The Sacrifice
Abigail Faulkner is a 10-year-old girl living in Andover, Massachusetts, in 1692. Today’s readers will recognize and empathize with her initial “trials.” She is a free spirit who chafes at the restrictions imposed by her Puritan society. Moreover, she must put up with a timid, goody-goody older sister and a sullen younger brother who complains of too many chores. Worst of all, her father suffers from occasional fits. However, when a few girls are summoned from nearby Salem to investigate whether there are witches in Andover, Abigail’s life becomes a nightmare. Not only does she fear witches, but after seeing innocent neighbors accused of witchcraft, she begins to fear her own family members could be falsely accused as well. And what then? This book is targeted to a tween readership. My own 10-year-old daughter pronounced it “good but scary.” I found it a well-written, age-appropriate introduction to a historical event that was indeed scary. Ages 9-12.
