Reviews

Dear America: I Walk in Dread by Lisa Rowe Fraustino

jgurniak's review against another edition

5.0

The Salem Witch Trials have always fascinated me but this book wasn't as good as I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, it's a good book and I recommend it but I was still a little let down. Oh well.

thepassivebookworm's review against another edition

informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

sncarter's review against another edition

informative fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This is a good addition for older kids learning about the Salem witch trials. The author stayed true to historical accuracy (unlike most novels on this topic) while writing an engaging and layered novel. I appreciated that the characters discussed reading the diary of Mary Rowlandson as an additional historical context. Fraustino does not glorify or entirely vilify the Puritans and skillfully reveals their problematic worldview shaped by religious, economic and political factors. It’s important to know that she includes historically accurate racist and dehumanizing attitudes towards Native Americans in a way that begins to challenge the main character’s biases but in a very limited way. 

erintowner's review against another edition

4.0

I used to love this series when I was a kid. I don't currently own a TV so I'm reading easy things in the evening instead. This book was interesting because mass hysteria brings to mind so many questions.

icanreadish's review against another edition

medium-paced

3.0

moormanmak's review against another edition

4.0

Took off a star bc Liv would never break girl code by marrying Mem’s widower after Mem died

andrea1975's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

carolineinthelibrary's review against another edition

5.0

One of my favorite periods in history to read about and one of my favorite Dear America books!

kelleemoye's review against another edition

4.0

Dear America is such a great series because it takes historical events, puts the reader right in the middle and makes sure to stay as true as can be to the historical events. I Walk in Dread is no different and actually, it is one of the most accurately historical books about the Salem Witch Trials that I have read. Ms. Fraustino discusses in the afterword how she researched primary sources trying to find the truth behind all of the gossip and myths that exist about the trials.

Deliverance (Liv) Trombley is our narrator and lives with her sister Rememberance (Mem) in a home with their uncle. Their uncle has left to go whaling, so Liv and Mem are holding down the house while waiting for him to return. It is during this time that the witch trials begin. Liv Trombley (Deliverance) is fictional as well as her sister and one other family in the book, most of who she interacts with is not. I found it interesting that she decided to write the diary from the point of view of a girl in the village, not of an accused or accuser, though it allows the reader to see the events from an outside point of view.

laurenamanda315's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0