Saturday, October 31, 2009

giveaway: the heretic's daughter

Happy Halloween!! Thanks to Hachette, I have five copies of The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent to giveaway.

Here's the starred review from Publishers Weekly:
"A family's conflict becomes a battle for life and death in this gripping and original first novel based on family history from a descendant of a condemned Salem witch. After a bout of smallpox, 10-year-old Sarah Carrier resumes life with her mother on their family farm in Andover, Mass., dimly aware of a festering dispute between her mother, Martha, and her uncle about the plot of land where they live. The fight takes on a terrifying dimension when reports of supernatural activity in nearby Salem give way to mass hysteria, and Sarah's uncle is the first person to point the finger at Martha. Soon, neighbors struggling to eke out a living and a former indentured servant step forward to name Martha as the source of their woes. Sarah is forced to shoulder an even heavier burden as her mother and brothers are taken to prison to face a jury of young women who claim to have felt their bewitching presence. Sarah's front-row view of the trials and the mayhem that sweeps the close-knit community provides a fresh, bracing and unconventional take on a much-covered episode."

There's a Reading Group Guide for The Heretic's Daughter.

1. How was Sarah changed by living with her cousin Margaret? How was she changed by returning to her family?

2. What was it about Martha's character that seemed to antagonize so many neighbors?

3. What do you think was the most compelling reason that Martha was eventually brought to trial?

4. Discuss the various factors that lead to the witch hysteria.

5. Why did Martha choose to take a stand of innocence knowing that a refused confession meant death?

6. Why did Thomas, despite his size and capabilities, not seek to persuade or deter Martha from her course of action?

7. Why did the community of Salem, and the magistrates, so easily believe in and rely on "spectral evidence”?

8. How has reading the book changed your opinions about the men and women hanged as witches?

9. Are there modern day "witches”?

10. Can we, or should we, redefine the meaning of the word "witch"?

The rules: Enter by leaving a comment to this post with your email (if I can't contact you, you can't win). You can gain additional entries by leaving separate comments letting me know that you're a follower or have posted a link to the giveaway on your site. The deadline to enter is 11:59pm Pacific on November 21. Winners will be selected at random. Since this is from Hachette the winners must have mailing addresses in the US or Canada; no PO Boxes.

34 comments:

  1. Please enter me for the draw.
    linna.hsu at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. i'm a follower.

    linna.hsu at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I can't wait to read this book about Such an interesting time in history Enter me please
    tanyainjville@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. This book looks so good. I'd love a chance.

    s.mickelson at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've heard great things about this novel and would love to read it. Please accept this as my entry. Thank you!

    Aliya D.
    aliyadaya(at)shaw(dot)ca

    ReplyDelete
  6. Please count me in, I can't wait to read this!
    Thanks.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I follow you via google reader.
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  8. this book sounds so good-please sign me up

    tiramisu392 (at) yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. please enter me

    girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I am a follower

    girlfrienddesignz(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  11. I can't wait to read this. Please enter me.
    Laura
    laura.leahj@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I've read a lot of good reviews about this book... it sounds very good... please enter me

    debbebennett at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. This looks like a great read. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I hear such good things about this book. Please enter me.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have this on my wish list so I would love to win it!

    bthgordon[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am a new follower too. Thanks for hosting a great giveaway!

    bthgordon[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  17. would love a chance to win this! thanks!

    sensitivemuse at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I would love a chance to win this. I follow with google reader

    Zia
    ziaria(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have been wanting to read this book.

    rhoneygtn at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I've read a lot of good things about this book. Please enter me into the giveaway!

    Marian

    mdperera at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I'd love to win this book!

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I follow via Google reader

    readingatthebeach at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I have heard absolutely wonderful things about this book. It would be incredible to win this! Thank you for the opportunity.

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I posted a link on my left side bar.

    http://enroutetolife.blogspot.com/

    kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. November 21st is my birthday and I sure
    would love to win this book from you on
    my day.

    cenya2 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I would like to be entered!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Follower!

    delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Please count me in. Thanks for the chance.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I can't wait to read this. Please enter me.
    Sandy
    sandym204 @ gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Please enter me.

    tbranco (at)hughes (dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  31. I follow on bloglines.

    tbranco (at)hughes (dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  32. you're in my sidebar at http://tutus2cents.blogspot.com

    tbranco (at)hughes (dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  33. please enter me
    copperllama at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. This book would make a great addition to my classroom library for both my history and literature students.
    enyl(at)inbox(dot)com

    ReplyDelete