The Salem Witch Trials

An Unsolved Mystery from History

By: Jane Yolen, Heidi Elisabet Yolan Stemple

Narrated by: Jessica Almasy

During the long, cold winter of 1692, seven young ladies from Salem, Massachusetts, begin to display disturbing symptoms. They’re convulsing, contorting, cowering, and croaking strange sounds. Finding no help from medical books, the village doctor declares them bewitched. Having already triggered more than 60,000 executions in Europe, the fear of witchcraft begins its work - even among sensible, down-to-earth New Englanders. And before it’s all over, 141 people are arrested - 19 women are hanged, one man is crushed to death, and four others die in jail.

But long after the damning “testimony” of ghosts - seen and heard only by the “bewitched” - was forever banned from courts, one question remains: What really happened?

Jane Yolen - whose hundreds of books have garnered numerous accolades, including Golden Kite and Nebula Awards - teams up with her private detective daughter Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple to craft this Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award winner. Jessica Almasy’s stellar narration adds luster to a baffling episode in U.S. history.

©2004 Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple (P)2008 Recorded Books

Critic reviews

“This [book] effectively introduces an intriguing subject, and the mystery of what really happened is more than enough to whet kids’ appetites.” ( Booklist)

“This is an innovative way to involve young people in the study of history.” ( Children’s Literature)

“The investigative approach … encourages readers to evaluate the evidence …” ( Library Journal)

Didn't realize this was a kid's book

Would you try another book from Jane Yolen and Heidi Elisabet Yolan Stemple and/or Jessica Almasy?

No but only because I'm not an adolescent girl. This would be find for a young girl, I think that is who the book was aimed at. Guess I didn't read the description thoroughly enough.

Has The Salem Witch Trials turned you off from other books in this genre?

This genre seems to be aimed at young girls or young children who want to learn about history. If I had a child in middle school I would most definitely have them listen to this book.

Witch trials for kids

Breaks down the Salem Witch trials, what happened and theories about why, in a way that kids can understand. Written as if from a kids' perspective, and narrator does a good job sounding the part.

Horrible people

Horrible narrator even worse story it is closer to a middle school history book