Why Read This Book?
For Further Reading!
So me o f th e th eme s of Th e Wi tch o f
B l a ckb ird Pon d are reli g i ou s tolera n ce ,
is
Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges:
i m p o r ta n t n o t t o ju mp t o co n c l u si o n s.
F i n d o ut wh a t i t wa s l i k e t o b e t h e o n l y
T h o u g h t h i s b o o k t a k e s p l a ce i n t h e l a t e
b l a ck g i r l i n a n a l l - wh i t e sch o o l .
u ndersta n din g
oth e rs,
an d
wh y
it
1 60 0 s, ma n y o f t h e s e l e sso n s ar e s ti l l
ap p licab le today.
In o u r own co un try,
Mu sl i m p e o p l e h ave b e e n di sc ri mi n at e d
ag a i n st .
In B e r n e r,
kids are b u llied o r
o u tca st j u st b e c a u s e
th e y do n ’ t we a r th e
right
cl o t h i n g
or
l i st e n t o t h e r i g h t
mu si c.
I Am Regina by Sally M. Keehn: A
st o r y a b o u t a g i r l wh o wa s k i d n a p p e d b y
Native A meri ca n s.
Growing Up in a New World: 1607
to 1755 by Brandon Marie Miller:
T h i s n o n fi ct i o n b o o k w i l l g i ve yo u a
mo r e
co mp l e t e
vi e w
of
life
in
the
co l o n i e s.
Ki t t o o k a ch a n ce a n d g o t to
k n o w Wi do w Tu p p e r a n d fo u n d o u t t h a t
Salem Witch by Patricia Hermes: A
sh e wa s a w i se , k i n d wo man , an d n o t t h e
fre sh
h o rri b l e wi t ch t ha t pe o pl e ma de h e r o u t
T r i a l s.
new
look
at
the
Sa l e m
Wi t ch
t o b e . Ta k e a p ag e fr o m Ki t ’ s b o o k an d
try
th at
n e xt
time
some o n e
g i ve s
so me o n e e l s e a h a rd t i me b e ca u se th e y
assu me th in g s th a t ma y n o t b e tru e !
The Witch of Blackbird
Pond
Witch
Hunt:
Salem
Witch
Mysteries
Trials
of
by
the
Marc
A r o n s o n : T h e a u t ho r t a k e s a l o o k a t
the
m y s t e ri e s,
i n co n si s t e n ci e s,
ru mo rs a b ou t the Sa le m Wi t ch T rials .
a nd
By Elizabeth George Speare
Synopsis and Background Information
The Witch of Blackbird Pond is the story
of Kit Tyler, a teenage girl who moves
from
the
island
of
Barbados
to
Connecticut when her grandfather dies.
Though she is of British decent, her ways
are strange to her new family and
neighbors in the Puritan town of
Wethersfield.
were things that people had to do on a daily
The Puritans were a religious group who left
basis. If they slacked, they would be in bad
England in search of religious freedom and
shape, especially in the winter months. Even
young children had to pitch in.
tolerance. The only problem was that they
were very intolerant towards others!
Puritans led their lives by strict codes.
Clothing was very plain and it was the law
to attend church services! If something bad
Kit has a hard time fitting in at first. The
life of a Puritan was a tough one. The days
were occupied by hard, physical labor and
religious piety.
Who Were the Puritans?
Because Kit was used to
relying on slaves and
servants
to
do
everything for her, the
transition into life in
New
England
is
challenging at first.
happened to a neighbor, a Puritan would
ignore their neighbors instead of helping out
because they believed that the person was
being punished for something bad that they
did.
Those who were considered weak
were thought to be more likely to be
controlled by the devil!
What Was Life Like for a
Puritan?
Many
Puritans
were
successful
Despite what you may
businesspeople or worked for the church.
think, Kit is not the
Witch of
Many others worked their own fields and
Blackbird
necessary supplies for themselves and to
P o n d .
turn a profit.
T
Bethpage Village Restoration or have you
Picture from www.wikipedia..org
h
e
farmland
to
provide
food
and
other
Have you ever visited Old
“witch” is in fact Widow Tupper, who lives
every
alone near Blackbird Pond. The reader is
Pennsylvania?
outraged to find out why she is a pariah
seen people doing many activities that
and what townspeople try to do to her.
Puritans and other colonists would have had
This exciting read is a must for anyone
who enjoys historical fiction and a fast
paced read!
vi site d
Lancast er
County
in
If you have, you may have
to complete on a daily basis.
Imagine
harvesting an entire corn crop by hand!
Could you make your own soap? Your own
bread?
Could you slaughter your own
dinner if you had to?
All of these things