Connie's career is finally falling into place after years of hard work and study. She has been accepted as a Harvard PhD candidate in American Colonial Studies. Connie is also spending her summer in her grandmother's house, a dilapidated and ignored mess that hasn't been inhabited in years. As Connie begins the daunting task of cleaning out the house, she discovers a key hidden in a Bible with the name Deliverance Dane written on a piece of old paper wrapped around it. Connie's interest is piqued and she tries to uncover more about the mysterious name hidden in her grandmother's house. Yet, as Connie sorts out the mystery of Deliverance Dane she soon discovers ties to the Salem witch trials. Was Deliverance truly a witch? If so, was the mention of her physick/spellbook in historical records proof that the witch trials were more than just the wild lies and imagination of a bunch of young girls, or were the events evidence that witches existed, and maybe, still practice their craft?
The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane is a well narrated work. It is able to relay the tales of both Connie and Deliverance, despite their three hundred year difference. The work incorporates historical events with fantastic occurrences. Howe is able to capture the idea that perhaps witches do exist and work with nature in order to heal. Yet, Connie must work quickly on order to find Deliverance's book, because more people are interested in its discovery and power. It is a work of historical fiction that strives to illustrate the idea that the Salem witch trials may have had some substance, outside the wild imaginations of a colonial town. It delves into the possibility that there were, still are, practicing and non-malicious at work in New England.
Media Librarian for the Cape May County Library, specializing in our audiobooks and music collections. I also read a lot, classic literature, biographies, and as you can see, a good amount of YA fiction. When I'm not engrossed in a book, I tend to be listening to them in my car as well. check out my other blog on YA Books.
0 comments:
Post a Comment