1. Bibliography
Hemphill, Stephanie. Wicked Girls. New York: Balzer + Bray. ISBN 9780061853289
2. Plot Summary
Wicked Girls is a fictional piece of work based on real life people during the Salem witch trials in 1962. The story, told in free verse, is from the perspective of three girls: Margaret Walcott, Mercy Lewis, and Ann Putnam, Jr. The story begins when Ann, Margaret, Betty and Abigail, are experimenting with folk magic. Shortly after, Betty and Abigail, daughter and cousin of Reverend Parris, become ill and are said to be afflicted by someone in the village doing witchcraft. So that no one finds out that the girls have been playing with folk magic, Betty and Abigail first accuse their slave, Tituba, of witchcraft. The accusations then escalate as the other girls, Ann, Mercy, and Margaret, begin to accuse more innocent men and women of witchcraft. The reader soon learns that the girls are faking their afflictions, and each has a different motivation for her involvement in the scheme. Throughout the novel, the struggle for leadership of the girls' group switches back and forth between Ann and Mercy, but is Mercy who finally realizes the wrong they have afflicted and begins to bring an end to their deceitful actions.
3. Critical Analysis
Many of my 8th graders have read this novel, so I jumped on the chance to read it for this book review. I understand why so many of my students loved it!
Because this novel is told in free verse form, there is no rhythm or rhyme scheme and very little use of figurative language with the exception of the occasional similes which help to paint a visual picture of the characters and their actions, such as when Hemphill writes: "A flash of mischief crosses Ann's eyes / as she watches me watching her, / like the torch that smokes / heaven's white edge." What makes this story unique is the way in which Hemphill structures the poems which are told from the perspective of only three girls: Mercy Lewis, Margaret Walcott, and Ann Putnam, Jr. The language of the poems makes it clear that this is not a modern tale, for the words are not in our everyday vernacular. Likewise, the individual girl's roles in the hierarchy of society are revealed through their dialogue. For example, Margaret, who is of a lower social stature than her step-cousin Ann, speaks less formally than Ann and is looked down upon by her step-mother. The author's use of the poems to bring a different girl's perspective also allows the reader to understand the thoughts and motivations of each afflicted girl. For example, through Mercy's poems the reader realizes that her motivation for accusing innocent people of witchcraft is to seek revenge on the deaths of her parents, but the reader also sees that Mercy has a conscience and begins to regret the harm the girls are causing to innocent men and women. The poems told from each girl's point-of-view also allows the reader to feel the emotions of the girls: the reader will pity Margaret for her stupidity with Isaac and feel grieve with Mercy at the loss of her beloved dog. This novel is unique because it is a fresh adaptation of an event in American history yet resounds with many modern teens as it tells the story of a "mean girls" clique and the harm they cause to others. Overall, Hemphill has successfully written a captivating tale of historical fiction that appeals to contemporary audiences.
4. Review Excerpts
*Starred review from Booklist: "An excellent supplementary choice for curricular studies of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, this will also find readers outside the classroom, who will savor the accessible, unsettling, piercing lines that connect past and present with timeless conflict and truths."
*Starred review from Kirkus: "In subtle, spare first-person free-verse poems, the author skillfully demonstrates how ordinary people may come to commit monstrous acts. Haunting and still frighteningly relevant.”
*Starred review from School Library Journal: “The verse format is fresh and engaging, distilling the actions of the seven accusing girls into riveting narrative.”
*Starred review from Publisher's Weekly: “The expressive writing, masterful tension, and parallels to modern group dynamics create a powerful and relevant page-turner."
5. Connections
*Teens and adults interested in the Salem witch trials will find this novel fascinating. Critics suggest pairing Wicked Girls with Arthur Miller's The Crucible.
Other novels about the Salem witch trials include:
Rinaldi, Ann. A Break With Charity: A Story About the Salem Witch Trials. ISBN 0152046828
Aronson, Marc. Witch Hunt: Mysteries of the Salem Witch Trails. ISBN 1416903151
Other noteworthy books by Stephanie Hemphill:
Hemphill, Stephanie. Sisters of Glass. ISBN 0375861092
Hemphill, Stephanie. Your Own, Sylvia: A Verse Portrait of Sylvia Plath. ISBN 0440239680
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