Review of How to Hang a Witch

How to Hang a Witch
Adriana Mather
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Rating: 9/10

How to Hang a Witch is a outside-the-norm teen fantasy/fiction that takes place in Salem, Massachusetts. The main character, Samantha Mathers, moves to the town with her mother after inheriting a family home. Turns out, Samantha is a descendent of Cotton Mathers, a key player in the Salem Witch Trials. After an encounter with a ghost, and some equally spooky local teens, Samantha finds herself in more trouble than she thought she could ever find in this sleepy little town.

I picked up this book expecting it to be a little bit creepy, and more of a defeat-the-bad-guy scenario. I was very wrong. The bad guy is a curse, the people you thing are bad guys are actually good guys, and magic is still a very large part of the town.

Romance
There was a hint of romance, but for a teen book it was surprisingly low on the romance scale. This female protagonist doesn't need a guy to help her save the day, and she lets you know it. That being said, you have to root for Sam and her guy at the end. There is a bit of a love triangle with a ghost, but unlike a lot of teen romances it is clear that it isn't going to happen. Thankfully.

Fantasy
For the most part, until the very end, the fantasy element is low-end. The author brings in a lot of Wicca ceremonies and such, but magic really starts pumping up midway through. Except for the ghost of course.

Voice
Sam's voice is unique and refreshing. In a world of super sappy teens, super tough teens, and super type-A teens, she is a pleasant mix of witty and realistic. She's pissed about moving, she just wants to fit in, but not too much, and she is just awkward enough to be a real person and not an awkward, twitching troll. She solves her own problems, and can take care of herself, but she does know when to ask for help.

Research
The author put in a ton of research for this book and it shows. Despite the fantasy, you could almost be in Salem, and want to go there to see for yourself all of the places the author points out. She researches the town, the history, and even the ritual elements of magic that the character's use. A+ on research. There is a very powerful message about modern-day bullying in the book, that a reader can't help but see and pause to think about their own lives and experiences. It calls for awareness of bullying, and for the age group the book is geared to, it is a really good insert on the part of the author.