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| cover by Barnes & Noble |
Hemphill, Stephanie. Wicked Girls: A Novel of the Salem Witch Trials. New York: Balzer Bray, 2010. ISBN: 978-0-06-185329-6.
Poetic Elements
Wicked Girls is a novel of historical
fiction detailing accounts of the Salem witch trials, told in verse, from the
perspective of three young girls living in Salem in 1692. Ann Putnam Jr., the
youngest and so-called “ring leader” was a young lady with stature in the village
that coaxes the young beautiful servant of the house, Mercy, to participate,
“They
call it Affliction,” / “All are in awe of it.” / A flash of mischief crosses Ann’s
eyes / as she watches me watching her, / like the torch that smokes / heaven’s
white edge.” The author’s use of figurative language and sense imagery further
pulls Mercy in, “Ann’s eyes blaze / They bid me / Come into the madness, Mercy.
/ And then I see it, / in the deep black of her eye, / a cavern, a place / amidst
the suffering / it seems / a girl might escape.” Hemphill offers valid reasons for
these girl’s selfish choices, including those of Ann’s older cousin, Margaret, “I am not
left behind. / My eyes bloom wide / and pretty as the rest / of the flowers / growing
wild / in the witches’ garden."
Appeal
The
narrative verse format of this story lends itself well to the time period as
literature prior to the nineteenth century was often in verse form. The poetic
form of narrative verse is also appealing to many young people and is a faster
read than the typical novel.
The
Salem witch trials are an intriguing subject for many readers and they continue
to stimulate the emotions and imagination of the audience. The theme of
jealousy, abuse, and peer pressure are ones in which readers can relate to in
their life today, as well as to mob mentality and modern day gangs.
Overall Quality
The
overall quality of “Wicked Girls” is confirmed by the starred reviews it
received in 2010 from Booklist, Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Horn Book, and
School Library Journal. It stimulates a variety of thoughts and emotions as the
decisions these girls made translated to death at the end of a hangman’s noose
for eighteen of their accused, as well as one being “pressed” to death.
Hemphill does a superb job of representing the various moods of the “bewitched”
girls throughout the story from their hesitation to participate, to the
confidence in their authority, and to the remorse of their guilt when things go
too far. After one particular “group” fit, Mercy realizes the power of their
prank: “I stare at my hands, / fingers hooked in pain, / and see something new.
/ These hands are not just / implements to serve. / They are weapons.”
The Poet
Hemphill's first novel in poems, Things Left Unsaid, was
awarded the 2006 Myra Cohn Livingston Award for Excellence in Poetry by the
Children's Literature Council of Southern California. Her second, Your Own,
Sylvia published in 2007, was a Printz Honor book and also received the
Myra Cohn Livingston Award. She studied at the University of Illinois and
currently resides in Los Angelos.
Layout
The book opens with a double page layout titled “The Girls”,
a brief description of the seven accusers in order of appearance. I found
myself returning to it often, not out of necessity but simply to enhance my
understanding of the characters. The book takes readers through the entire year
of 1692, introducing each new month as a new chapter with a corresponding
verse. Similar book jacket art included on the corner of each new month’s page
distinguishes it from the other text. At the end of the book she includes a
description of the real girls and what happened to them along with descriptions
of the real accused and what is known of them. An author’s note, as well as
bibliographical references, closes out the novel, inviting readers to delve
further into the Salem witch trials.
Spotlight Poem
Wicked Girls
By
Stephanie Hemphill
MEETING
(Mercy Lewis, 17)
Ingersoll’s smells of rot,
week-old bones aboveground.
I hold my sleeve to my nose.
“I seen not a specter,”
I say. “Has anyone honestly
seen one?”
None speaks.
“This must end.”
I say it bold.
Silence. The drip of a leaky roof,
the pant of canine tongue.
Abigail smiles. Margaret seems
to almost nod, and Elizabeth clasps
my hand.
Ann shakes her head.
“Have you all gone mad?”
she finally says. “We shall return
to nothing, if we are not seers.
The Lord has chosen us
to be guides, and we shall do so
as along as the Lord permits us.”
“We are not chosen to see.
We have been choosing who to see.
And who are we to choose?
This must end.”
I pound the table.
Ann grabs my arm
rough enough Wilson barks,
and the few folks in Ingersoll’s
eye us. “Giles Corey.
You are made ill by Goodman Corey,”
she orders me like a servant.
I shake free of her
and march sure-footed
Out of that grave-digging hole.
Poetry Break
Introduction: As this is a historical fiction novel for
young adults, introduce it by playing a quick game of hangman with the class
featuring the word “witchcraft.”
Follow up the game of hangman by showing this short video featured
on the History Channel:
Extension Activity:
Display a photo of a hangman’s noose as you read the
spotlight verse aloud. After reading the novel, young adult students may be interested in doing research on the Salem witch trials.
