This is the story of Nell who lives with her grandmother, the local cunning woman and healer, in a west country village in the seventeenth century....
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Oct 28, 2008
Lizzie
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Jan 30, 2011
Angie
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Interesting look at the 17th century witch trials in England. The book does a good job of showing how hysteria can grow and mob mentality can make otherwise sane people turn against those they have known their entire lives. Nell and her grandmother have served and protected the community their entire lives and at the first sign of trouble they are turned upon.
Hearn does a good job of weaving historical persons and events into the storyline - Charles II and Matthew Hopkins the witch hun More...
Hearn does a good job of weaving historical persons and events into the storyline - Charles II and Matthew Hopkins the witch hun More...
Jul 06, 2010
Anne
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This was an excellent audio read and as usual, it is hard to separate a tremendous actress' vocal interpretation of the two main characters from the words Julie Hearne actually wrote. I felt so drawn to 17th-century England, a time when Puritanism battled "the old ways." Protagonist Nell has learned healing and spells from her grandmother, the "cunning woman" for a small village. She is a sweet soul who does no harm, but in her refusal to help Grace, one of the village minist
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Dec 17, 2009
Elizabeth
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As I have already mentioned my interest in witches and wizards, it is only appropriate that I relate my very strong interest in the real historical "witches" of America - The Salem Witches. I love reading all kinds of material on the Salem Witch Trial: non-fiction, fiction, articles, plays, etc. The Minister's Daughter (though it is placed in seventeenth century England)does not disappoint. It is more of a fiction that actually historically and factually based. It adds a bit of fantasy
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Oct 11, 2010
Erica -
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This book is another young adult novel that I'd seen at the library. The description of it really intriqued me. It's about two girls in England in the mid-1600s, one who is a "healer" and the other is a minister’s daughter who accuses the "healer" girl of being a witch. It was a really fascinating book and I had a hard time putting it down when I first started reading.
It also sparked my interest once again about the Salem Witch Trials, I was so fascinated by them when I was More...
It also sparked my interest once again about the Salem Witch Trials, I was so fascinated by them when I was More...
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Oct 05, 2008
Jamie
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Aug 19, 2009
Yvonne
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Nell is a wild child. Conceived on May Morning, she is claimed by the piskies and faeries as a merrybegot, one of their own. She is the village cunning woman's granddaughter: herb gatherer and healer, spell-weaver and midwife...and, some say, a witch.
Grace is a Puritan minister's daughter: beautiful and refined, innocent and sweet-natured...to those who think they know her. But she is hiding a secret -- a secret that will bring everlasting shame to her family should it ever com More...
Grace is a Puritan minister's daughter: beautiful and refined, innocent and sweet-natured...to those who think they know her. But she is hiding a secret -- a secret that will bring everlasting shame to her family should it ever com More...
Jun 26, 2010
Sarah
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I wasn't really sure what to expect from this book, but it was really good. It's set in the early 1600s, and it follows two girls: Nell, the Merrybegot child (conceived on May Morning) and granddaughter of the cunning woman (midwife, herb lady, etc), and Grace, the daughter of the minister. Grace finds herself with child after frolicking in the woods with the butcher's son, who refuses to stand by her. She goes to the cunning woman for something to take care of it, but she is not there. Nell
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May 17, 2010
travelmel
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This was a GREAT book. I give it 4.75 stars. I will do a review of it another time as my daughter is reading it now and I want to talk with her about it and then will do my review.
There were great themes to discuss in a book club or scholastic setting, IMO.
There were great themes to discuss in a book club or scholastic setting, IMO.
