The Witch of Blackbird Pond is a novel by Elizabeth George Speare that is narrated in the first person. The story is set in the late 17th century and follows the life of Katherine "Kit" Tyler. Kit is a young girl who is orphaned and forced to leave her home in Barbados to live with her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew in the Puritan colony of Connecticut. Throughout the novel, Kit's experiences in the new colony are narrated, allowing the reader to gain insight into her thoughts, feelings, and reactions to the world around her. The narration reveals Kit's initial struggles in adjusting to the strict rules and customs of the Puritans, as well as her eventual friendships with Hannah Tupper, a Quaker woman accused of being a witch, and Nat Eaton, a young sailor who helps Kit navigate her new life. As the story progresses, the narration also highlights Kit's growing independence and defiance of societal expectations.
In The Witch of Blackbird Pond, it’s 1687, and Katherine (Kit) Tyler sails into Wethersfield, Connecticut to join the household of her last remaining relatives, her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew, and their two daughters, Judith and Mercy. 16-year-old Kit has lived all her life in Barbados, raised by her loving grandfather, but after his death she’s left with nothing, and leaves her beautiful island behind to start a new life among the Puritans of New England
In The Witch of Blackbird Pond , it s 1687, and Katherine Kit Tyler sails into Wethersfield, Connecticut to join the household of her last remaining relatives, her Aunt Rachel and Uncle Matthew, and their two daughters, Judith and Mercy. For this review I decided to listen to this old favourite in the audiobook version for the first time, to compare it to the experience of reading it myself.
As the story progresses, the narration also highlights Kit's growing independence and defiance of societal expectations. Despite the pressures to conform, Kit continues to display her unique personality and beliefs, often at odds with the Puritan community. This is exemplified when Kit befriends Hannah and defends her against the accusations of witchcraft.
Cannonball Read IV: The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare
I’ve held on to my copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond since I was about 11 years old and have re-read it many, many times. In a time when the word “witch” brings up images of Harry Potter-type stories, it might be helpful to clarify - this book is historical fiction, NOT fantasy. :) “Witch” refers to the Puritan colonist ideas of what a witch was in the 1600’s. Generally, anyone who was a little different, especially a different religion, might be accused of being a witch in league with Satan. For this review I decided to listen to this old favourite in the audiobook version for the first time, to compare it to the experience of reading it myself.
The Witch of Blackbird Pond starts with a 16 year old, free-spirited girl named Kit, traveling on a ship from Barbados to Wethersfield, Connecticut - a Puritan colony up the Connecticut River, in 1687. Kit was raised by her wealthy grandfather in Barbados in a completely different lifestyle from the Puritans. But after his death, she is now on her way to live with relatives who she has never met before. Kit struggles to fit into her new life and to understand the Puritans, but, while her relatives try to be welcoming, they make little effort to understand her in return. It is quite the culture shock for her to go from having wealth, status and slaves to being poor and an outsider having to learn daily household chores.
Kit does her best to become friends with her cousins, Mercy and Judith, while they are all getting to know each other and are developing romances with the very few eligible young men around. But eventually, she rebels against the intolerance of the community and finds comfort by becoming friends with the lonely, old Quaker women who lives at Blackbird Pond.
The book ends with an old-fashioned Puritan witch hunt and Kit finds out who will really stand up for her and for justice when it counts.
While I’ve always thoroughly enjoyed it when I read this book, I found the audiobook, narrated by Mary Beth Hurt, lacking something. As it started, I was initially disappointed with some music competing with the narrator’s voice, but that soon ended and only recurs briefly again at the end. But it is completely unnecessary and detracts from the reading. Then, my second disappointment was that the narrator’s voice did not suit what I had in my mind for Kit’s voice. I was afraid that it would ruin the whole book for me, but it eventually grew on me enough to go unnoticed most of the time. Mary Beth was good at doing both a young girl’s voice and an older woman’s voice - it was the main character’s teenage voice that didn’t seem right to me.
And a little side-note - there were a few scattered technical glitches, of voice skips. I don’t know if that was just my download, or if it would be in other library audio versions too.
I’ve very seldom thought a narrator had the “wrong” voice before. A few have just been bad in all respects, but the good ones, are usually good all around too. So this problem was a new experience with audiobooks for me. I’ve also both read and listened to the same books before, but I’m not sure if I’ve done it in this order since at the moment I can only recall buying a book after enjoying the audio version. So perhaps it is just harder for an audiobook to live up to my own imagination. I hope to find more library audiobooks to compare to other printed favourites to better determine this.
This book will appeal to readers who enjoy juvenile historical fiction books with feisty, young heroines. It is recommended for ages 8 -10 and up, although the younger readers may have a little difficulty following the politics of the time. But anyone may enjoy looking up the real historical figures and places, such as Wethersfield and the Buttolph-Williams House.
For more of loopyker’s reviews, check out her blog, Loopy Ker’s Life.
This review is part of Cannonball Read IV. Read all about it.
Kit Tyler must leave behind shimmering Caribbean islands to join the stern Puritan community of her relatives. She soon feels caged, until she meets the old woman known as the Witch of Blackbird Pond. But when their friendship is discovered, Kit herself is accused of witchcraft!
Throughout the novel, Kit's narration also serves to shed light on the themes of prejudice, acceptance, and the power of friendship. The reader is able to see Kit's growth and transformation as she learns to challenge the prejudice and intolerance that she encounters in the colony. Overall, the first-person narrative in The Witch of Blackbird Pond allows the reader to intimately connect with Kit's journey and provides a deeper understanding of the historical and social contexts in which the story takes place..
Reviews for "A Close Look at the Setting in "The Witch of Blackbird Pond"
1. Emily - 2 stars
I found "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" narrated version to be quite disappointing. The narration felt monotonous and lacked emotion, making it difficult to connect with the characters and the story. The voices used for the different characters were not distinct enough, leading to confusion during dialogue scenes. Overall, I believe the narration failed to do justice to the beautiful writing and plot of the book, leaving me unsatisfied and uninterested in continuing.
2. James - 1 star
I regret choosing the narrated version of "The Witch of Blackbird Pond." The narrator's voice was grating and distracted from the story. Many sentences were read in a rushed manner with little regard for proper pacing, making it challenging to follow along. Additionally, there were instances where the narrator mispronounced words and stumbled over sentences, further diminishing the overall experience. I would suggest reading the physical book instead of opting for this disappointing narration.
3. Sarah - 2 stars
"The Witch of Blackbird Pond" is a captivating and well-written novel, but unfortunately, the narrated version failed to capture its essence. The narrator's voice lacked the warmth and depth needed to bring the characters to life, making it difficult to become fully engaged in the story. The pacing felt rushed, and there were instances where the narrator stumbled over words or misread sentences, which only added to my frustration. I would recommend reading the book rather than choosing the narrated version, as it did not do justice to the wonderful storytelling within.
4. Jonathan - 2 stars
As a fan of historical fiction, I was excited to listen to "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" in its narrated form. However, I was left disappointed with the overall quality of the narration. The voice used by the narrator was not pleasant to listen to, and it lacked the charisma and emotion needed to fully immerse me in the story. Additionally, the pacing felt rushed, and there were instances where the narrator stumbled over words. These factors, combined with a lack of distinct character voices, left me feeling disconnected from the narrative. I would recommend seeking out alternative versions or choosing the physical book instead.