Witches of the Mount 1730

A young reporter working for Benjamin Franklin’s Pennsylvania Gazette receives his first writing assignment in this clunky historical fiction novel, based on Franklin’s 1730 satirical piece, “A Witch Trial at Mount Holly.” Emmet, implied white, is sent to Mount Holly, N.J., to investigate claims of witchcraft. What he finds is a white town reluctant to share its secrets, and two young women living “with the Indians” who might not be what they appear. Setting out to discover whether the rumors of sheep citing scripture and pigs flying are true, Emmet faces violent attacks, an innkeeper who knows more than he lets on, and a mysterious well that may hold a long-dead witch’s spirit. When Emmet stumbles on the “witches”—one half-Lenni-Lenape, half-white; the other white with a Lenni-Lenape stepfather—dancing naked in the woods, he is mesmerized. As the trial nears, Emmet becomes determined to prove the allegations false. Though moments of tension and mystery are often cut short and dialogue feels anachronistic, Schneider weaves an eerie and at times thrilling story, supplemented by b&w photographs, drawings, and maps that provide an immersive experience. Ages 14–up. (Self-published)