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Witches' Children
During the winter of 1692, when the young girls of Salem suddenly find themselves subject to fits of screaming and strange visions, some believe that they have seen the devil and are the victims of witches.
160 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
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176 people want to read
About the author
Patricia Clapp
16 books35 followersPatricia Clapp was born in Boston and attended the Columbia University School of Journalism. Her first novel, Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth, was a runner-up for the 1969 National Book Award for Children's Literature. Her other books include, I'm Deborah Sampson, King of the Dollhouse, Dr. Elizabeth, and Jane-Emily. She also authored many plays for children.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
April 18, 2020
I had read Jane-Emily recently and wanted to try Witches’ Children too. And what a surprising book it turned out to be. A very serious and sobering point has been brought out thru this story based on the Salem Witch Trials. The Mass hysteria that had occurred then was unprecedented and resulted in one of the worst and bleakest point in history with countless people accused of witchcraft and sentenced to death.
Patricia Clapp reimagines the story thru Mary Warren who recounts the beginning of the madness that grips the 10 girls who all shows symptoms of similar hysteria screaming, and contortions believed to be brought out by witches known to them, the girls then begin to pick names at random and thus heralded as possessing divine capabilities begins to exult in the power they hold over the so called grownups who lose all sense of reasoning.
The account of the trials is harrowing but the author has not gone into in depth detail to make it boring. It is a solemn book about the repercussions that happens when children are allowed to become “Gods” and can easily be followed by all. The characterization of each and every bewitched girl is wonderfully done and it was a pleasure to read even with a sad topic.
Patricia Clapp reimagines the story thru Mary Warren who recounts the beginning of the madness that grips the 10 girls who all shows symptoms of similar hysteria screaming, and contortions believed to be brought out by witches known to them, the girls then begin to pick names at random and thus heralded as possessing divine capabilities begins to exult in the power they hold over the so called grownups who lose all sense of reasoning.
The account of the trials is harrowing but the author has not gone into in depth detail to make it boring. It is a solemn book about the repercussions that happens when children are allowed to become “Gods” and can easily be followed by all. The characterization of each and every bewitched girl is wonderfully done and it was a pleasure to read even with a sad topic.
January 1, 2018
3 stars--I liked it.
This was enjoyable, and Clapp is good at characterization, but I felt it barely brushed the surface of the witch trials.
This was enjoyable, and Clapp is good at characterization, but I felt it barely brushed the surface of the witch trials.
July 4, 2016
This is a piece of historical fiction for middle grade readers. It is about the Salem Witch trials and all the lives it ruined.
The book can also be used as a lesson to show how a small lie can snowball into something with grievous consequences.
The book can also be used as a lesson to show how a small lie can snowball into something with grievous consequences.
August 3, 2025
I found Jane-Emily at a flea market and was so pleasantly surprised that I picked this book up as well. Overall, it’s pretty good — the focus rests on one of the “possessed girls” of the Salem witch trials, a bound girl who grows to regret her part in the accusations, but is too late to save any lives. What makes this a 3-star read is the odd disconnect between writing *style* and writing *depth* — the style is dense, loyal to 17th Century tone, with language too archaic and complex for most young readers these days. But the actual depth of the story is lacking; motivations are never explored too deeply, details are glossed over, social complexities are ignored. The result is a book too difficult for (most) children and too simple for adults.
(When I say “too difficult for children,” take it with a grain of salt. I would have loved this book when I was 8 or 9, but I work with the same age group, and those kids find Harry Potter boring. The ideal audience here is an advanced reader who enjoys dark content and has some exposure to older works like Grimm’s Fairy Tales or Pinocchio. If you think it might be a good fit for *your* kid, you’re probably right! Just be prepared to explain “thee” and “thou” if your kid doesn’t have that familiarity already. A lot of dialogue here is lifted directly from the Salem transcripts.)
(When I say “too difficult for children,” take it with a grain of salt. I would have loved this book when I was 8 or 9, but I work with the same age group, and those kids find Harry Potter boring. The ideal audience here is an advanced reader who enjoys dark content and has some exposure to older works like Grimm’s Fairy Tales or Pinocchio. If you think it might be a good fit for *your* kid, you’re probably right! Just be prepared to explain “thee” and “thou” if your kid doesn’t have that familiarity already. A lot of dialogue here is lifted directly from the Salem transcripts.)
October 18, 2023
In the winter of 1692, ten young girls cause mass hysteria when they accuse their neighbors of witchcraft and as Mary Warren, one of the ten admits, “It is but rarely that youth has power over its elders, and power is a heady brew.”
The infamous Salem Witch Trials are described by Mary Warren, one of the young girls who gained influence through lies and later realized it was too late, and too dangerous, to admit the truth.
