I Walk in Dread: The Diary of Deliverance Trembly, Witness to the Salem Witch Trials, Massachusetts Bay Colony 1691 (Dear America Series)
Grade 4-6–These two entries in the popular series illuminate tragic events in American history. When local girls begin to act strangely and accuse others of being witches, Deliverance Trembley believes them. However, after a trusted neighbor is implicated, she begins to have doubts and struggles to make up her own mind about the people accused. The story shows how one person's view could evolve over time. However, it is sometimes difficult to keep the characters straight, especially who is an accuser and who is accused. In 1909, Angela Denoto, a 14-year-old garment-factory worker, lives with her parents in New York City. She works long days and gives all of her pay to her Italian immigrant family. When union organizers come on the scene, Angela joins in the excitement. Later, her sister barely escapes a fire at the Triangle Waist Company, where she works. This story is told with lively details, from the noise in the factory to the heat in the family's tenement apartment. The description of the fire is graphic, with girls jumping out of windows to their deaths. Both books contain sections on life in America during the time and photos and illustrations. Additional titles for fans of the series.–Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OH