How to Hang a Witch

Book review by Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media
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Common Sense says

age 12+

Creepy thriller blends witch trials with high school drama.

Adriana Mather Horror 2016
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Parents say

age 12+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 12+

Based on 3 reviews

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this book.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that How to Hang a Witch is a paranormal thriller set in the historic city of Salem, Massachusetts. It's by Adriana Mather, a direct descendant of Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister involved with the Salem Witch Trials. Inspired by the author's own family history, the protagonist is a Mather who moves back to Salem with her family and faces the wrath of descendants of the witches tried and hanged during the trials of the 1690s. There's a little bit of romance (a paranormal love triangle) with a few kisses, as well as some violence that includes a scene in which girls are nearly hanged, and various people descended from witches die of various causes. Strong language is infrequent and includes "s--t," "dick," "ass," and the like. And the role models include a helpful, encouraging, and loving adult who actually listens to the protagonist.

Community Reviews

Newtmanz11
Newtmanz11 Adult
April 21, 2020
age 12+

An amazing story with a twist (comment contains spoilers)

I love this story so far! I started reading the book yesterday and am on chapter 23 today. The chapters are pretty short but have a bunch of details in them. The story is about a girl (Samantha Mather) who moves to her Grandmother's old house when she dies. The girl's father is going through a coma at that time so the girl's stepmother, Vivian, takes her to live at the grandmother's house. Once Samantha and Vivian make it to the house they meet a mother (Mable) and her son (Jaxon) who immediately becomes friends with her. Samantha was bullied back in her old home in New York and is getting bullied by the kids at her new home in Salem. During a field trip, after Samantha and Jaxon became friends for about 2 weeks or so, Jaxon tells Samantha that he has eyes for her, and then the two teens kiss for a small scene. There wasn't anything too graphic in the kissing scene there, and Samantha is stopped by seeing a ghost boy staring up behind them. Nobody but Samantha can see the ghost boy though, who's name is Elijah. Samantha starts catching feelings for both boys, one dead, and one alive. So basically this story consists of a love triangle. Overall, I think this story is amazing and that children 12+ should be able to read it. There are a few cuss words put into the story like "Shit" and "ass" and things like that, but so far, there aren't any f-bombs being shown. This is a romantic horror story, and by far, better than any book I've read so far.

This title has:

Educational value
Great role models
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What's the Story?

HOW TO HANG A WITCH follows Samantha Mather, a direct descendant of Puritan minister Cotton Mather, who must return to her ancestral home in Salem, Massachusetts, when finances force her stepmother to mover Sam's chronically ill father from New York City to a New England hospital. Sam and her stepmother are only welcome by one family: the widow Mrs. Meriwether, who grew up with Sam's dad, and her handsome son, Jaxon. At her new high school, Sam -- who has always been labeled cursed, because people close to her have mysterious accidents -- is targeted by a group of goth girls called the Descendants, whose ancestors are the witches accused and sentenced to death in the witch trials. Even the teachers aren't thrilled about a Mather being back in Salem. When the Descendants' relatives begin to die, Sam's presence is blamed. Meanwhile, a handsome young ghost named Elijah reveals himself to her and offers to help her figure out the way to break the curse that's plaguing the town.

Is It Any Good?

Fascinating historical elements and an underdog protagonist make this paranormal thriller compelling, even if the romance isn't swoon-worthy enough to demand reader investment. The fact that the author, like her main character, is a Mather, adds an air of authenticity to the way Sam deals with her family's ancestral connection to supporting the infamous Salem witch trials. Sam's uneasiness about being a Mather is riveting, particularly as she's faced with the clique of mean-girl witch descendants.

Even though the plot will definitely hold reader interest, the romance and predictable love triangle are rather disappointing. Sam makes some difficult-to-believe decisions when it comes to Jaxon, a guy so great it makes no sense when she keeps pushing him away. Meanwhile, the paranormal romance between Sam and Elijah is bland and unremarkable. Neither "ship" is easy to root for considering Sam's choices. But if you remove the misguided romantic elements from the equation, the high school-meets-supernatural drama moves along quickly enough to keep readers engaged.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the historical aspects of How to Hang a Witch. What did you learn about the witch trials? Does the book make you want to learn more about the Salem witches?

  • What do you think about the love triangle in the book? Is it believable? Do you think the paranormal elements work?

  • Does the author's ancestral connection to the book make the story seem more authentic?

Book Details

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