Synopses & Reviews
In 1692 Salem, Massachusetts, witnessed one of the saddest and most inexplicable chapters in American history. andlt;BRandgt; When a group of girls came down with a horrible, mysterious bout of illness, the town doctor looked in his medical books but failed to find a reasonable diagnosis. Pretty soon everyone in town was saying the same thing: The girls were ill because they were under a spell, the spell of witchcraft! And still, the question remains: Why did the hysteria occur? The townspeople had many things to worry about back then: smallpox, strife with the local Indians, a preacher demanding higher wages, and the division of land in the community. But did all of those problems justify a witch hunt? andlt;BRandgt; Become a detective as you read this true story, study the clues, and try to understand the hysteria! The Unsolved Mystery from History series is written by acclaimed author Jane Yolen and former private investigator Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple. This is an innovative history lesson that's sure to keep kids thinking throughout.
Synopsis
In 1692, tragedy strikes Salem, Massachusetts. When a group of girls came down with a horrible, mysterious bout of illness, the town doctor looked in his medical books but failed to find a reasonable diagnosis. Pretty soon everyone in town was saying the same thing: The girls were ill because they were under a spell, the spell of witchcraft And still, the question remains: Why did the hysteria occur?
The townspeople had many things to worry about back then: smallpox, strife with local indigenous communities, a preacher demanding higher wages, and the division of land in the community. But did all of those problems justify a witch hunt?
Become a detective as you read this true story, study the clues, and try to understand the hysteria The Unsolved Mystery from History series is written by acclaimed author Jane Yolen and former private investigator Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple. This is an innovative history lesson that's sure to keep kids thinking.
Synopsis
In this spooky book from the nonfiction An Unsolved Mystery from History picture book series, tragedy strikes Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692 as the community is torn apart by accusations of witchcraft. When a group of girls came down with a horrible, mysterious bout of illness, they pointed the finger at people in their community they claimed were witches. Soon, the whole town was convinced they were in danger from supernatural forces. Today, we have details about the accusations, trials, and those who lost their lives, but the question remains: What caused the mass hysteria?
Become a detective, study the clues, and see if you can help solve this chilling mystery from history
About the Author
Poet, novelist, storyteller, and picture book author Jane Yolen has won five awards for her body of work in children's literature: the Regina Medal, the Kerlan Award, the Keene State Award, the Boston Public Library's Literary Lights for Children Award, and the Anna V. Zarrow Award. Her many books include Owl Moon, which won the Caldecott Medal, Moon Ball, The Wolf Girls, The Mary Celeste, and Roanoke: The Lost Colony. Her daughter, Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple, has worked as a parole officer and a private investigator, and wrote Dear Mothers, Dear Daughters with Jane Yolen, as well as the books in the Unsolved Mystery from History series. Jane and Heidi both live in Hatfield, Massachusetts.Roger Roth has illustrated The Wolf Girls, The Mary Celeste, and Roanoke: The Lost Colony in the Unsolved Mystery from History series, as well as many other books for young readers. His work has been exhibited at the Society of Illustrators and has appeared in the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. He resides in Springfield, Pennsylvania.