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How to Hang a Witch

(How to Hang a Witch #1)

Adriana Mather (Goodreads Author)

4.05 · Rating details · 16,848 ratings · 2,876 reviews

It's the Salem Witch Trials meets Mean Girls in a debut novel from one of the descendants of Cotton Mather, where the trials of high school start to feel like a modern day witch hunt for a teen with all the wrong connections to Salem’s past.

Salem, Massachusetts is the site of the infamous witch trials and the new home of Samantha Mather. Recently transplanted from New York ...more

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Library Binding, 358 pages

Published July 26th 2016 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

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Apr 18, 2017 Khanh, first of her name, mother of bunnies rated it did not like it

He opens the basket and pulls out delicious-looking foods.

“Where’d you get all this?” I ask, still flustered.

“The tea and scones are from London. The finger sandwiches and pastries are from Paris. And the Devonshire cream is from Devonshire.”

He went all over Europe picking out food for me? How’s this happening right now?

This book is about witchcraft, and it is the silliest book I've ever read about the subject. I've read plenty of books with very young MCs (the one in this book is 15) that a

He opens the basket and pulls out delicious-looking foods.

“Where’d you get all this?” I ask, still flustered.

“The tea and scones are from London. The finger sandwiches and pastries are from Paris. And the Devonshire cream is from Devonshire.”

He went all over Europe picking out food for me? How’s this happening right now?

This book is about witchcraft, and it is the silliest book I've ever read about the subject. I've read plenty of books with very young MCs (the one in this book is 15) that are likable, and the story well-written. This book isn't one of them. It is laughable, and the only reason I think anyone should read it is for pure amusement at how excruciatingly painful it is.

This book was fluffy, contrived, full of stereotypes, without an ounce of originality in how it presents its characters. It is complete with mean girls, which, to be fair, is the (movie) concept with which is aspires to associates itself, brooding "bad boys", a love triangle, and a wicked, bitchy stepmother.

The MC is a tomboyish, pretty, and finds a way to indirectly humble-brag almost immediately after we meet her.

“Uh, Sam. Everyone calls me Sam.”
“Nonsense. That’s a boy’s name. Now, aren’t you pretty. Too skinny, though.”

Yawn.

Her narrative is undoubtedly fifteen-year-old, for better or worse. For example, her internal monologue.

Don’t laugh at me. You probably never had an awkward moment in your life, with all your floppy blond hair and tanned skin. So shut it!

Unfortunately, since it is first-person POV, the book definitely reads like a middle grade book. Some books find ways to make up for that fact; some middle-grade books can be truly poignant. This book is not one of them.

The adults are so mean. All of the authoritarian figures pick on her for no good reason, for speaking up a little bit, for being picked on. There is, hilariously, I might add, a clique of Salem descendants.

“Have you noticed a group of girls in my grade that wear all black—rich goth types?”

“The Descendants?”

I venture a look at Jaxon. “What?”

“Like that?” He nods toward a guy and a girl entering the room. The guy wears an expensive-looking black button-down shirt, black pants, and black loafers. And she has on a floor-length black dress with a tailored black blazer. Her hair is a perfect bob.

Come on, you can't tell me that's fucking hilarious. Even the love triangle is clichéd, with a handsome, boy-next-door blond and a dark, brooding, mysterious dark, floppy-haired boy with a secret *howls with laughter*

I suddenly become very conscious that Jaxon’s arm is around me, and I break contact. I shouldn’t care if Elijah sees that. The thought tugs at me uncomfortably.

I honestly have no idea how this book got a rating above 4. ...more

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Jan 15, 2015 Jeff Zentner rated it it was amazing

I loved every minute of this twisty-turny book.

I wonder what Cotton Mather would think if he found out that his great great great great great (you get the picture) granddaughter wrote one of the best YA books I've ever read...and it happened to be about the Salem Witch Trials.

This book is absolute thrilling, spooky fun. It's not a short book, but it feels like it, such is the tightness and pace of the plotting. There's nary a wasted word. You'll find yourself, as I did, unable to put it down, p ...more

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Jun 01, 2016 Wendy Darling marked it as dnf

Shelves: rh, pn-witches, own-dtb-tbr, july, annoying-main-characters, 2016-publication

This review is a magnet for trolls for some reason, which I find extremely interesting, especially since it was quietly shelved a long time ago. Love the book? Write your own fucking review and stay the hell off mine. You think you're actually helping a book you like by attacking people who didn't enjoy it? Think again. You're turning my disinterest for this book into despising it, and the next step is going to be my rating it one star whereas it's been left unrated until now.

I'm at the point w ...more

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Oct 31, 2017 Kelly (and the Book Boar) rated it it was ok

Shelves: it-s-all-in-the-name, mean-girls, super-meh, teenie-bopper-books, crunken-love, liburrrrrry-book, read-in-2017

Find all of my reviews at: http://52bookminimum.blogspot.com/

A REVIEW VIA GIFFERY (even more so than usual):

As soon as I saw “It's the Salem Witch Trials meets Mean Girls” I was sold. I was also 100% positive I would love this. Not to brag or anything, but . . . .

