable read, and seriously recommendable for teens (or adults, for that matter) who have to deal with peer pressure.
ericaroseeberhart's review
4.0
24marsha's review
3.0
The story of the young girls who instigated the Salem witch trials based on the motivation being mischief told completely in prose. Not as historical as I would have like but another interesting look at that part of history.
cosmicrusalka's review
1.0
I was very disapointed with this book...
I was hoping for something a bit more interesting.
I was hoping for something a bit more interesting.
courtknee_bee's review
2.0
2.5 stars
This was definitely an interesting if unoriginal attempt to show the group dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials. The author did a very good job of making the three main characters complex. They all had some good in them, but they all had some bad in them, too. Additionally, there were some victims that you felt like you could understand why the girls accused them, but there were many more who were truly innocent. I enjoyed reading about the shifts of power and the rise and fall of different friendship among the girls.
The one major detraction of this book, however, is the verse its written in. Why did it need to be written in verse? It really just reads like the author wrote down paragraphs then went back and hit enter every couple of words to make it look like verse. Seriously, the only good verse was the poems that marked each month. Otherwise, it really should have been left as prose.
If you're bored enough, I'd recommend this book, but it's no stand out. Overall, it's a rather vanilla retelling of the Salem Witch Trials, though the power dynamics and character development might be enough to hold your interest.
This was definitely an interesting if unoriginal attempt to show the group dynamics of the Salem Witch Trials. The author did a very good job of making the three main characters complex. They all had some good in them, but they all had some bad in them, too. Additionally, there were some victims that you felt like you could understand why the girls accused them, but there were many more who were truly innocent. I enjoyed reading about the shifts of power and the rise and fall of different friendship among the girls.
The one major detraction of this book, however, is the verse its written in. Why did it need to be written in verse? It really just reads like the author wrote down paragraphs then went back and hit enter every couple of words to make it look like verse. Seriously, the only good verse was the poems that marked each month. Otherwise, it really should have been left as prose.
If you're bored enough, I'd recommend this book, but it's no stand out. Overall, it's a rather vanilla retelling of the Salem Witch Trials, though the power dynamics and character development might be enough to hold your interest.
j_ritt02's review
4.0
This was really good!!! I love that the author included what happened to the real girls and "witches". Would definitely recommend.
ckausch's review
3.0
Stephanie Hemphill uses free verse and three different character perspectives to tell a fictionalized account of the Salem witch trials in Wicked Girls. It is a fascinating take on a piece of American history about which we know many facts but not the full story. The novel opens with Mercy Lewis, a 17-year-old servant in the Putnam’s house, as she gives the reader an idea of what life in Salem Village is like: cold, little to eat, lots of distrust of others. The reader soon meets the other main characters: Ann Putnam Jr., the 12-year-old who yearns for attention, namely from her mother and Mercy, and Margaret Walcott, a 17-year-old cousin of Ann’s, with a fierce streak of jealousy....
I saw this book on display at ALA and the cover made me yearn to read it. I was so happy when a copy soon came in the mail for me. I could not put this book down! Hemphill’s portrayal is very believable. Teens will relate to the bullying, group think, and peer pressure that drives the characters...
Hemphill’s author notes in the back are thorough...
Full review at http://dogearedandwellread.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/wicked-girls-by-stephanie-hemphill/
I saw this book on display at ALA and the cover made me yearn to read it. I was so happy when a copy soon came in the mail for me. I could not put this book down! Hemphill’s portrayal is very believable. Teens will relate to the bullying, group think, and peer pressure that drives the characters...
Hemphill’s author notes in the back are thorough...
Full review at http://dogearedandwellread.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/wicked-girls-by-stephanie-hemphill/