The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

Age Level: Adult
Format: Book

Based on accounts of Kent's ancestor, Martha Carrier, this novel examines the lives of one family during the Salem Witch Trials. When the Carrier family moves to Andover to live in Martha's mother's home, they are immediately considered outcasts - the family is held responsible for a small pox outbreak several years before in neighboring Billerica. When Martha's son Andrew falls ill to small pox in Andover, the entire family is quarantined and are considered dangerous in the community. Sarah Carrier, Martha's eldest daughter and the narrator for the novel, recounts her bitterness towards her mother's lack of affection for the family and her outspokenness, causing even harsher treatment of the family by neighbors and townsmen. Soon, information from nearby Salem arrives in Andover, telling about young girls accusing townspeople of witchcraft. Eventually, Martha is accused of witchcraft, forcing Sarah to make the hardest decision of her life and opening her eyes to the real power of love.

Kent's writing style flows very smoothly, making the reader want to continue reading until the very last page. She takes great care in crafting her ancestors as characters in the novel: she combines family folklore and stories about the Carriers to paint an unforgettable portrait of the family and especially of a strong and defiant Martha Carrier. I loved the descriptions of daily life and shuddered at the pictures in my mind of prison conditions and the horrors facing those on trial. Kent even includes transcripts from Martha's trial, showing the many accusations placed against her ancestor. For me, the end of the novel is an emotional rollercoaster, an ending that will not be easy to forget. The Heretic's Daughter is one of the best books I have read this year and an amazing novel by a debut author.

Anyone who loves history will enjoy reading this fictional account about one of the darker periods in American history. To learn more about the Carrier family and of the Salem Witch Trials, Kent has a wonderful website: www.thehereticsdaughter.com

Reviewed by Jessica