With descendants of the original Salem witches as the girls who rule the school I immediately pictured . . . .

And was so excited I almost peed my pants . . . .

Bonus was the bitch squad were all super fab and also inc ...more

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Sep 25, 2016 Sarah (thegirltheycalljones) rated it did not like it

Shelves: ya, mean-girls, stupid-mc, ya-paranormal, loved-the-idea

While I do deeply respect the research and the personal link the author has with this particular bit of history (being related to the Mather family), I didn't enjoy this book.
The idea was cool, as it always is when it's about the famous Witch Hunt of the sixteen hundreds, and paralleling the events now and then could have been an exciting adventure but...it was not.
This tale is basic YA, meaning you get everything you're used to read about in the post-Twilight tsunami : an irritating and self-ce ...more

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Jun 24, 2016 Imogene Dacanay rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-reviewed

FUN FACT: The author of this book is actually a descendant of Cotton Mather. COOL RIGHT!

This book isn't one that I could say "the best", I can't say that right from the very first start it will capture you. To be honest, I've managed to read almost 30 pages before deciding that this book is good.

Adriana brings us to the present-day Salem. Samantha Mather, together with her stepmother moved to Salem, specifically to her grandmother's house. Being a descendant of the man who's mention to be a gre ...more

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Jan 26, 2018 Whispering Stories rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Book Review by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

Teenager Samantha (Sam) Mather’s father is in a coma, her Step Mum Vivian has had to sell their apartment in New York to pay for his medical bills and move them to the house that her Grandmother owned before she died, located in Salem.

Being a Mather in Salem isn’t easy though, as one of her relations, Cotton Mather, was one of the people behind the famous witch hanging in 1692.

Also living in Salem, and attending the local high school, are the des Book Review by Stacey on www.whisperingstories.com

Teenager Samantha (Sam) Mather’s father is in a coma, her Step Mum Vivian has had to sell their apartment in New York to pay for his medical bills and move them to the house that her Grandmother owned before she died, located in Salem.

Being a Mather in Salem isn’t easy though, as one of her relations, Cotton Mather, was one of the people behind the famous witch hanging in 1692.

Also living in Salem, and attending the local high school, are the descendants of the witches that were hung. They are not impressed with the arrival of Sam, especially when people start dying, leaving Sam to take the blame. They believe that she is cursed and want her to leave.

Is Samantha really cursed, or are there far greater evil forces in Salem?

I love a good story about witches, and How to Hang a Witch was definitely good. In fact, it was more than that, it was amazing. It was so good that I ordered the sequel, Haunting the Deep, and I am already half way through.

Whilst the story might be fictional, the Salem Witch hangings are certainly true, and being a Mather herself, the author is actually the real descendant of Cotton Mather. The book combines a great story with factual events, leaving you with subtly embedded factual knowledge.

The plot contains a whole host of characters that YA readers will love.
-The school gang who everyone is afraid of and take an instant dislike to the new girl. (Think Mean Girls)
-Two hot young men, though one is a ghost and a few hundred years old.
-A feisty protagonist with a smart mouth, who is determined to find out the truth at any cost. One who has confident outer strength, while her inner is less so sure about herself.

I read the book in two sittings, one in to the early hours of the morning. There are plenty of twists and turns to keep you interested and a fantastic showdown near the end. Believe me, I did not envisage a certain person being the evil force at play.

This is a book that you can fully immerse yourself within. One you can forget the outside world and go and take a walk in Salem, where the houses are painted black, the police cars have a witch logo on them and everyone knows a descendant. ...more

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Sep 21, 2016 Jamie-leigh Haughn rated it did not like it

Reading this book was like eating plain low fat oatmeal... blah. The characters had no personality, the story was rushed and predictable, I enjoyed the beginning but found myself annoyed by the end. I do feel that this would make a good made for TV Disney channel Halloween movie, but as a book I just wasn't a fan. Whomp whomp. ...more

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Nov 20, 2015 Max rated it it was ok

Shelves: read-as-an-arc

Have you ever read a really highly rated book and just know you're going to be in the minority? Because I do, and it's this one. It pained me to read this book, like I was literally regretting sitting down and reading up. But, there was no way I couldn't finish it, because I needed to know exactly what made this such a painful experience. And, honestly, I'm still having a hard time with that question. there are so many elements in How to Hang a Witch that just didn't work. Maybe it's me, but thi Have you ever read a really highly rated book and just know you're going to be in the minority? Because I do, and it's this one. It pained me to read this book, like I was literally regretting sitting down and reading up. But, there was no way I couldn't finish it, because I needed to know exactly what made this such a painful experience. And, honestly, I'm still having a hard time with that question. there are so many elements in How to Hang a Witch that just didn't work. Maybe it's me, but this book was just...bad.

But, I have to give credit where credit is due. This book is incredibly well researched. From the Salem Witch Trials to the descriptions of witchcraft in the book, it all felt very authentic. It was clear Mather did a lot of research into the culture and history, which is also her history since Mather is a descendant of Cotton Mather from the actual Witch Trials and writing a YA, maybe-fictionalized-maybe-not-I'm-just-saying, account of her family history is pretty cool. So, I can't say that there's nothing positive about this book.

