The Crucible

Written by Arthur Miller

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Patrick

    

The Crucible by Arthur Miller is a story that takes place during the Salem Witch Trials. It is about a girl who falsely accuses a woman of being a witch for her own benefit. She uses the religious biases of the courts and others' fear of witches to her advantage in ruining a couple's lives.

I personally enjoyed this book because of how it can relate to people now. It shows that everyone can lie and manipulate others in order to get what they want. I also liked how it showed the community’s panic and fear, as well as how their fear caused them to make radical decisions.

Drama

Written and illustrated by Raina Telgemeier

A graphic novel for readers in grades 3 and up reviewed by Bella

        

Callie loves theater, but she unfortunately can’t sing. So, she joins the stage crew of her school’s production of Moon Over Mississippi as a set designer.

Callie underestimates the drama of her school’s drama club and finds herself struggling. The members of the drama club are not getting along, and the problems get more heated once everyone finds out who got what part in Moon Over Mississippi. Callie then has to try to make an amazing set design for the production while on a tight middle school budget.

As a former stage crew member, I find this book super fun and relatable. I loved its storyline and would definitely recommend it to anybody who has been a part of a team or club.

The Crucible

Written by Arthur Miller

A book for readers in grades 7 and up reviewed by Melissa

    

The Crucible is a dramatization of the Salem witch trials. The story begins with a girl named Betty laying unconscious after her cousin, Abigail, led a group dance in a forest at night. Reverend Paris, Betty's father and Abigail's uncle, questions Abigail about whether or not she and the group were trafficking spirits. Everyone who was in the forest accuses each other of performing witchcraft, which leads to the start of the Salem witch trials.

I read this book because I read about the playwright, and I thought it would be very interesting to see how women were portrayed at this time and how they connected with the Salem witch trials. This book gave me various mixed emotions because of its depiction of the severe fear many Americans had of witchcraft, as well as its exploration of McCarthyism (the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence). The story's tone is very sinister because it shows how its characters try to get back at each other or make up lies for executions.

Although the organization of the playwright was very confusing and the plot would drag while adding unnecessary elements, I would recommend this book to both teens and adults for being a more sinister, mature read.