- Hardcover: 432 pages
- Publisher: Macmillan Children's Books (1 May 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0230736793
- ISBN-13: 978-0230736795
- Product Dimensions: 19.8 x 13.6 x 4.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 763,067 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
The Witching Hour
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Product Description
Product Description
A thrilling historical adventure from the Carnegie-shortlisted author of CRUSADE.
Book Description
In seventeenth-century Scotland, everyone knows the devil is real. Everyone knows that witches exist. Everyone knows that saying the wrong thing can get you hanged . . . When fourteen-year-old Maggie’s grandmother is accused of witchcraft, Maggie has to run for her life. With English soldiers on the march, nowhere is safe – certainly not Ladymuir, where her uncle is determined to defy the king. And wherever Maggie goes, disaster follows . . . A gripping historical novel about a young girl’s journey through the Killing Time.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
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What a great read. I really enjoyed this and in a way did not want it to end.
It wasn't just enjoyable for fiction, a lot of the stuff was actually historically accurate and I found it extremely interesting. I didnt want the book to end.
I loved the character of Maggie, she was very likeable and I warmed to her straight away and all of the secondary characters help round the story quite nicely.
It has actually made me want to read a few more about witchcraft way back when and the excuses people made for accusing someone of being a witch etc etc.
I am not sure if this is going to be part of a series or a one off, but I would definately read another one from this author.
The book is aimed at young adults but actually I think it would be quite interesting for older adults too, it has some adults themes such as hanging, burning at a stake, torture etc its not graphic with these things but they do occur in the book.
It wasn't just enjoyable for fiction, a lot of the stuff was actually historically accurate and I found it extremely interesting. I didnt want the book to end.
I loved the character of Maggie, she was very likeable and I warmed to her straight away and all of the secondary characters help round the story quite nicely.
It has actually made me want to read a few more about witchcraft way back when and the excuses people made for accusing someone of being a witch etc etc.
I am not sure if this is going to be part of a series or a one off, but I would definately read another one from this author.
The book is aimed at young adults but actually I think it would be quite interesting for older adults too, it has some adults themes such as hanging, burning at a stake, torture etc its not graphic with these things but they do occur in the book.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This book is based on the early life of Maggie at the time of the reign of the Stewart family. Life was hard for her, being orphaned and living with her Granny on a small Scottish Island. Her Granny wasn't well liked within the community for being one who spoke her mind and this lead to both Maggie and her Granny being tried for witchcraft. Her Granny was executed but Maggie made an escape off the island to head for her Uncles home...... The adventure does not end there but I won't say anymore because I don't want to spoil the story for you.
This book is written for young adults but I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. It moved at a nice steady pace and I liked the fact that it described the times so well I felt that I could have been walking in Maggies shoes. It also made me grateful that I live in this century. It isn't about witches or witchcraft, more about the story of lives caught up in the hysteria of that period in time.
The book is started off with a little bit of background history about the politics of the time and I found this particularly useful.
A really good read, I couldn't put it down so I would recommend it.
This book is written for young adults but I thoroughly enjoyed it myself. It moved at a nice steady pace and I liked the fact that it described the times so well I felt that I could have been walking in Maggies shoes. It also made me grateful that I live in this century. It isn't about witches or witchcraft, more about the story of lives caught up in the hysteria of that period in time.
The book is started off with a little bit of background history about the politics of the time and I found this particularly useful.
A really good read, I couldn't put it down so I would recommend it.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review
(What's this?)
This book, written by Elizabeth Laird, is based on real people from her ancestoral past; a sort of family history given extra dimension by fictionalising and extending the facts known. It's aimed at early to mid teens, probabl;y most likely girls or historian boys. The main protagonist is Maggie who lives with her grandmother Elspeth and who is a covenantor, in other words someone who refuses to recognise the supremacy of the King as head of the church. They were being persecuted at the time of Charles 2nd, and this novel is set then. The undercurrent of witchcraft comes in because her grandmother is a 'witch', a wise woman and healer, who is prepared to go to the stake to save her granddaughter when she is arrested rather than give her up. Maggie has a hard life, running scared from the English soldiers and having adventures, mishaps and problems on the way. It's a good strong, historical read; there is very little fantasy and the situations are all too believable at the time without being over-egged and dressed up as 'exciting'. The fate that awaits Maggie if she is caught is no fantasy, but a hot stake and damnation. It isn't light reading, but all the better for that, this is a good solid book written well by an experienced author who manages to keep the facts coming without preaching or fluffing, a very hard move in writing like this. I'm passing ths on to my 12 year old son, who will find the true story of witches very different from the cute Harry Potter style.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Another great story from Ms Laird!
This is another great story from a brilliant storyteller. At the start of this book Maggie Blair is living with her grandmother on the Isle of Bute in the firth of the Clyde. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Jan
A good read
Maggie grows up as an orphan with her grandmother after the tragic death of her mother and father. Her grandmother is accused of being a witch and this leads to Maggie having to... Read more
Published 3 months ago by Lynette Ferreira
Well researched and realistic
An exciting read - stark and harsh, as life was in those times. Not for the faint hearted, or for those looking for a traditional happy ending. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mrs. Margaret Gallaghrt
Page turner
Maggie and her grandma are accused of being a witch. One lives and the other dies she runs away to find a relative on the mainland then some solders take her relative so she goes... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Lendrick
Dark History
In 17th-century Scotland where ordinary folk are taken up as traitors for daring to worship in their own way, and villages turn upon themselves out of suspicion and fear, lives... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Book Gannet
Slow but good research
This was a good story and felt very accurate. Having spent alot of time in Scotland and knowing a little about the history and such I found the little details about punishment and... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Suzanne Moore
An easy to read little gem...
I originally ordered this for my 12 year old daughter but I got there first - The book follows Meggie, an unusual girl somewhat put upon by those in her early life, at a time when... Read more
Published 23 months ago by Greg
Couldn't put it down!
Quite simply one of the best books I've read in a long time, and I do read a lot of books! An enthralling read, vividly set in perfectly detailed C17th Scotland, it follows the... Read more
Published 24 months ago by Victoria Plum
a little "old" for an 11yo
read this with my 11yo. She's about average reading age, had no trouble with the actual reading part but she found the comprehension far easier when I was reading it with her. Read more
Published on 21 May 2010 by Wilts Weviewer
Enthralling BEWITCHING book
agree with the previous reviewer who said they felt sad when they finished this book. I did not read it all in one go, but it was hard to put down when I had to break off, and I... Read more
Published on 5 May 2010 by Beansmummy
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