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Aug 24, 2010
joy
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Sep 05, 2009
Sarah
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While Hearn’s story is slow in parts and slightly predictable until the end, she also tells a realistic picture of what life was like during that time period, with witch hunting being a popular sport and accusations running rampant. Through Grace, teens will see how the witch hunting gave people a license to kill those they were frustrated with or disliked. The fantastical creatures of Hearn’s story may have been on the minds and beliefs of the people of that time, but Hearn’s brings them to li
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Jan 21, 2012
Jaz
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We read this in English class, and I wanted to hate it, but I loved it. The writing style was good, but looking back, it was quite... un-advanced. But whatever. I guess I've got into more YA books, and this is probably for 11-12 year olds. But more mature 11-12 year olds, what with the frolicking and stuff. Still, the book was good, and the chapters alternated between POV's, which was in interesting change to a lot of books out there. Patience's POV was kind of sensitive, almost childish and pre
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Feb 12, 2009
Tina
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The story of Nell, the granddaughter of a midwife "the cunning woman", and two sisters, Grace and Patience. Part of the story is told from the perspective of Patience, many years after the story takes place. This was a fantasy story in that Nell interacts with the "piskies" and "faeries" and they in turn aid her, but it is also historical because it shows what life was like for midwives at that time in England and the accusations and judgments enacted upon those th
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Apr 30, 2009
Alan
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I read this book after reading The Heretics Daughter, an Historical Novel based on the Salem Witch Trials. I loved how this book based, mostly, in Old England intertwined people of Puritan beliefs, along with people who, while they go to church on Sunday, still dance around the Maypole and refer to baby's about to be born as "pot lids" so the piskies don't steal the newborn baby away. I also liked the fact that these piskies and fairy's do exists and play an important role in the book.
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Feb 25, 2009
(This is the UK version/title for this book, which was published in the US as THE MINISTER'S DAUGHTER. I've listed this version because of the Michael Frost cover.)
Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appea More...
Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appea More...
Mar 09, 2010
Kristi
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Nov 30, 2010
Lbrignac
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I have to say this is one of my least favorite books. I found The Minister’s Daughter somewhat challenging to read. With the structure of the book transitioning between the confession of Patience Madden, one of the Minister’s daughters, and dated chapters in third person, I never could get a grasp on what was happening in the story. Thankfully, the second half of the book became somewhat of a page turner and the storyline began to make sense. Before reading this book, I would suggest one have b
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Feb 25, 2009
(This is the newer US cover for this book, which was published in the UK as THE MERRYBEGOT.)
Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appearance of English faerie folk, and learn the meaning of this book’s origin More...
Another book featuring haunting cover art by Curse photographer Michael Frost, Julie Hearn’s début novel is set against the backdrop of witch hunts and the English Civil War. Three young women find themselves caught up in a web of magic, witchcraft, and violence, with potentially tragic consequences. Watch for the appearance of English faerie folk, and learn the meaning of this book’s origin More...
Jun 14, 2010
Alexa
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Nell is a merrybegot a child sacred to nature. Her mother is dead, her grandmother is the village's cunning woman.
Nell must learn the ways of healing, deal with the Madden girl's lying and take care of her dun chicken.
Life is normal, until the witch catcher comes to town. He accuses her grandmother and she dies soon afterward. Nell then meets a young man and saves him using fairybaby caul.
Nell is then accused of witchcraft herself...
This was a really go More...
Nell must learn the ways of healing, deal with the Madden girl's lying and take care of her dun chicken.
Life is normal, until the witch catcher comes to town. He accuses her grandmother and she dies soon afterward. Nell then meets a young man and saves him using fairybaby caul.
Nell is then accused of witchcraft herself...
This was a really go More...
Nov 10, 2010
Marie
rated it:
This book is not what I expected to say the least, which is a good thing. When I picked it up I had no idea it had anything to do with the witch trials. I loved Nell, and I hated what Grace did to her. I thought Grace was a evil spiteful creature who was always used to getting what she wanted.
I find it interesting how everyone thing Patience is dumb or slow because she doesn't speak much. But she watches everything. Sure in the end she gets it wrong, but Grace does get her what's coming t More...
I find it interesting how everyone thing Patience is dumb or slow because she doesn't speak much. But she watches everything. Sure in the end she gets it wrong, but Grace does get her what's coming t More...
Nov 10, 2011
Judy
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What does the 1645 puritan minister of an English village surrounded by piskies and fairies do when his eldest daughter's May frolicking with the blacksmith's son (who left unexpectedly for the army) leaves her with a bloating problem in the stomach region? He calls in the witch finder and goes after the midwife and cunning healer's granddaughter who obviously has placed a spell of the devil on the innocent girl.
I'm a fan of historical fiction -- and I suppose that this could almost f More...
I'm a fan of historical fiction -- and I suppose that this could almost f More...
