Witches (Fact or Fiction) - Softcover

Grade 4-6?Ross presents bits of information and glitzy, eye-catching artwork in an attempt to cash in on a popular subject. Each double-page spread features a general subject ("Ministers of Magic," "Popes and Pagans," "Servants of the Devil," etc.). There are several full-color illustrations and reproductions on each page, some from movies and some from historical sources (the latter are not cited). The material is divided up into captions for the pictures, each of which gives some information but no depth of coverage. The facts on each page may or may not have anything to do with the subject at hand?e.g., one topic is "Burn Her!" and starts off with a six-sentence overview of Joan of Arc's life and death; other subjects in the same section include witch bottle charms, Joan of Arc's heart, fatal marks, and protective plants. This scattershot approach, combined with sensational illustrations, will attract readers. However, there are many better sources available on this topic.?JoAnn Rees, Sunnyvale Public Library, CA
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