Lies: Ann Putnam Jr.'s Recounting of the Salem Witch Trials

by Oliver Dahl

Salem Massachusetts, 1692: Tituba curses two young girls, but Ann Putnam Jr. isn't one of them. In order to help save her friends, Ann develops a plan to accuse the remaining supposed witches of Salem. As the death count rises, each lie buries her deeper and deeper under a curse of her own doing. This tragic experience of guilt, abuse, power, and love gives a first-person view into the spine-chilling months where neighbor turned on neighbor at the word of a little girl.

Genres: Historical Fiction

116 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 10, 2014

About the author

Born at a young age in 1998, Oliver Dahl is the oldest of five children and lives in Idaho. Previous to finishing middle school, The Dreamers had earned him the a spot as one of Idaho's Top 50 Idaho authors (2011). The title of Idaho's Student of the Year (2012) preceded both the publication of Dahl's second novel, The Nightmarers, and the completion of his freshman year of high school. The Nightmarers hit its first category bestseller list the summer before his sophomore year. He enjoys reading, vlogging, and laughing at his own jokes. Dahl is also an awarded musician, blogger, and engineer. He has twice as many Oscars as Leonardo DiCaprio, and has won the Tour de France as many times as Lance Armstrong.

Reviews

[Meg - A Bookish Affair · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Lies" is a historical fiction account of Ann Putnam Jr., who was one of the infamous witnesses during the Salem Witch Trials. She accused countless numbers of her neighbors of being witches and got them punished and even killed. This is a short book but it packs a punch. Geared for young adult readers, this book is a great fictional introduction to a fascinating historical event.

The story is told from the perspective of Ann, which I absolutely loved. The book makes the supposition that Ann realized exactly what she was doing when she was accusing these innocent people and that she kept doing it to earn the love of her father and because she, at twelve years old, could hardly believe that she had that kind of power. It was a really interesting take. I have always wondered why those young girls were compelled to make such horrid accusations about the people in their community. This book really gives a compelling reasoning behind why they might have done what they did. Ann isn't exactly likeable because of this but she is most definitely fascinating.

The writing in this book was really good. The author is quite young and the way that he was able to write Ann's character was really amazing to me. There is a lot of good detail about what Salem was like during the trials and about all of the different people in the community. Overall, this was a great historical fiction book and I look forward to reading more by this author in the future!

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lies chronicles the story of Ann, a teenager who lives through the Salem Witch Trials first hand. Based on historical facts, the story follows the beginnings of the trial as Ann makes a grave mistake that will alter her life forever. Whenever she begins to spin a web of lies, she realizes too late that she's the one caught in the web.

Okay. First things first. Oliver Dahl, the author of Lies and two other books, is sixteen. Wow. Whenever I first received Lies, I fully expected to be going easy on Oliver because of his age. How wrong I was. His storytelling abilities outshine many of those older than him. Oliver Dahl is going to be a force to be reckoned with in the literary world. Mark my words.

This story is such a good read. The weaving of history throughout makes it more intriguing. Often times as I read Lies, I would pause to go search Wikipedia for articles to learn more about the events I was reading about. The imagery is built up so well that you're easily immersed in the world of Salem. The characters are the right kind of crazy for everything happening to make sense.

As I said, Oliver Dahl is talented. Though Lies is a quick read, you'll be left feeling satisfied at the end. I would recommend Lies to any fan of historical fiction. The protagonist is younger, but the story ascends her age. You cannot go wrong with reading Lies.

**I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Oliver Dahl.

[Loren · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author suggested I read this after I posted asking for just this kind of book, and I purchased it immediately. The point of view is told through the perspective of Ann Putnam Jr, which was very interesting to have it from the perspective of one of the girls actually accusing people. How Dahl explains the reasoning behind the accusations and the motives Ann has is both clever and practical.

This is the author's third novel. He's self-published and I believe still in high school. and brings forth a rich and vivid writing style that clearly indicates a passion and talent for writing. Incredible talent and hard work are two combinations for great success, and Dahl possesses them both. This is a introduction to fictionalized accounts of the Salem Witch trials without being grotesquely inaccurate insofar as history knows what occurred.

It's a good, quick read and a sturdy novella.

[Ben Langdon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very nice and quick read. Dahl's writing is fluent and moves along at a solid pace. The story covers the Salem Witch Trials from the perspective of one of the young accusers, and his protagonist Ann Putnam jr. is an interesting creation. She is innocent and very shy in the beginning, but through a very believable, yet damaging, relationship with her father Ann becomes one of the worst accusers in Salem.

Dahl admits he used history as a launching pad and this story is for entertainment rather than for history buffs. It certainly takes some liberties with the main character who becomes complicated and very much a complex, ambiguous heroine. Do we feel sorry for her? Sometimes. Do we wish she'd be punished? Sometimes. She isn't a black and white character - there is definitely a LOT of grey in Ann's character.

I would recommend this for people looking for a relaxing read. It's short - about 100 pages - and the language is straight forward. It would be suitable for ages 10 and up to adult.