The infamous Salem Witch Trials are described by Mary Warren, one of the young girls who gained influence through lies and later realized it was too late, and too dangerous, to admit the truth.
July 8, 2022
I liked the perspective it was written from.
May 17, 2013
BLACK CATS NEED NOT APPLY...
This is one sobering but highly readable book based on historical fact, which makes it all the more shocking. Seven sources are listed in the Bibliography, but don't think that you will be bored! There is nothing stuffy about mass hysteria; nothing dry in the shedding of innocent blood. The era of the Salem Witch Trials and juvenile power is a black blot on New England's spiritual copybook, yet one which we must not ignore. We keep asking ourselves; how could this farce-turned-tragedy happen; how could things be carried so far? Where were men of reason, women of compassion? Unfortunately for the victims, the science of Psychology had not yet been invented. Alas, the Devil's minions stalked and frolicked unchecked for many months in modest Salem Village.
Narrated by Mary Warren, a Bound Girl in the Proctor household, and herself one of the ten "poor, afflicted girls," this story describes in chronological order the incredible chain of events and passionate emotions which swept through this unassuming community during the winter of 1692/93. This tale of horror and psychological strangulation began as a harmless game of fortune telling by Tituba, the slave from Barbados. Egged on despite her better judgment, Tituba obeyed the minister's manipulative niece and sickly daughter. This contagion of senselss hate and spite spat its venom through the sleepy village, reaching a crescendo of horror which resulted in the death of many innocent souls and the destruction of their shocked families. No one was safe from the dramatic accusations of the "tormented" girls, who suddenly achieved social power and status beyond mere Salem.
Just what or who unleashed the forces of evil that overlong winter? Surely the accused were not really witches--Tituba was the only person who might have wielded Black Power--but beware the fruit of stifled femininity, of idle minds if not hands. Do we blame the bored and socially-imprisoned girls, town gossips looking for slander, group hysteria, the over-active imagination of pre-teens, and one possibly real case of epilepsy? All these factors combined to distort facts and contort morality into a hate campaign, thirsting for human blood. Not even the minister's home was safe; in fact this foul contagion festered and throve there, shifting to Ingersoll's tavern, thence to the courtroom and ultimately the gallows. Dost see Goody So and So perched like an owl on the rafters? Help--she is pinching and clawing me! And the ravings of these young girls were taken seriously! The truth could not be heard; only lies were believed. Confess to witchcraft and thou shalt be pardoned.
A chilling tale of puerile illusion and adult mania, with only the swift-paced dialogue fictionalized (based on journals and trial records). Clapp's style is fluid and hooks you in from the start. Read it for Colonial history, or for Psychology or just for Halloween, but don't miss this literary cauldron of deceit and mass brainwashing. At least we can be take comfort in the secure knowledge that such horrors could never be repeated in this century of enlightenment...can't we?
(October 18, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
This is one sobering but highly readable book based on historical fact, which makes it all the more shocking. Seven sources are listed in the Bibliography, but don't think that you will be bored! There is nothing stuffy about mass hysteria; nothing dry in the shedding of innocent blood. The era of the Salem Witch Trials and juvenile power is a black blot on New England's spiritual copybook, yet one which we must not ignore. We keep asking ourselves; how could this farce-turned-tragedy happen; how could things be carried so far? Where were men of reason, women of compassion? Unfortunately for the victims, the science of Psychology had not yet been invented. Alas, the Devil's minions stalked and frolicked unchecked for many months in modest Salem Village.
Narrated by Mary Warren, a Bound Girl in the Proctor household, and herself one of the ten "poor, afflicted girls," this story describes in chronological order the incredible chain of events and passionate emotions which swept through this unassuming community during the winter of 1692/93. This tale of horror and psychological strangulation began as a harmless game of fortune telling by Tituba, the slave from Barbados. Egged on despite her better judgment, Tituba obeyed the minister's manipulative niece and sickly daughter. This contagion of senselss hate and spite spat its venom through the sleepy village, reaching a crescendo of horror which resulted in the death of many innocent souls and the destruction of their shocked families. No one was safe from the dramatic accusations of the "tormented" girls, who suddenly achieved social power and status beyond mere Salem.
Just what or who unleashed the forces of evil that overlong winter? Surely the accused were not really witches--Tituba was the only person who might have wielded Black Power--but beware the fruit of stifled femininity, of idle minds if not hands. Do we blame the bored and socially-imprisoned girls, town gossips looking for slander, group hysteria, the over-active imagination of pre-teens, and one possibly real case of epilepsy? All these factors combined to distort facts and contort morality into a hate campaign, thirsting for human blood. Not even the minister's home was safe; in fact this foul contagion festered and throve there, shifting to Ingersoll's tavern, thence to the courtroom and ultimately the gallows. Dost see Goody So and So perched like an owl on the rafters? Help--she is pinching and clawing me! And the ravings of these young girls were taken seriously! The truth could not be heard; only lies were believed. Confess to witchcraft and thou shalt be pardoned.
