Review by Elaine Swan, Langlees Primary School, Falkirk
Suitable for older 1st level and/or 2nd level
Themes – witchcraft, history, feminism, prejudices, helping others
This is an interesting novella with plenty of unexpected twists and turns and an ending that took me completely by surprise (in a good way). I loved the blend of historical truth with fantastical elements and the variety of characters in the story. I especially liked the character of Ann who was passionate and intelligent, and you could really feel her frustration living in the time period she did. The illustrations also added to the story and captured the time period perfectly as well as the characters emotions.
The book also contained such a rich magical and historical vocabulary. Words such as ‘apothecary’, ‘tinctures’, ‘ledger’, ‘magistrate’, quill’, ‘elixir’ and “witch finders” really bring the world to life and transport you back to the days of apothecaries and old superstitions. It’s packed with interesting, unusual language that will spark curiosity and imagination.
I also loved the little sparrow, the dyslexia friendly font, that Ann saw colours when she touched people, this is something people with ASD can experience (called synasthesia) and the information about Issac Newton.