(This review is for the paperback copy, which I found at my school library. Oliver Dahl was interviewed by our school's Art of Writing classes and they were so interest din his works that the library ordered in his three books. I will be recommending this to readers as soon as I take it back!)

[Sara Stephenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Family History in Print

My great grandmother’s maiden name was Putnam. This story is about my 9th great grandfather, my great uncle and cousin (Ann). This book was fascinating and eye opening to say the least. I recently did my ancestry through Ancestry.com and found generations that lived in Salem. More research led me to this book and to a museum dedicated to my family and their part they played in this tragic story. It is a great read and has a good balance of facts to fiction to keep anyone’s attention- even if it is not about your family history.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In Dahl’s latest novella, he explores a retelling of the Salem Witch Trials from the point of view of one of the afflicted. When Ann Putnam’s friends become bewitched shortly after having their fortunes told, Ann finds that there must be something she, a 12 year old, can do to help rid her town of witches and save her friends. She goes undercover, trying to find out whom in the town is and is not a witch. However, she finds that others have further motives in this town, beyond saving the girls from their curse.

I found this quick read to be very fascinating. The point of view and the plot were really well thought out, but I feel that Dahl failed to follow through. The main character is quickly derailed from her goals and never really talked about it again. I also felt that I learned more in the Author’s note than in the actual end of the story and really wish parts were included in the story. My advance copy also had a number of grammatical and spelling mistakes.

Keeping all this in mind, I think this was a quick, interesting read, one worth considering if you are interested in historical fiction.

[Kris · Rating 4 out of 5]

At just over 70 pages, this novella was a quick read and gave an interesting twist to the story behind the Salem Witch Trials.

While it starts with the cast of characters that we all know - Abigail, Elizabeth, Ann and Tituba, Oliver portrays the origins behind some of Ann's accusations in a new light. While I think most people believe that these girls were all pretending for fun and attention that got out of hand, reading Lies gave me another perspective to think about - how it might not have been all about the girls, but how there might have been other adults who were really running the show.

I enjoyed reading Lies and it was a quick escape from the present. I would also like to offer that the author, Oliver Dahl is just 16 years old and this is the third book that he has written.

[Maja · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun, easy, and quick read that takes a unique perspective on the Salem Witch trials. The narrator of the novel is a 12 year old girl and Oliver Dahl does an amazing job of writing in such a way that I easily felt like I was in the head of twelve year old Ann Putnam Jr. Dahl adds fictitious details to historical events to create a plausible explanation for why Ann could have acted the way she did. I found this book both fun and educational and I look forward to reading more books by this budding young author.

I actually received an advance copy of this book but am now considering purchasing the final published version so that i can share this with my family.

[Jodi Woody · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of “Lies” by the author, Oliver Dahl, in exchange for an honest review. I thoroughly enjoyed the book. I have always been interested in the Salem witch trials, a part of history that has never been able to explain exactly what happened. “Lies” plays out from both sides of the fence, those who were truly “afflicted” and those who were “faking.” Usually the story of Salem chooses a side. I liked the fact that Mr. Dahl chose to include both sides. The writing style is good. The story is being told through first person viewpoint. I give the book 4 stars. I really liked it. Appropriate for ages 14 and up.

[Janelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver Dahl’s retelling of the Salem Witch Trials holds a “magic” of its own. Told from the point of view of twelve-year-old Ann Putnam, LIES cast a spell, riveting my curiosity and causing me to reevaluate how I perceive certain events from history.
“What if Ann Putnam was lying?”
“What if the other girls are lying?”
“What if those accused aren’t really witches?”
“What if Ann’s father was only using her for political gain?”
Oliver does a magnificent job, making you ask your own “what if” questions throughout the entire story.

[Holly Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this Novella written by Oliver Dahl we learn the stories from the Salem Witch Trials told from the POV of 12 year old Ann Putnam.
Oliver Dahl did a great job with the emotions in this book. It drew me in the more I read. The plot had a smooth flow to it and kept me reading. The entire journey was amazingly wrote by a 16 year old.

[Maria Denney · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author states in the Author's Note that this book is not factual, but it is very good regardless. This is the (fictional) story of Ann Putnam Jr. and how she came to be one of the accusers in the Salem Witch Trials. How she fought a battle within herself of good and evil with evil, and evil being the winner.

[Chrissy Busick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Such a sad unfolding of events

Intrest in the Salem witch trials influenced me to read this book. I found myself somewhat sympathizing with Ann. She originally made her choice in hopes of helping her friends. The abuse she ended up suffering at the hands of her own father was so upsetting.

[Surabhi Singh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Want to read.