My problems with this book stems from two main points. 1) The Characters. 2) The writing style. This is pitched as a sort of Salem Witch Trials meets Mean Girls kinda thing. A lot of books capitalize on the whole "hysteria" thing and the way gossip and fear can take a hold of a community, but this book takes it to a whole new level, linking the Salem Witch Trials to modern day high school, which would be really cool if it were utilized properly.

This is very much a character driven story, but there's no character in this story. Sam, Jaxon, Elijah, the Descendants. They're all lifeless shells full of spite, self-hatred, and occasionally funny one-liners when the plot calls for it. Does Sam need to be vulnerable because plot? Yes. Does Lizzie need to do something bitchy, because reasons? Yep, done. Does Susannah/Alice/Mary need to spout some half-assed/half-explained exposition Sam will ignore until the time is right? You betcha.

All these characters were puppets, moving because the plot, which is pretty flimsy at best, calls for it. None of them were developed past the point of a vague description and a name. Hell, some of them didn't even have that luxury. Two of the five Descendants were interchangeable, one made an impression because he's a guy and another because she was the only person who actually interacted with Sam outside a few mean comments. And the final Descendant? Guys, I can't believe I'm saying this, but how do you mess up a mean girl? Like seriously? Lizzie, the only "mean girl" in the book, is the weakest mean girl I've ever read about. I'd call her a stereotype, but that's stretching it because stereotypes are at least interesting/fun to laugh at. Lizzie was just a shell of a ghost of a stereotype that honestly wasn't in the book for that long.

Oh, and there's a love triangle between a hot junior named Jaxson, yes that is how his name is spelled, and a dead ghost who falls in love with Sam named Elijah. And, seriously people? Has our need for a love triangle superseded the fact the love interest has to be alive and not three-hundred years older than the protagonist? Because, if it has, were in some deep shit. And neither of them are interesting. Seriously. Jaxson was a wet blanket and Elijah was a literal ghost whose dialogue was like something out of a bad porno parody of the Salem Witch Trials. It got on my nerves super fast and not only did I not find it authentic, I found it absolutely irritating.

And Sam? She's...she's...god, I don't know. I can't cal her a blank slate because she does do stuff, but I can't call her a character because there's almost no personality behind her. She's funny when she has to be, vulnerable when the plot calls for it, and angry when there needs to be a reason for one of her two guys to make her feel better. This entire book is Sam reacting too what happens to her in a way that gives her no agency. She's just a pair of eyes that pretends to have a personality to trick you into thinking it's a real character.

Moving on to the writing style, it's too fast. And not necessarily fast paced, but fast writing. The scene changes with a sentence, stuff is discovered and talked about and moved on to new stuff in a paragraph, things just go by too fast. The story is written so tightly there's no room to breathe, no room that would allow the story to grow and build on its own. Something is always happening, Sam is always feeling something or do something it overshadows what she was doing previously. It's disjointed and manic and gave me a huge headache. During the climax, like twelve things were going on and I couldn't focus on anything. I had to re-read like the last twenty-ish pages just to get some handle on the setting and what the hell was going on. There was just too much happening all at once to feel any tension or suspense or fear or whatever I was supposed to be feeling in those moments.

And, what's just really really sad, is that this could have been such a good book. It was so well researched it could have been an absolutely phenomenal story about bullying and hysteria and dark family secrets if it just had a better writing style and characters who were interesting/engaging/good. But, instead it turned into a well-researched dreck that made reading it literally painful for me. However, I will probably be reading Mather’s next book, because I really think if she tweaks a few things I could see what other people see in her writing and get on board with what she has to offer. ...more

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Apr 10, 2018 Juli rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-local-library-2018, backlist-read-2018

Samantha Mather lived in New York with her dad and step-mother Vivian until her father suddenly fell into a coma. With medical bills mounting, Vivian sells their NYC apartment and moves them to Salem, Massachusetts. Samantha's grandmother owned a house there before she died, and they can live there while Samantha's father is hospitalized. Immediately, things do not go as planned. As a relative of Cotton Mather, a proponent of the Salem witch trials, local descendants of those killed in the trial ...more

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Feb 05, 2020 Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) rated it really liked it

Shelves: kindle-books

Is there a book about witches I ever resist? Not usually. And while some let me down in one way or another, I am happy to report that I really enjoyed this, so much so that I already have book two ready and downloaded for the next moment I have to read something from my TBR pile. Definitely fun and mysterious and full of all the good witchy stuff I love and crave.

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Apr 26, 2016 beautyliterate rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal-books, arcs, young-adult, favorite-books-of-2016

3.5/5 stars

Video Review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gp2h...

This was one of the books I picked up during my BEA/Bookcon trip. I was looking forward to this book ever since I read the synopsis earlier this year and have to say I really enjoyed what I read. It flew by for me since I finished it in a matter of two days even though I am crazy busy.

