The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

I wasn't sure what to expect of this 1959 Newberry award winner.  Knowing only that it was a historical novel from the American colonial period, I dove in.  I was surprised at how quickly the narrative moved and how attached I became to the central character Kit.

Kit is a young woman from Barbados fallen on hard times.  In a rash attempt to escape an unwanted marriage to a much older man, she abandons her tropical home for an unforgiving shore in colonial Connecticut.  Inserting herself into her Aunt and Uncle's (literally) Puritanical society is not easy for the free-spirited young girl.

But, I was surprised at the growth that Speare allowed her character and the richness the author gave to all her characters.  So many times children's literature can trend towards heavy-handed stereotyping in the characters.  Over the top characterization of "good" and "bad" characters was happily absent from this.  That is not to say that Speare didn't have some characters who were "bad".  But I liked that those characters were minor and not as central to the plot.

In the end, I will admit that the ending is one you can see coming a mile away, but when it did finally arrive, I enjoyed it none the less.  All the characters end happily and in a rightful place for their needs.  There is no disappointing open ending or replication of life's own lack of closure.  All in all, Speare's likable characters and well constructed story were enjoyable without being too preachy/life's lessony.