Who Was Accused in the Salem Witch Trials?: Tituba: A Who HQ Graphic Novel

Who HQ Graphic Novel Series

by Insha Fitzpatrick, Who H.Q., Rowan MacColl (Illustrator)

Discover the Salem witch trials through the eyes of Tituba, one of the first women to be accused of witchcraft, in this gripping graphic novel written by Oh My Gods! author Insha Fitzpatrick and illustrated by Nightmare in Savannah artist Rowan MacColl.

Presenting Who HQ Graphic an exciting new addition to the #1 New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series!

Follow the terrifying events of the 1692 Salem witch trials from the perspective of Tituba, an enslaved woman who was accused of bewitching two girls, Elizabeth Parris and Abigail Williams, during this harrowing, historic period. A story of speculation, mass hysteria, and survival, this graphic novel invites readers to immerse themselves into this haunting moment in American history—brought to life by gripping narrative and vivid full-color illustrations that jump off the page.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, History, Childrens, Graphic Novels Comics, Historical

64 pages, Paperback

Published September 5, 2023

About the author

☀ Cancer | ↑Capricorn | ☾ Gemini
She/They

Insha Fitzpatrick is a New Jersey-based writer and editor.

She’s the founder of DIS/MEMBER, a horror genre website.

She’s the writer of the upcoming Who Sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott: Rosa Parks for WHO HQ, illustrated by Abelle Hayford. She’s also the co-writer of the middle-grade graphic novel series Oh My Gods (Etch) with Stephanie Cooke and illustrator Juliana Moon.

Her bylines include Geek.com, Birth.Movies.Death, Women Write About Comics, Frederator Studios, and more. She giggles on the podcast Film Runners. She also wrote the game “The Pollution of Conatha” in Uncaged Anthology Vol. 2, 2019.

When she’s not writing, she’s watching horror movies or reality tv, deep-diving into all things true crime, and learning how to ink comics.

She’s rep’d by Maria Vicente of P.S Literary Agency.

Reviews

[Arwa Ahmed · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I enjoyed this book and absolutely loved the illustrations, I do agree with everyone that says that this should have been a novel instead of a comic. This left me with so many more questions and I felt like they quickly glossed over the fact that Tituba was a slave.

[Katherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nonfiction November- fraud...
this should never have happened...

[Ashley Holbert]

I don't think a graphic novel format worked well for this type of story. I like the concept of it because I love history based comics, but I wanted more information. Also I think this book downplayed how Tituba was a slave, and that didn't do justice for her.

[Alex · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this might have been better as an actual novel and not a graphic novel.

[Annelisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tituba is one of my favorite historical figures to study because there is so much about her that we're still discovering, so when I saw something about her geared towards younger readers, I was excited. I know that it's difficult also to construct information about her because we don't have anything in her own voice. I love that the author offered those insights from Tituba's perspective, especially her anguish and isolation in being surrounded by the hysteria of the trials. (I also didn't realize that she had a daughter until recently, which adds some complex dimensions to the historical record; she was forcibly separated from her child for over a year.) But I do believe that more contextual notes and info were needed to emphasize the details about Tituba's condition that enhanced her isolation, specifically her ethnicity and her status as an enslaved woman. Those two elements played a key role in how and why she was scapegoated so viciously. Tituba's account is so engrossing on its own that I imagine children, especially those already fascinated by this part of history, would gladly read a longer, more fleshed-out version of this story regardless of the format.

[Kerry]

Who Was Accused in the Salem Witch Trials: Tituba (A Who HQ Graphic Novel) by Insha Fitzpatrick and Rowan MacColl offers a general overview of the initial accusation and escalation of the witch mania from 1692-1693, when an enslaved mother is accused of witchcraft. Given no other choice, Tituba was forced to level accusations against other people in Salem village and town. By admitting to witchery, she was spared hanging, which was the fate for many of the other accused souls. Despite promises from her superiors that her sworn statements would result in her release, Tituba remained imprisoned until the conclusion of the trial, and records of her eventual fate and that of her husband and child are at the moment lost to history. This 64 page illustrated glimpse into a terrible time in US history aims to educate 8-12 year olds, and as such, it glosses over the truly evil aspects of the situation. However, it can serve as a good launch point into this dark history.

[Stacey Adams · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Puritans who had strict religious beliefs settled in the North East to have freedom to practice their religion as they saw fit. This included blaming the devil for anything they didn't understand. Of course the devil only showed when conjured by a witch...many were accused of being witches with no proof whatsoever. Tituba who cared for the children of a Puritan Preacher and his wife s accused when the children claim she was harming them . The children sick with probably a fever making them see things have the clout make accusations against their care giver and Tituba is imprisoned. Other women are also accused....some are hanged, some remain in prison. But none of them did the crimes they were accused of....it was just a reaction to things they didn't understand that had these women named witches.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recounting the story of how the Salem Witch Trials began with featured people like Tituba and Reverend Parris, it was easy to see how Tituba was going to be the scapegoat for whatever the girls were thinking-- whether it was all in good fun and quickly became out of hand or was sinister from the beginning (though one theory is that they were intoxicated with a plant that could have explained it).