Am sure this is gonna be a great read! Oliver Dahl is hella talented :)

[Gaby · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of "Lies" from the author in exchange for a review.
This is the first book (as far as I can remember) that I've read that takes place during the Salem witch trials, and it is most definitely the first book I've encountered that handles the subject from a strictly non-paranormal perspective.
It follows Ann, a young girl who pretends to be tormented by witches in order to, hopefully, save her friends and her town.
It's a short book, more of a novella or short story, but it's definitely worth reading. The author did a very good job of sounding like a young girl. The voice of the narrator was completely believable and didn't sound in any way forced the way some perspectives tend to be when they differ from the author's life.
I liked that the book didn't focus on the magic and witch lore as much as it did on the psychological state of the characters. It got into the head of Ann to give one possible explanation as to why she acts the way she does in the book. Now, it being historical fiction, there are facts mixed in with some elements the author added in himself, which he goes into in his notes. I think the story manages to make its point in being an insightful and thought provoking read.
The two biggest "problems" for lack of a better word I had were:
1)The story's length- I would have loved for it to have been a little longer so the collective mental breakdown of the town and the conditions the afflicted girls were living in could have been more detailed.
2)Some cases of words or phrases being used too closely together in the same paragraph. This is a relatively minor issue and it's not a problem through most of the book.

In the end, I think if you're interested in the Salem with trials and its part in American history, or even just to read a different sort of story about that time, this is a good choice.

[Heather Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Idea:
I loved the idea. I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials, so I was very eager to get my hands on this book. It did not disappoint in providing historical details that I appreciated. I recently saw both the plays "The Crucible" and "Afflicted: Daughters of Salem" so I was in the right mood to read this.
The Characters:
I would have liked to see a little more of the cast of characters, but I did feel that I knew the ones that were fleshed out. I understood Ann's actions, but did not support them.

The Plot:
The plot was good! It kept me reading. I wanted to see if Ann would change her mind and how that would happen. I read it in a very short amount of time.
The Setting:
I loved the setting. Salem in 1692. Pretty cool! The writing kept me in the time period as long as I read it, so I felt that was nicely done.

Overall:
I liked it and would recommend it! I think it would be better for a younger audience, but I still enjoyed it and think older readers could, also.

[Will Van Stone Jr · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting telling of the witch hysteria in Salem

"Lies" is an interesting and well written tale told from the perspective of Ann Putnam, one of the girls who threw Salem into one of its darkest periods. From the first page, you're drawn into her small, religion-centered world where only the most devout is expected of a person. But it's what boils underneath that really intrigues. There are secrets and lies beyond the games played by Abigail and the other girls; some people use it as an opportunity to advance themselves in the cloistered society and in "Lies" we get just a taste of the true evil at work.

I despised most every character I encountered; spineless, backstabbing bastards who would use each other to their own, nefarious means. And as for Ann, the young girl in the middle of this extremists' dream? How about a kick to the taint. A deplorable figure too involved with her own self-perceived goodness to see the evil creature she really is.

Highly recommended.

[Wulfwyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials since I first learned of them as a child. I found it horrifying that children were so afflicted. Then as I got older and read more on it, I was horrified that young girls were believed so readily. So many were tortured and died in the name of religion.
This story takes the point of view of Ann Putnam Jr., who was one of the afflicted girls. She later took back her accusations. Unfortunately it was too late to save anyone. I found this story to be a fascinating look at one of the ways the afflictions could be explained. It was a very quick read. I thought the author wrote a riveting story. I was surprised to learn he was only 16 when he wrote this. Kudos to him for writing, (and doing a phenomenal job editing), such a captivating book.
The book is suitable for teens and up to read. In my opinion, I didn't find anything in it that would be objectionable. I would recommend the book to anyone with an interest in the witch trials, though keep in mind it is fiction. It took me about an hour to read the book.

[C.E. Thornton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lies tells the story of the Salem Witch Trials from the perspective of Ann Putnam, Jr., the only witness of the trials to ever apologize for her role in the deaths of so many people. Dahl succeeds in both capturing and killing Putnam’s innocence as her role in the trials and mass hysteria grows.

Dahl’s passion and his research both paid off: in only 112 pages he’s spun a strong story out of the mystery that still surrounds one of the darkest events in American history. It’s a quick read (I read most of it in one sitting) but it’s heavy, dealing with the greater evils hidden in the human psyche. Be sure you have time to sit and think about what you’ve read. I personally found it very relevant to the reactionary culture our modern internet enables. We’d all do well to think long and hard before we speak, and act.

[Double Decker Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oliver has written a story here that is worth reading over again.

I truly enjoyed this book as a gift from Oliver. One I love History. Two, nothing interests me more is when an author can write a good tale about the Salem Witchcrafts and Trials.

Ann was a great character who made this story come alive. Ann being the level headed one and smart one dives in to same her friends and reveal the last remaining witch. Does she?

[Hayley Bahnemann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always found the Salem Witch trials to be fascinating, but also really frustrating and I think this book does a good job of portraying both aspects of that.

[Ella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful!! See my full review here: http://readingisawayoflife.blogspot.c... ~Happy Reading :)

[Phoebe Marvelcomics · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting short story from a young writer about the Salem With Trials. Definitely worth reading if you've got an hour or two to spare on a rainy day!

[Becca · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick easy read - couldn't put it down. Compelling story and creepy account of the Salem witch trials. The end fell a little flat for me but the beginning was intense.

[Al Dheeb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good