I loved how the author took her family history and twisted it into this YA book. Now, I didn't exactly feel too connected with the characters (y'all ...more

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Oct 22, 2016 Korrina (OwlCrate) rated it liked it

This book was fun, but also kind of silly. If you're looking for a book to read around Halloween it's perfect though! I enjoyed it quite a bit. ...more

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Jan 10, 2016 Brittany S. rated it really liked it

Shelves: paranormal, read-as-arc, fantasy, young-adult, audiobook, conference-finds

Initial Impressions 8/2/16: This book was totally Hocus Pocus meets The Craft (with some actual history in there too)! I got vibes at the beginning and it maintained that vibe throughout. Now someone get Fall here NOW so I can splash in leaves and put up Halloween decorations and drink PSLs watch the best seasonal movies.

HOW TO HANG A WITCH was a lot of fun! So many witchy books are quite fantastical (a full fantasy world with school and society like Harry Potter) or historical fiction or full Initial Impressions 8/2/16: This book was totally Hocus Pocus meets The Craft (with some actual history in there too)! I got vibes at the beginning and it maintained that vibe throughout. Now someone get Fall here NOW so I can splash in leaves and put up Halloween decorations and drink PSLs watch the best seasonal movies.

HOW TO HANG A WITCH was a lot of fun! So many witchy books are quite fantastical (a full fantasy world with school and society like Harry Potter) or historical fiction or full on fantasy with no real world crossover. I really loved that HOW TO HANG A WITCH was contemporary, involved some witchy happenings, and also contained a lot of history. I actually had no idea that this was (mostly) real history until I heard the author's note at the end of the audiobook. Adriana Mather is actually related to Cotton Mather (who was a prominent part of the book) and her family was truly a big part of history. I loved that she told the story of her family's history and also created a really cool fictional novel based on historical events.

The book was great overall! I had fun with it throughout and I really enjoyed the complex relationships of all of the characters. The mysteries were plentiful, curses needed to be broken, spells happened, I got a little scared, and the ending was surprising! I totally had a theory and then SURPRISES HAPPENED.

There were just a couple of spots that I found a little silly or strange. Like the whole (view spoiler)thing... But I just loved the feel of this book, the narration was great (it was the author herself!), and the story was awesome. I hope there's more to come from Adriana Mather and I'd love more books like this!

Full review as originally posted HERE on The Book Addict's Guide 8/24/16: I first heard of HOW TO HANG A WITCH at ALA this past January and was instantly attracted to the “Mean Girls meets Salem Witch Trials” pitch. When I saw an audio review copy from Listening Library, I knew I wanted to read it soon and I quickly dove into the audiobook. I was surprised to find out that the author, Adriana Mather, narrates it herself! It was such a fun experience overall and I really enjoyed the entire vibe of the book.

The “Mean Girls meets Salem Witch Trials” pitch is pretty spot on. I was actually reminded a lot of The Craft as far as the Mean Girls aspect went with Sam having several conflicts with The Descendants, a group of classmates who are actual descendants of the families involved in the Salem Witch trials and who may or may not dabble in actual witchcraft. They dress in all black and are generally surly bunch and this totally reminded me of the movie The Craft! (And I loved it.) I also totally picked up a Hocus Pocus vibe with Sam moving to Salem from the city and being the new kid in school. She meets a boy, has a crush, communicates with spirits, and gets involved with witches. Not to mention the whole thing takes place during the fall and I was just totally pining for autumn and Halloweentime! My only regret about reading this book when I did is that it wasn’t fall already! I absolutely loved the overall feel of the book — movie vibes included — and really enjoyed how it was a contemporary take on the witches without being historical fiction or total fantasy world. It had that perfect modern feel that fit so well with the book’s overall tone.

The plot kept me hooked and entertained from start to finish. There were a lot of interesting twists and like your average book, some were predictable and some totally weren’t. I liked that the past played a really strong part in the present and there are so many ways that Sam’s current situation is intertwined with the actual history of the Salem Witch trials. Some twists really surprised me and I had a long-standing theory for a couple things that were happening that turned out to be incorrect, which I actually love because I think it’s great when an author can surprise or mislead me to keep a big reveal for the ending! There were a couple spots that got a little confusing or convoluted with some extra details that didn’t end up playing a part in the book but those details also kept me on the trail of something that turned out to be a red herring and maintained the element of surprise, so I guess that was good in one way!

The really, really neat thing about HOW TO HANG A WITCH is Adriana Mather’s actual, real-life relation to the Mather family of the Salem Witch Trials. She really is a direct descendant and there’s a neat author’s note that I listened to at the end explaining a long and rather important family history in which her ancestors played big roles in some major historical events. I thought it was really neat how she used her own family connection to create this story! Obviously some historical elements were changed to tweaked to accommodate a young adult novel as well as creating into a modern work of fiction, but there are a lot of general concepts and even some specific facts relating to the Salem Witch Trials and the Mather family specifically that are totally true! With Adriana Mather’s narration of the audiobook as well, it was just really neat to see so many specific elements of involvement in the production of her book and it felt like such a personal touch and connection.

