Witches

Reach for this book when your child starts noticing how rumors spread or begins questioning why groups of people sometimes turn against one another without proof. It is an essential tool for discussing the dangers of herd mentality and the importance of standing up for truth even when it is unpopular. Schanzer uses striking, high contrast scratchboard illustrations to document the 1692 Salem Witch Trials, where fear and false accusations led to a community tragedy. While it deals with a dark historical period, it focuses on the psychological mechanisms of anxiety and peer pressure. It is ideal for middle grade readers who are ready to engage with complex questions of justice, integrity, and social responsibility in a historically grounded way.