Review #34: The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History by Jane Yolen & Heidi Elisabet Yolen Stemple

Title: Yolen, Jane and Stemple, Heidi Elisabet Yolen. The Salem Witch Trials: An Unsolved Mystery from History.

Genre: Non-Fiction/North American History
Reading Level/Interest Level: 6.4/ Grades 3-6
Similar Titles: The Mayflower Compact by E.J. Carter

The story of the Salem witch trials is nothing new to adults, but as children, this can often be a scary and difficult subject to approach, no matter how important the history or moral. Yolen and Stemple’s book, The Salem Witch Trials, seeks to relay the information in an age appropriate, non-threatening manner, by beginning with narration by a child exploring the tale for clues to be able to make her own decision about what really happened in 1692, in Salem, Massachusetts.  

Laid out much like a field journal with notes, the story is told in text boxes with smaller boxes or bubbles bordering the page with explanations of subject appropriate terms and brief explanations of historical context, making the subject matter easier to understand. Given the extensive vocabulary needed, I do believe this to be best for 4-6^th graders, but what is most impressive about this book is the last 4-6 pages.

Yolen and Stemple tell the facts of circumstances behind the Salem witch trials, provide proposed, accepted and possible explanations and open ended questions, at the end of the tale, to not only encourage open discussion (which means it is perfect for curriculum and group reading) but to force the reader into examining their own opinions as to why things happened. This forces the development of 21^st  century skills such as critical thinking, and if directed in a group environment, a collective consciousness, something that is sorely lacking in children’s literature today.

All in all this is a good introduction to the Salem witch trials, critical thinking and unsolved mysteries, which might just foster another literary love, all on its own. Even I learned something new....the fact that many believe Tituba was not African but Indian! You learn something new, every day.