A chilling tale of puerile illusion and adult mania, with only the swift-paced dialogue fictionalized (based on journals and trial records). Clapp's style is fluid and hooks you in from the start. Read it for Colonial history, or for Psychology or just for Halloween, but don't miss this literary cauldron of deceit and mass brainwashing. At least we can be take comfort in the secure knowledge that such horrors could never be repeated in this century of enlightenment...can't we?
(October 18, 2011. I welcome dialogue with teachers.)
April 1, 2014
Another favorite of mine as a kid -- I reread this almost as often as Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth, and I liked the slightly creepy, atmospheric feel of it. We follow Mary Warren, a girl living in the Proctor household, as she interacts with the other girls in Salem village, and within the first few scenes of the book, the Salem Witch Hunt has started up.
It's a great point of view for the story, because you get a sense of what went into the girls' fits and accusations, and why that sort of power would have been so addictive to them. I also could relate to the sense of curiosity about the occult, and why they might have been so interested in that sort of thing.
The ending is sort of hauntingly bleak, and the whole thing comes together in a way that works really well. I'd definitely recommend it to a reader who's interested in fantasy-type books, as another take on how kids might interact with occult forces.
(This is another instance where I read this book many years before I encountered The Crucible in high school. I was terribly disappointed by 1) the fact that the play focused on the (boring) adults and 2) the girls were all older and their motives are less about occult curiosity and the power of having a voice for the first time and more about (boring) Freudian stuff.)
It's a great point of view for the story, because you get a sense of what went into the girls' fits and accusations, and why that sort of power would have been so addictive to them. I also could relate to the sense of curiosity about the occult, and why they might have been so interested in that sort of thing.
The ending is sort of hauntingly bleak, and the whole thing comes together in a way that works really well. I'd definitely recommend it to a reader who's interested in fantasy-type books, as another take on how kids might interact with occult forces.
(This is another instance where I read this book many years before I encountered The Crucible in high school. I was terribly disappointed by 1) the fact that the play focused on the (boring) adults and 2) the girls were all older and their motives are less about occult curiosity and the power of having a voice for the first time and more about (boring) Freudian stuff.)
September 24, 2012
This book took an interesting Point of View to describe the happenings during the Salem Witch Trials. I have always enjoyed this topic, and I enjoyed reading this fictional book from Mary Warren's perspective. Some places in it were a little slow for me, and I had to re-read some things a couple of times. However, it was written in 1987 and was written about something which happened in 1692; so I think that can be to blame for some of the dry parts. I love the idea of historical fiction, and I enjoyed this book. There isn't much to say about the plot or what happens in the story because the author can't change the facts in history. I liked her perspective though about it all from one of the "possessed girls" opinions. There are different theories today about what really happened during that winter of 1692, and no one alive can honestly know exactly what happened, so to portray this perspective in fiction was a great idea. It was interesting and I like this book.
June 14, 2010
Out of boredom ten girls start having "visions" of the Devil and thrashing about in wild outbursts. The town elders immediately conclude that these girls are possessed and assume there are witches within the town. Mary Warren tells a vivid account of the events that lead to the infamous Salem witch-hunt. I find the Salem witch trials fascinating so i loved this book.It did not go as deep into the trials and some of the issues surrounding it as i would have liked but it covered enough for a young audience to understand and stay engaged in the book. It raises the questions of integrity and morals, and it shows the relationship between fear and panic. It does not really discuss the political side of the trials that are portrayed in other books but it gives a great base to start on if you are thinking about diving into the many stories of the Salem witch trials.
April 20, 2013
This would go in the Did Not Finish catergory, if I had one. I don't think it was the writing, but more the story or the subject matter. I was reading this because Cool Guy was interested in the Salem Witch Trials, and I thought he might like this. I think I'm going to make an executive decision here and pass. Seeing through the eyes of one of the perpetrators, even though she may feel strange about what she is doing is just not what I like to read about. I also don't like to read about children coming into contact, real or imagined, with the devil.
I know that this is historical, but it's just not how I like to spend my time.
I know that this is historical, but it's just not how I like to spend my time.
November 1, 2010
During the winter of 1692, when the young girls of Salem suddenly find themselves subject to fits of screaming and strange visions, some believe that they have seen the devil and are the victims of witches. The book has a dark quality to it, but this is part of its appeal to young adults.
Age/Grade: Young Adult
Instructional Ideas:
Use in a unit on Colonial Times and explore this historical novel by idetifying story elements: characters, setting, problem, and solution. The attitudes toward women and their roles in Colonial America times can also be discussed.