Feb 11, 2011
Logan
rated it:
First impressions: The book introduces us to two different perspectives from the start: one is the young Nell, granddaughter to a local healer, in 1645 England; the other is Patience, younger sister to Grace, daughter of the town minister, who writes her own account of the events from 1692 Salem. I liked this alternating style, which added a level of deception and spite to the unfolding accusations of witchcraft.
I was also immediately taken with the voices of the girl Nell and the wom More...
I was also immediately taken with the voices of the girl Nell and the wom More...
Jan 03, 2011
Kiara
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Dec 11, 2009
"The Minister's Daughter" is another story of how the Salem Witch Trials happened.
It's about a teenage girl Nell who lives in a village and is learning how to be a midwife/healer from her grandmother who is the “cunning woman" in the village (that’s what the people call her)
Her grandma has helped the people in the village and the Faries/creatures in the village for a long time but now she’s old and kinda losing her mind and Nell has to help her and will soon take over More...
It's about a teenage girl Nell who lives in a village and is learning how to be a midwife/healer from her grandmother who is the “cunning woman" in the village (that’s what the people call her)
Her grandma has helped the people in the village and the Faries/creatures in the village for a long time but now she’s old and kinda losing her mind and Nell has to help her and will soon take over More...
Apr 10, 2011
Michael
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Review from Badelynge
It is Spring 1645 and the first English Civil War is drawing to its inevitable close. King Charles I holds onto his freedom by a thread with his loyalist supporters holding only small pockets of the Midlands & North Wales with his son (Charles II to be) hiding out in the West Country (Cornwall). Matthew Hopkins, self-styled Witch-finder General plies his lucrative and deadly business stirring the countryside to find and nail any suspected of using the Dark Arts. Agains More...
It is Spring 1645 and the first English Civil War is drawing to its inevitable close. King Charles I holds onto his freedom by a thread with his loyalist supporters holding only small pockets of the Midlands & North Wales with his son (Charles II to be) hiding out in the West Country (Cornwall). Matthew Hopkins, self-styled Witch-finder General plies his lucrative and deadly business stirring the countryside to find and nail any suspected of using the Dark Arts. Agains More...
Apr 09, 2011
S. Bell
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Phew, good stuff! I do so enjoy Julie Hearn - it's funny though that this was the first book of hers I ever bought, yet much the last to be read. The size (large hardcover) and plain cover (lack of dustjacket) did possibly have something to do with that; I tend to be a bit of a snob when it comes to books' looks.
<spoiler>Best to put my review behind a spoiler-cut. I was very glad that Prince Charles - later the merry Charles II! - came along to give Nell her 11th hour reprieve. More...
<spoiler>Best to put my review behind a spoiler-cut. I was very glad that Prince Charles - later the merry Charles II! - came along to give Nell her 11th hour reprieve. More...
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Apr 21, 2009
Steph Su
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The novel is enthralling and enchanting, hard to put down once you start. In the English country in the seventeenth century, Nell lives with her wisewoman grandmother, the town herbalist, midwife, and spellbringer. Nell is a Merrybegot, a child sacred to nature, born on May Morning. She likes to frolic and hates restraint, which the new minister has brought down upon the town.
The minister’s eldest daughter, Grace Madden, is a beautiful, proud, conniving girl. After a secret affair with More...
The minister’s eldest daughter, Grace Madden, is a beautiful, proud, conniving girl. After a secret affair with More...
Oct 29, 2008
Sidhe1
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Jul 22, 2008
Debbie
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The story is told from two perspectives: third-person, present tense narration describes events in England in 1645 and first-person past tense narration through Patience's eyes. In 1645, England is fighting a civil war and the Puritans amuse themselves by torturing and killing witches. Patience's story, told in a courtroom in 1692, give us another view of the truth.
Nell is the granddaughter of the local healer. Granny is starting to lose touch with reality and Nell tries to learn More...
Nell is the granddaughter of the local healer. Granny is starting to lose touch with reality and Nell tries to learn More...
May 29, 2008
Kim
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The Minister's Daughter is a YA historical novel that will be well appreciated by those who enjoyed Karen Cushman's The Midwife's Apprentice and Matilda Bone. Nell is a merrybegot, a child conceived on May Day whom the piskies and faeries consider one of their own. The granddaughter of the local cunning woman (a healer and midwife), she is also her apprentice, with knowledge and powers her neighbors alternately fear and respect. Grace is the minister's eldest daughter, beautiful but with dark
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