A Break with Charity, by Anne Rinaldi

Reviewed by Christie Phillips, 13, Pennington, NJ

A Break with Charity, an exciting novel written by Ann Rinaldi, features the experiences of Susanna English, a young woman living during the 1690's. When a drastic change suddenly occurs in Salem, Susanna is the community's only hope. The once quiet town of Salem is faced with unfair trials, overloaded prisons, and the hangings of "witches". This has all happened due to a circle of girls who have began to "cry out" on alleged witches. When Ann Putnam, the group's leader, tells Susanna her shocking story, Susanna must overcome her own fears to save the town and its people.

Ann Rinaldi demonstrates her skillful writing in this novel. I liked how she was able to descnbe the historical events of the Salem witch trials through the eyes of a young girl. I enjoyed this author's use of descriptive language and vivid thoughts.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys learning about our country's exciting history by reading a thrilling noveL

"Christie Phillips is currently a 7th grader at Timberlane Junior School. Christie lives in Pennington NJ and is 13 years old. She enjoys playing a variety of sports, including soccer, basketball, softball, water skiing, and swimming. Christie also has other interests such as reading, writing, and playing with animals."

Teacher: Pat Coats

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