The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Author: Elizabeth George Speare

Book: The Witch of Blackbird Pond

Date Published: January 1st, 1958 by Houghton Mifflin Books

Country: United States

Illustrator: Elizabeth George Speare

Pages: 249

Summary

This book talks about a sixteen years old girl named Katherine Tyler best known as Kit. She went to Connecticut, America on a ship called The Dolphin from her home in the Caribbean Islands. In America she lived with her aunt Reachel and uncle Matthew Wood.  The story takes place in colonial times, when people in New England believe in witches. Kit became friend with a old woman named Hanna Tupper, better known as the witch of the Blackbird Pond. Her aunt and uncle have two daughters, Mercy and Judith. Mercy was crippled on one leg. Judith was a normal sixteen years old girl.

The story is about Kit´s struggles to find a place called home.

The climax of the story is when Katherine tried to put safety Hanna Tupper. When many of the villagers come down with a dearly fever and angry mood. While Kit is trying to put on safety Hanna Tupper, Nat and Prudence come with evidence to prove that she is not a witch.

Main Characters:

Katherine Tyler (Kit): Katherine, who moves from the Caribbean Islands to Connecticut, is the main character and she was a pretty little girl. She has a dark hair. Niece of Reachel and Matthew Wood, cousin of Judith and Mercy. she went to America on a ship in order to live with her aunt and uncle.

Mercy Wood: Mercy, who is crippled on one leg, is very kind, generous and very patient. She is eigtheen years old. She enjoy teaching in dame school, getting help of Katherine.

Hanna Tupper: Hanna Tupper, who is an old lady, lives near the Blackbird Pond. She is very kind and geneorus. Also she is firend of Katherine and Nat. She has a lot of cats. Most of the people think that she is a witch.

Judith Wood: Judith, who is a sixteen years old, is cousin of Katherine. She is very firendly and hardworking. She is as friendly as she can with Katherine. Is a normal sixteen years old girl. Daughter of Reachel and Matthew.

New Words and Definitions

Calamity: (noun) an event causing  great and often sudden damage or distress.

He has survived more calamities in the past three months than most people experience in a lifetime.

Briskly: (adverb) in an active, quick, energetic way.

I walked briskly into my room.

Hesitate: (verb) a pause, wait before saying or doing something.

I hesitated, unsure of what to say.

Protest: (verb) express an objection to what someone has said or done.

She would not let me pay and I did not protest.

Dare: (verb) having the courage to do something.

Everyone wanted to say something, but nobody dared.

Brightly: (adverb) in a way that gives out or reflects much light.

Diamond stud earrings shone brightly in her ears.

Regret: (verb) feel sad, or dissapointed over something that happenend. Usually in loss opportunities.

She inmmediately regretted her words.

Rather: (verb) used to indicate preference in a particular matter.

I would rather stay home.

Quotes

Kit- ¨How often do you go up this river¨ Page 15.

In my personal opinion I think this quote is important because is when Kit started her trip on a ship, and she was very scared and confuse because she thought that she was not going to complete the trip and see her aunt Reachel and her Uncle Matthew. That´s why she asked to the sailor.

Aye- ¨We want you to come along with us. We are going for the witch¨. Page 182.

I think this quote is important because is when a lot of people wanted to burn the witch. They want to reclute Matthew Wood, but he reused to be part of that. Some people told him that if he knows what is good for his daughter, he needs to come with them. At the end, he closed the door waiting for her daughter Kit, until she finally come back home.

Recommendations

The story of Kit Tyler is entirely fictitious. All the adventures which took place there, existed only in imagination. Is a children´s novel by the American author Elizabeth George Speare.

I would recommend this book for all people who are learning English. Is very helpfuly and it has some new vocabulary words that help you to increase your vocabulary and you reading skills.

At firts, the book looks like a little bit boring, but if you continuing reading, you are going to get interesting the book. Also, the book is very easy to follow and undestand, so if you want to increase your vocabulary, read it. read as much as you can, because read helps you a lot to develop your skills.