The Tall Man from Boston

by Marion L. Starkey

An account of the Salem witch trials emphasizing the role of John Alden, one of the unjustly accused "witches."

46 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

About the author

Marion Lena Starkey was Editor of the Saugus Herald newspaper, and a teacher at the Hampton Institute and the University of Connecticut at New London, having attended the Harvard Graduate school of Education. A descendant of Mayflower passenger Peregrine White, Starkey has published extensively on the Salem Witch Trials and the history of New England.

Reviews

[Yasmin Gomez Geng]

Just like a number of other stories about the Salem Witch Trials, this book provides a lot of possibilities to talk about the importance of telling the truth and not lying, as well as the effects that one's choices can have on the lives of other people. This book would be a good jumping off point for research to be done within this time era.

It would also teach students about how much negative history there is within American History, just like topics of slavery and the treatment of minorities within the Industrial Revolution.

Grade: 3rd Grade to 6th Grade
Topic: American History, Women in History, Salem Witch Trials, Colonial America

[Eden Silverfox · Rating 3 out of 5]

A history book about the Salem Witch trials and a man from Boston who was accused of attacking the girls in Salem Village.
It was a very short book, but still good and the way its written makes it interesting for children.

[Random Scholar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This children's book does a wonderful job exposing just how morally corrupt society was during the late 1600's. Everything from slave labor to a criminal justice system that relied purely on dream interpretation was shown in this short story about a man who was wrongfully accused of being a witch during the Salem witch trials. Children may read and wonder if a strange world like this ever existed. My hope is that it never will exist again.

[Joe Kilmartin · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent children's summary of the Witch Hunts in Salem featuring one of the witnesses called in from out of town to his great misfortune. Based on the transcripts of the trials themselves Beautiful illustrations.

[Kaitlin Harrington · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very short but also very interesting book! So short I read it all in just a few minutes and while I did not learn much from it I did still enjoy it.