Either way, it was a tragedy on many levels and the Who HQ that uses a graphic novel with intermittent text to explain the scenes lays the groundwork to understand texts like The Crucible but history in general around this topic. I always learn something new when I'm reading one of these books in the series whether it's the text or graphic novel format.

[Jennifer Fischer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This Who Was HQ graphic novel is an accessible and entertaining way to introduce young readers to some of the history of the Salem Witch Trials. The book mainly follows Tituba, but also references some of the other accused. Longer pages of text scattered throughout the book provide additional historical information that is key to understanding the context behind some of the panels. I appreciate that the author includes further relevant information about events AFTER the conclusion of the Salem Witch Trials. Overall, I think this book serves as a great introduction and/or supplement for children that are learning about the Salem Witch Trials.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm definitely purchasing this for my school library, since the Salem Witch Trials is always a topic that interests students, but the digital copy I accessed through Drop Box was hard to navigate, so I'll have to look at a finished copy in order to review. I'd love to see more on this topic, since books like Clapp's Witches Children and Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond are old enough that they don't really take the full picture of diversity and prejudice into account.

[Jaime · Rating 3 out of 5]

Graphic novel isn't the right format for this story, or at least not this version of it. Nothing much happens visually, just people talking. The artist's style is too plain and not very intimate.

I appreciate that this is a hard story to tell in a kid-friendly way, and the author sort of makes it work. The teeth and drama are dialed down to the point of dullness, though.

My kid took a couple breaks to process, but we still read the whole thing while sitting on a runway waiting for our plane to take off. He had unanswered questions about the trials and about Tituba.

[K · Rating 4 out of 5]

An elegant short little story for young readers. It summarizes the trials quite well and summarizes Tituba’s tale with ease. The book isn’t an all out boring history lesson but rather a very condensed lesson about hysteria and trying to survive.

The art is charming and very cute, at sometimes the color artist doesn’t fill the lines but thats fine. The story artist and illustrator did a fantastic job.

[Evelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical graphic novel that tells the story of Tituba a woman of Venezuelan heritage and a slave to a Puritan Reverend named Robert Parris. She and others are accused of being witches and sent to trial after some of the young women begin to show signs of "being under a spell of sorts". Interesting how she is forced to confess so that she will be saved from burning. Sounds very 21st century to me.

[Void_Kiddo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good, very informational book for young readers. The art was wonderful, the artist did an amazing job. The pages with historical facts were also very good.

The only thing that bothered me was the dialogue. It was obvious which bits of dialogue had been taken from historical record and which the author had made up, because the non-recorded dialogue was very casual. It threw me off a bit.

[Caroline · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think this may have been my first ever Who HQ book, and it was better than I expected! The story is just naturally intriguing, so it certainly benefits from that. But Insha Fitzpatrick tells it well -- spooky, sad, suspicious. This is a great launching point for kids who are intrigued by the subject, and centering Tituba offers a diverse and compassionate vantage point.

[Raven Black · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highlights of one woman's story during the Salem Witch Trials. It does not go deeply into the situation, but focuses on Tituba's role in the events. Historical information is presented in side boxes, but also as a fiction story.

[Shalee Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Factual with engaging art, perfect to capture your middle grade reader’s attention!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Experience the 1692 Salem Witch Trials through the eyes of Tituba, one of the first women accused.

[Victoria B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good elementary-level biographical graphic novel portrayal of Tituba and brief overview of the Salem Witch Trials in 1692.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's nothing scarier than real historic events like the superstitions and events surrounding the Salem Witch Trials.

[wildct2003 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story

[Emily Eppig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book definitely recommend

[Lilly Faye · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a cool story to read, and the graphics were great. This is a very quick and interesting read.

[Lo Wayward Tomes · Rating 5 out of 5]

great intro to Salem witch trails. i wish there was more known about Tituba after.

[Kristen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well presented, lots of good information!

[Nicole Hagenaars · Rating 5 out of 5]

Duidelijk verhaal, mooi vormgegeven . Het heeft me meer inside information gegeven dan de tour die ik in Salem heb gedaan.

[David Rough · Rating 3 out of 5]

The information was interesting, but I did not like the graphic novel approach. I thought it felt too much like science fiction and pulled away from the historicity of the events.

[Danielle M · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[Karen Kurth · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a graphic novel with inserted pages of historical facts regarding the Salem Witch Trials. This is a perfect series for reluctant readers.