For teens exploring the devastating consequences of peer pressure, jealousy, and dishonesty, this historical verse novel delves into the Salem witch trials.
A parent might reach for this book when their teen is grappling with the power of peer pressure and the potentially devastating consequences of small lies fueled by jealousy. Wicked Girls is a haunting verse novel that plunges readers into the 1692 Salem witch trials from the perspective of three teenage accusers: Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, and Margaret Walcott. It masterfully explores how a desire for attention, social power, and security can spiral into mass hysteria and tragedy. For mature teens (14+), this book is a powerful, character-driven tool for discussing historical injustice, mob mentality, and the profound weight of guilt and personal integrity. It's a stark reminder of how easily fear and falsehood can destroy a community.
Intense scenes of accusations, feigned demonic fits, and a climate of paranoia.
ViolenceModerate
Descriptions of imprisonment in harsh conditions and executions. Not graphically detailed.
Moral AmbiguityIntense
The protagonists are the perpetrators, exploring their complex and flawed motivations.
Sensitive Topics
Death and violence are handled directly, though not graphically, reflecting the historical reality of the trials and hangings. The Puritan religious context is central, portrayed as a rigid system that fuels the fear and superstition. The resolution is realistic and bleak, offering no easy redemption for the protagonists. It ends with the weight of their actions and the historical aftermath, emphasizing consequence over hope.
Ideal Reader
A mature teen (14-18) who is interested in historical fiction, psychological drama, and morally complex characters. This book is perfect for a thoughtful reader who can handle ambiguity and is ready to explore the darker aspects of human nature and history. It would resonate with a teen who is witnessing the power of rumors or social exclusion within their own peer group and can connect with a large-scale, historical cautionary tale.
Parent Prep
Parents should be prepared to discuss the historical context of the Salem witch trials, including the rigid Puritan society and the real-world outcomes. The verse format may be unfamiliar and can be explained as a way to access the characters' emotional states directly. Previewing any of the trial or accusation scenes would be useful to gauge a teen's readiness for the thematic intensity and descriptions of executions. A parent becomes aware of a serious rumor or instance of social shunning that their teen is involved in, either as a perpetrator, bystander, or victim. They overhear their child talking about a lie that has 'gotten out of control' or see them struggling under intense pressure to conform with a group that is acting cruelly.
Age Experience
A younger teen (13-14) will likely focus on the peer dynamics: the jealousy, the betrayal, and the horror of the girls' actions. They will see it as a story about friendship gone wrong. An older teen (15-18) is better equipped to analyze the complex interplay of misogyny, religious extremism, social class, and mass psychology that allowed the tragedy to unfold. They will better appreciate the nuanced exploration of the girls' motivations and the lasting psychological weight of their choices.
What Makes It Special
Unlike many historical accounts that focus on the victims, this book's unique power comes from its first-person perspective of the accusers. The use of free verse creates a deeply intimate, psychological, and immediate experience, forcing the reader to inhabit the minds of the perpetrators and understand (though not excuse) the complex web of fear, jealousy, and ambition that motivated them. It turns a historical event into a timeless and chilling exploration of the psychology of a lie.
Read plot summary
Told in free verse from the alternating perspectives of Ann Putnam Jr., Mercy Lewis, and Margaret Walcott, the novel chronicles the events of the Salem witch trials. Driven by a combination of personal grievances, jealousy, social pressure, and a craving for power and safety, the three girls become key accusers. Their initial games and feigned fits escalate into formal accusations, leading to the imprisonment and execution of numerous innocent townspeople. The narrative focuses on the girls' internal turmoil as their lies grow beyond their control, leading to devastating and irreversible consequences.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Ann, Mercy, and Margaret each have different reasons for participating in the accusations. Whose motivations did you understand the most, even if you disagreed with them? Why?
2
The story is told in verse. How did this style affect your experience of the events and the girls' emotions compared to a regular prose novel?
3
Was there a specific moment where you think the girls could have stopped the chain of events? What do you think would have happened to them if they had tried to tell the truth?
4
Discuss the role of the adults in the story, like Reverend Parris or Ann's parents. How much responsibility do they bear for what happened compared to the girls?