(Possible spoiler paragraph) The one thing about the book that I really had a hang-up with was the romance. I was really accepting of everything — witches, ghosts, paranormal activity, a gang of descendants — up until this romance thing took a turn. It started out sweet with Sam and neighbor boy Jaxon slowly starting to develop a little bit of a romance but then Sam’s involvement with Elijah, the ghost that follows her around, starts to become romantic. And then you lost me. I can handle fond feelings for the ghost-boy but Sam wanted to actually start like… dating him. Sweetie. You realize he’s a ghost, right? Sam has the ability to physically interact with him and it’s pretty consistent but things get weird when you start kissing ghosts of boys who have been dead for hundreds of years. Thankfully, that resolved itself but why throw in a love triangle angle with a ghost? That was my one big turn-off.

HOW TO HANG A WITCH was an overall fun and enjoyable read! I just really dug the whole vibe of the book, from The Craft and Hocus Pocus feel to the contemporary take to the sarcasm and snark, the book really just fit with me! Some readers will probably be anticipating a little more depth because for all of its history, it did still feel on the lighter side but I personally really liked that about it. I really enjoyed the levity while still digging into actual history (with a little bit of creative licensing) and having a book that was easy to breeze through and kept me entertained! I think this is a really fun fall read and should definitely be on your reading lists this autumn if you love reading spooky or seasonal reads before/around Halloween! ...more

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Nov 24, 2017 Suzzie rated it really liked it

I love books of any kind on the Salem Witch trials so I ate this one right up! It was interesting and fast paced with characters that you could love and some you could love to hate! Got dinner plans so can't wait too long of a review but loved this one for sure!

Overall, a fun quick read! ...more

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Nov 23, 2016 Obsidian rated it did not like it

Shelves: did-not-finish

I gave this book half a star and rounded it up to 1 star on Goodreads. I also did not finish this book and quit at the 50 percent mark.

The only cool thing about this book is that a descendant of the Mathers (see Salem Witch trials) wrote a book book Salem and what happens when a descendant of Cotton Mather moves to Salem. There appears to be a curse at work on Sam and the Descendants (the book titles them that way, not me) of the supposed witches that were hanged. Other than that, there is not r I gave this book half a star and rounded it up to 1 star on Goodreads. I also did not finish this book and quit at the 50 percent mark.

The only cool thing about this book is that a descendant of the Mathers (see Salem Witch trials) wrote a book book Salem and what happens when a descendant of Cotton Mather moves to Salem. There appears to be a curse at work on Sam and the Descendants (the book titles them that way, not me) of the supposed witches that were hanged. Other than that, there is not really anything to see here.

The world building in this book is not great, we have a love triangle (of course) and the development of the main character and others is non-existent. It does not help that crucial details are being left out of things everywhere you turn and you are just supposed to figure out what is going on. I read to the 50 percent mark due to the chapters being so short. But at that point (Chapter 30 to be exact) I pulled the plug and said forget this noise. There are better books out there and I rather be reading them.

The main character of Samantha (prefers Sam) Mather really needs to be worked on. he is not really solid as a character. She is either fighting with her stepmother Vivian, or getting into fights/arguments with teachers or other kids at her school. We keep hearing about terrible things that happened to Sam at schools, but the things described (a hair cutting incident) is assault plain and simple and I have to wonder at Sam's father and stepmother trying to gloss over the whole thing. Of course the book tries to tie in Sam's problems with a "curse" and all, but that didn't really work for me since one incident involved a childhood friend and we don't know what happened there, and the second incident was her having her hair cut and once again I don't know what led up to it.

The secondary characters are written terribly too. Sam's stepmother Vivian has apparently been in her life since she was a child and up until Sam's father had his accident they were really close. But Sam keeps fighting with Vivian and will not tell her what is going on. So there's just a lot of scenes with Sam acting like a jerk (my words) and then saying I should tell Vivian what's going on. Yeah girl, you should.

Other characters such as Jaxon are there to just be a love interest to Sam. I have no idea what this guy really looks like besides the color of his eyes. In fact every guy in this book gets the color of his eyes described. I don't know why Jaxon likes Sam besides the story is making it so. Once again she's not interesting at all, they just live next door to each other.

We also get the Descendants of those accused of witchcraft. Why Mather actually decided to make these Descendants actual witches baffles me. Frankly I wonder why the character of Sam has not said to at least one of them, well so my great great great whatever was right? Still a terrible person to have people be hanged, but you all were witches? That whole thing drove me buggy while reading. Also these Descendants all wear black (yes cause witches wear black...always) and they go off into the woods, they have a circle (but the last time I checked I don't think there are 13 of them, but they all started to blur together so don't quote me on that), and they all wear hooded capes or capes when going out into the woods. I just could not stop laughing. These were stereotypical witches that made me roll my eyes a lot. They were also bullies and acted like asses to Sam. I also don't get why any of these kids would bully someone just because their last name was Mather and no one in the school picked up on it at all. Ugh. I will be here all day if I get into this anymore so moving on.

The other townspeople are a bit much too. Everytime Sam tells someone their name they freak out. There is an incident when she goes to get coffee and the cashier requests her last name (please) and she says Mather and gets the stink eye from the cashier and others. I mean the incidents like this in the book were ridiculous.

The writing was not good. I really don't know what else to say. The sentence structures were all over the place and depending on who was talking it got even more messed up. For example, the character of Elijah should not be speaking in modern speech at all since we know what era he was born in. And having the character speak as if he just learned English was not working for me either. Having the chapter headings started wearing on my nerves while reading too. I don't know why some authors need to set the mood so to speak, but readers are smart, you don't have to have a chapter that says "Under All that Bravado" and then have a character say that later on in the chapter.

The flow of the book was really bad too. The chapters kept ending at weird places and nothing really synced up.

The world building for this book should have been easy. Salem is a real place. I have no understanding at all of how the town looks besides almost all of the houses are black, witches symbols are all over the place, and the school has a witch as their mascot. I also got that same information from Wikipedia. I need to actually be able to envision it. How does the town look, is it a straight route from Sam's house to downtown. How do the trees look? Do the houses have gables? Widows walk? Salem is a huge tourist attraction, this book takes place during September/October, are you telling me there are no tourists anywhere? I have a friend that lives in Boston and she always goes to Salem for Halloween and based on the pictures there are a ton of things to do there. The Salem Sam inhabits seems kind of desolate.

I can't speak to the ending because I stopped reading this at 50 percent. I would definitely recommend skipping this. ...more

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Nov 21, 2017 Eliza rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, reviewed, fantasy, below-average, owned, mystery, horror, 2-stars, thriller

2.5/5

Well, that was downright too predictable, which is a shame, because it started off strong(ish) - only for the story to dull and come to a complete stop. Honestly, after 3/4 of the book I just wanted to finish it and put it away.

Part of me wants to say that this was unique, because I have never read a YA book about the Salem Witch Trials (at least not like this one); however, aside from the idea, the rest of the story was completely unoriginal. I felt like the characters were borrowed from o ...more

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Feb 07, 2016 Brittany (Brittany's Book Rambles) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: arc, history, swoon, supernatural, paranormal, best-of-2016, 2016-releases

4.5/5 Stars

For ages, I have been looking for that perfect Halloweeny read, and I've finally found it! It's witchy without being too creepy, and being the big scaredy-cat that I am, the latter is extremely important. I'm fascinated and horrified by the history of the Salem witch trials, and How to Hang a Witch uses that history and turns it into a spooky and romantic story. I really identified with the main character's voice, and I now have a new book boyfriend in Elijah—a swoony ghost with a sad ...more

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Jun 19, 2016 Connor rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult-fantasy

[3.75 Stars] This isn't the best thing I've ever read, and it does start off in a way that if I wasn't really wanting to review it, I might have put it down. It begins super tropey with a young self-proclaimed sarcastic teen moving to a new city where she meets two incredibly handsome boys and some mean girls. Chaos ensues. BUT it was actually so much fun once I got into the story. It's super plot-driven in my opinion so people should be aware of that. But the mystery and the magic were so cool ...more

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Nov 25, 2016 Vikki rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: mystery-crime-horror, easy-good-reads, ya

Spooky. Paranormal. Angsty. I should have read this around Halloween but still read in 2 days (probably would have read in one if not Thanksgiving/family time). Samantha Mather moves to Salem from NYC due to her family's financial situation after her father goes into a mysterious coma. Weird, slightly sinister things seem to have been happening to people around Sam for as long as she remembers and just get worse in Salem. The mystery of the Mathers and the Descendants curse kept me turning the p ...more

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Jan 17, 2015 Kali Wallace rated it it was amazing

I absolutely adore this book. I read it as a manuscript, and I read it as an ARC, and I am going to buy the finished version when it comes out, and I love it more every time. It's so charming and spooky and witchy and twist, and also it features my grumpy ghost boyfriend, who I shall not share with anybody else, even though I understand if everybody comes away from this wanting a ghost boyfriend of their very own. Go find your own. This one is mine.

But seriously, more to the point, what a fun ri ...more

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Apr 06, 2020 Erica rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 5-star-reads, books-read-in-2020, own, owls-magical-readathon

I wasn't expecting to like this book, let alone it become one of my favorite books. This was definitely binge worthy and I recommend to anyone who wants to learn about the Salem Witch Trials all the while enjoying the action and love story that comes along with it. ...more

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Mar 14, 2018 Steven rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-in-2018, ya, urban-fantasy-paranormal, friend-recommended-steven-approved

I really feel like this was more of a three star book in that I enjoyed it but wasn’t wowed by it, but I loved the author’s message, though presented in a cheesy manner, that kindness is one of the most important choices we can make. The book was predictable but still fun, and overall, the kindness message made me bump it up half a star and thus, 3.5 stars rounded up.

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Jan 15, 2015 Samantha rated it it was amazing

I knew, going into this book, that I would probably like it. I've been forever fascinated by the Salem witch trials, and knowing the book was written by a descendant of Cotton Mather added an extra bit of depth and definitely peaked my curiosity.

But I more than liked it.

I LOVED this story.

It's smart and funny, sweet and sad, scary and tense. I kept turning the pages because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

Adriana Mather brings us to modern day Salem with Sam (never Samantha) a I knew, going into this book, that I would probably like it. I've been forever fascinated by the Salem witch trials, and knowing the book was written by a descendant of Cotton Mather added an extra bit of depth and definitely peaked my curiosity.

But I more than liked it.

I LOVED this story.

It's smart and funny, sweet and sad, scary and tense. I kept turning the pages because I needed to know what was going to happen next.

Adriana Mather brings us to modern day Salem with Sam (never Samantha) and her stepmom as they're forced to move into Sam's grandmother's house while her dad lies in a coma in a nearby hospital. Being a descendant of Cotton Mather--the man who is often cited for his support of the Salem witch trials--makes Sam an instant outcast at school. She's plagued by a group of girls calling themselves the Descendants (who happen to be descendants of the so-called witches from the infamous trials), and they decide it's their task to make Sam's life at school hell. To top it off, Sam has a pesky ghost boy problem back at home.

This story is woven together so well, I barely stopped to take a breath. But when I did, I was taken by how the author managed to parallel modern day high school bullying with the Salem trials themselves. We still hang people without justifiable cause today, even if it doesn't appear to take the same shape or form. We are quick to judge and ostracize, just like they did in the 1690s, and we hang others through vicious words, social media, and by making them outcasts. The fact that the story reverses the roles--a Mather now being "hanged" by the witches--just highlights this fact even more. Even the victims can become the villains, given enough time and hatred. That's what makes this book so relevant. Not only is it entertaining, it's important.

And all of this is just the meat of the story. Within it all, we have gorgeous scenery, adorable boys, and gut-wrenching heartache. I laughed, I cried. I read it twice because I wanted to make sure I didn't miss anything. And I forecast at least another reading or two in my future. Definitely one of my favorite recent reads.

This is a fantastic debut, and it solidifies Adriana Mather as a YA author worthy of watching. ...more

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Apr 17, 2018 Book Outlet rated it it was amazing

Shelves: young-adult, mystery, romance, thriller, horror, 2018

This book is getting shelved to a ton of places. It was an adventure from start to end and I could never figure out where it was going. I ship Elijah & Sam SO HARD, too! The worst part of this book for me was the fact that it had to end -- which the ending was fantastic, by the way!

Overall, I loved this book way, way more than I thought I would. Also, shout out to our IG because someone let me know there is a sequel and I DID NOT KNOW! Now I absolutely need it 👀

Highly recommend this book!

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Nov 03, 2017 Colleen Houck added it

Shelves: swoonworthy-guys, setting, witches, magic, secrets, villain, friends

I loved this take on the Salem witch trials and comparing it with modern day bullying. Umm and can I say I have a major crush on Elijah? Hope to see him again in book two. Loved the setting and discovering the answers to all the secrets.

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Sep 19, 2017 Jennifer rated it it was amazing

I don't reread many books. For one, I don't really have the time. Two, if I really loved a book I'm afraid rereading it will make me not like it as much. I reread How to Hang a Witch because I wanted the characters and the world fresh in my mind as I went into the second installment. I think this is the first time I can honestly say that I enjoyed the book more the second time I read it.

Our main chatacter is Sam. She just moved to her parents home town, Salem, Mass., with her step-mother becaus I don't reread many books. For one, I don't really have the time. Two, if I really loved a book I'm afraid rereading it will make me not like it as much. I reread How to Hang a Witch because I wanted the characters and the world fresh in my mind as I went into the second installment. I think this is the first time I can honestly say that I enjoyed the book more the second time I read it.

Our main chatacter is Sam. She just moved to her parents home town, Salem, Mass., with her step-mother because her father is in a coma and his medical bills made it impossible for them to keep their apartment in New York. Sam and her step-mother move in to a house that was left to her dad by his mother, the grandmother Sam never got to meet. Aside from finding out that her grandmother left the house for her dad, sam also finds out that her last name is something that could get her killed.

Sam starts school and that is when everything starts to unravel. There is a group of mean girls, The Decendents, that start torturing Sam instantly. And, of course her being the new girl, the teachers blame her for everything. This part of the book disgusted me. Telling Sam to watch her temper when she is literally being BEYOND bullied just set me off. I hate when there are unfair circumstances the main character has to get through with a smile.

There is one reprieve for Sam and that comes in the form of Jaxon. Sam is very suspicious of Jaxon because everyone else treats her like a disease and he is all up in her business. This causes her to push him away every chance she gets. But he isn't so easily swayed. It helps that he is her neighbor and his mother is always inviting Sam over for random things. And his mother happens to be her dads childhood best friend.

Oh, and Elijah. But you will meet him yourself. I don't want to spoil him for you!

It turns out that there might be a curse on the families of the first Salem Witch Trials decendents and as soon as Sam arrives people start dropping like flies. Trying to solve this curse is where the reader gets a lot more of the historical stand-point of the book. I loved the historical parts and I would really love to read more about it. I don't considering myself someone who really likes history but certain things I can really get sucked in to.

This book had a much deeper meaning subject than just the Salem Witch Trials. It also took on the task of showing the reader how bullying is a vicious cycle and it isn't just something that happens among school-age kids. The book shows us that we have to end the cycle of bullying in order for us to have peace. If we just keep our heads down or ignore it, it will no go away and you are just as guilty as the bully if you don't say something. Silence is killer. I adore how the author fit that into the book and I hope people actually notice it.

In the end, I was both sad and happy for Sam. She might have lost someone she was close to but she got someone else back. I know she will have a lot of stuff to work through given the amount of information that was thrown at her about her mother and father and step-mother and just everything that happened at the end. I really enjoyed Sam as a character. She was put under so much stress and had to handle so many insane situations but she was still very mature about it all. I cannot wait to see where the next book takes me.

Overall, I gave the book 4.5/5 stars. ...more

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Dec 02, 2014 Laurie Flynn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: ya-contemporary, sweet-sixteens

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book at ALA Midwinter. I'd heard amazing things about it, and as a huge fan of all stories involving witches or witchcraft, it was definitely a debut that piqued my curiosity. Not only that, but Adriana Mather is a descendant of Cotton Mather of Salem witch trial infamy!

I was invested in Sam, the main character, from page one-- she's exactly my type of heroine. She's snarky and smart and guarded, and her emotions feel very realistic as she grapples with b ...more

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Apr 14, 2015 Kurt Dinan rated it it was amazing

Mather’s debut novel is suspenseful, funny, intelligent, and informative. The fact that Mather is related to Cotton Mather, he of Salem Witch Trials fame, gives this novel real weight. I’ve read a lot of novels that will be out in 2015, and Mather’s is one of the best. She has an ear for dialogue, an ability to educate while being incredibly entertaining, and has written one hell of a supernatural thriller. I loved every minute of it.

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Jan 20, 2015 Sarah Ahiers rated it it was amazing

I read this book as part of an arc tour in return for a fair review.

This book. Man, this book took me be surprise in all the best ways!

Samantha Mather, descendent of the infamous Cotton Mather of the Salem witch trials, finds herself moving to Salem after her father has an accident and is in the hospital. She's never been good at making friends and she's even worse in a town that takes it's history so seriously. And of course, Sam isn't the only descendant of the witch trials. In fact, there's a I read this book as part of an arc tour in return for a fair review.

This book. Man, this book took me be surprise in all the best ways!

Samantha Mather, descendent of the infamous Cotton Mather of the Salem witch trials, finds herself moving to Salem after her father has an accident and is in the hospital. She's never been good at making friends and she's even worse in a town that takes it's history so seriously. And of course, Sam isn't the only descendant of the witch trials. In fact, there's a group of teens who call themselves the descendants and they pretty much hate Sam on sight.

But, of course, all is not lost. There's the cute neighbor boy, who doesn't treat her like she's a villain. And his caring mother. And the ghost in her room.

But if the ghost wasn't strange enough, other things start to happen around town. Things that can't be explained away, at least, not without a belief in the paranormal. Things that the town starts to blame Sam for.

Maybe what happened during the witch trials all those years ago could still happen today. And maybe Sam and the other descendants will have to put aside their differences before they all end up like their descendants: dead.

Where to even start with this book? I loved Sam. I loved her snark, and her unwillingness to take crap from people. But also the fact that even though she could be mean right back to mean people, things still hurt her. I felt so much sympathy and empathy for her. I just wanted to hug her and be her friend.

And the boys. WOO! I mean, there are two love interests, but it's not really a triangle. And, anyway, I loved both romantic leads (and sometimes I hated them, too) and the fact that there was two of them just meant there was more of them to love.

Mather (author Mather, not MC) does a FANTASTIC job of utilizing misdirections. More than once I was caught off guard by something happening, or was completely wrong in my prediction of who was bad, what was going on, etc. And I loved that, because I am not often surprised in books and so when I am, I'm really pleased.

And the setting is fully realized. I've never been to Salem, but now I feel like I kind of have. And that maybe one day, I do want to visit.

Recommend for fans of contemporary YA with supernatural elements, or fans of witches or the Salem witch trials, or American history. ...more

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About Adriana Mather

Adriana Mather

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Adriana Mather is the New York Times bestselling author of How to Hang a Witch, with family roots that go back to Sleepy Hollow, the Salem Witch Trials, and the Titanic. She's also an actor and producer best known for her role in the award-winning Honeyglue. She co-owns Zombot Pictures, a production company that makes feature films. Her first acting scene in a film ever was with Danny Glover, and ...more

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“Almost everything worth believing in cannot be seen. Love, for instance.” — 31 likes

“The air's crisp with the smell of autumn, and the first few leaves have started to change color. The streets have that family-friendly feel. Store windows already have pumpkins and witches' hats in them.” — 17 likes

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