Age/Grade: Young Adult
Instructional Ideas:
Use in a unit on Colonial Times and explore this historical novel by idetifying story elements: characters, setting, problem, and solution. The attitudes toward women and their roles in Colonial America times can also be discussed.
June 22, 2013
As an avid fan of Jane-Emily, it's surprising I never read another of Patricia Clapp's books until this one, which came along with my download of Jane-Emily. Although the story can't, for me, match Jane-Emily (I don't think any book, ever, can), I still enjoyed it. Ms. Clapp's narrative style is a perfect example of writing that calls zero attention to itself and instead draws the reader into the storyworld, puts us at her--or the story's--beck and call. And the Salem witch trials is a wonderful subject for her to tackle.
December 2, 2013
Another version - well-told of The Salem Witch Trials (I always read these comparing this event to Miller's play "The Crucible"). The girls' age are more true in this version and it is Mary who has her eye on John Proctor, not Abigail. Tituba is a much rounder character. The setting/culture are also much stronger here and it makes more sense to see why the girls even started down this path given the restrictive environment of the Puritans as well as New England winters. Could be a good alternative for ELL or reluctant/struggling students.
March 27, 2014
I read this book for an assignment on historical fiction. It was surprisingly engaging. A quick read at 132 pages it was a lovely POV. I enjoyed the idea of the telling of this story. One of the girls that was "afflicted" then rejected and accused then returned to the fold but never the same. It has a great hook to grab young readers that maybe learning about the Salem Witch Trails. Truly enjoyed the perspective and that the author maintained the language of the time period (1620s-Puritan). Great insiders look at the life of a bonded child.
January 4, 2022
Witches Children by Patricia Clapp — I got this book on a family trip to Salem, Massachusetts in Middle School. It’s basically a retelling of The Crucible from the perspective of “Mary”, an indentured servant that gets wrapped up with the other young women and girls of the village as they feign commune with the devil. I guess I was a fan of historical fiction with a magical bend from the very beginning. This book was fine. It was rather monotone despite the dramas of possession but I imagine it was more accessible to me back then than Arthur Miller
November 8, 2010
Historical Fiction
This is a story about the Salem Witches. It starts with Tituba, a slave, using her fortune telling skills to predict the dark things that are about to occur. Ten girls suddenly seemed to be possessed by something evil. Mary Warren is one of them. These girls are put on "trial" and this book tells their story.
This would be a good book to use if you were doing a unit on the Salem Witch Trials. It would make great supplemental reading.
This is a story about the Salem Witches. It starts with Tituba, a slave, using her fortune telling skills to predict the dark things that are about to occur. Ten girls suddenly seemed to be possessed by something evil. Mary Warren is one of them. These girls are put on "trial" and this book tells their story.
This would be a good book to use if you were doing a unit on the Salem Witch Trials. It would make great supplemental reading.
November 16, 2014
gr 5-8 158 pgs
1692, Salem, MA. Orphan Mary Warren, bound servant to the Proctors, tells how she and other girls in Salem were involved in the Witch Trials. She describes how what starts out as a game quickly spins out of control creating a witch hysteria in the town that claims many innocent lives.
Quick moving story. Readers will empathize with Mary as what first starts out as a game to pass the boring winter afternoons quickly grows into something dangerous.
1692, Salem, MA. Orphan Mary Warren, bound servant to the Proctors, tells how she and other girls in Salem were involved in the Witch Trials. She describes how what starts out as a game quickly spins out of control creating a witch hysteria in the town that claims many innocent lives.
Quick moving story. Readers will empathize with Mary as what first starts out as a game to pass the boring winter afternoons quickly grows into something dangerous.
March 31, 2016
I have a bit of an obsession with the Salem Witch Trials and have read anything--fiction or nonfiction--that I can find about it. apparently, I've read too much. This short short (about 135 pages or so) novel read more like yet another historical account than a novel. In fact, it seemed more a prose summary of Miller's The Crucible than a stand-alone novel. Just another rehashing of the teens who started the hysteria. I enjoyed Clapp's "Jane-Emily" MUCH more.
January 9, 2008
Kids are fascinated by the macabre, and you can't get much more macabre than the Salem witch trials.
August 20, 2008
A book about the Salem witch trials.
April 6, 2011
For some reason i really enjoy books about the Salem Witch Trials, it was a very interesting and regretful event in American history, but it makes for good stories.
July 28, 2014
Quite an interesting and short read for those interested in the Salem witch-hunt and trials.
July 16, 2015
This came with Jane Emily, when I bought it. same feelings with this book.. just not interesting at all to me.
May 20, 2020
This book was interesting. Didn't go into as much detail as I have read in other books. I'm glad I read it.
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October 1, 2018More witch trial research.
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews