The Heretic's Daughter by Kathleen Kent

From the Publisher:

"Martha Carrier was one of the first women to be accused, tried and hanged as a witch in Salem, Massachusetts. Like her mother, young Sarah Carrier is bright and willful, openly challenging the small, brutal world in which they live. Often at odds with one another, mother and daughter are forced to stand together against the escalating hysteria of the trials and the superstitious tyranny that led to the torture and imprisonment of more than 200 people accused of witchcraft. This is the story of Martha's courageous defiance and ultimate death, as told by the daughter who survived."

I love historical fiction and The Heretic's Daughter is a perfect example of what I enjoy. A fictionalized account of an actual event, rich in period detail and completely engrossing. It's obvious the author did her research and I learned about the history of the time in an entertaining way. This is the story of Sarah Carrier, who at the beginning of the story is in many ways is the petulant 10 year old. She resents her strong-willed mother and longs for the friend she finally finds in her cousin. But this isn't a simple "aha moment" story where all is resolved happily in the end. Not much is happy in the end, which given the premise of the book is no surprise. I learned how the harsh conditions of the time, the petty jealousies and the strong superstitions all lead to so many people accusing each other of being witches, and all this is learned through Sarah's eyes and she finally realizes it for herself.
I was up until late in the night because I couldn't put this story down. I enjoyed the writing style and level of suspense that Kathleen Kent could bring to a story where the ending was well known. I think that takes a lot of skill and I look forward to reading future books by this author. I rate The Heretic's Daughter 5 stars and would recommend it to those who enjoy historical fiction, suspense and I also think this book is perfectly acceptable as a young adult novel.