Before I start my review it is a weird choice to give a very low-res ARC as this is a graphic novel meaning a fair chunk of the reading experience comes from the visuals.
I am always a fan of more nonfiction content for middle schoolers! The Salem Witch Trials is something many kiddos find interesting and Deborah Noyes sets up an excellent telling of the Salem Witch Trials focused on the psychology of all (victims, prosecutors, judges, and the community at large). You really feel for all those that faced the hardships, torture, and suffering from the Trials but it's never scandalized. Everyone is treated as a human first and foremost with no-one villified (the girls have light shed on them rather well while not downplaying the severity of their actions).
I appreciate the focus on the victims as they get torn down by lies into “admitting” they are witches with the pain and isolation they get in return. It's treated seriously and solemnly (but not too much as this is middle YA) and is respectfully done. The writing can be a bit hard to follow though. You have to reaaaalllyyy focus on the dates and such while reading. With so many jumps between court cases, accusations, and follow ups its hard to follow. It does create that sense of dizzying hysteria well but it also makes it hard to follow individual moments. I also enjoy the author shed light on the girls who started it well and their own struggles in a highly controlled and restrictive environment.
The art is meant to be readable but heavily bends to focus on the mood, feeling, and evocative imagery. It's usually done to good effect (with some paneling choices being gorgeous) though a minute selection of pages end up looking more strikingly artsy than understandable. Additionally, it can be hard to read characters as some can look same-y with the young girls having the most sameness.

1692 in the town of Salem, there is something wrong with a group of young girls—and they are about to make it everyone’s problem.

Centuries after the Salem Witch Trials we are still as captivated as they were then. How did a town full of neighbors turn so quickly against each other. This is a great way to open to reluctant middle grade readers. I enjoyed the art, and the storytelling. Def adding this to my collection.

I would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review. I have always been fascinated by the Salem Witch Trials so I was excited to read this. It is beautifully illustrated and offers a new medium for an old subject. I really enjoyed it.

Very anti-Christian feeling from the first page.

Thank you to NetGalley for the chance to preview this book.

Fabulous presentation of a difficult subject for children to understand. Very informative and beautifully illustrated.

I personally am fascinated by this period in history and the events that took place. This is probably best for 3rd grade + with parental discussion due to the nature of the material. But has some parallels kids can draw (bullying, looking different, belief systems, mob mentality).

Highly recommend!

I received an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. I found this book to be an interesting read about the Salem Witch Trials. This book is very well illustrated. While this is a middle to high grade book as an adult I still found it to be attention grabbing and informative of the Salem Witch Trials.

What a beautifully illustrated and powerfully written graphic novel! Learning about history is one of the most powerful tools we can provide to children, even if it is a dark and uncomfortable moment from the past. Introducing children to the era where innocent people were accused of witchcraft and hung for a crime they did not commit is a difficult undertaking. This graphic novel is the perfect introduction to the Salem witch trials. While there are some disturbing images and concepts, the content is handled in an relatable yet poignant manner. We have had the privilege to take our children to visit the historic sites in Salem and I happily shared this beautiful book with them and would recommend this book to any middle grade reader, young adult, or even adult to appreciate this important era in US history.

Posted to Goodreads. Will post to Instagram june 1st close to publication date.

I have always been interested in the Salem witch trials, reading many books and watching many shows about the subject. This was a new medium that added a whole new perspective to the trials. It made it almost more haunting than normal. Id say it's a must read for people interested in seeing the human side of these horrific events. Thank you netgalley for the arc

Thank you to the publisher for an early copy of An Outbreak of Witchcraft in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed my informational read of this story. I learned a lot and as an adult would like to know more about this time period which is often romanticized. An Outbreak of Witchcraft will likely need to be read with others in a group or with a teacher/ parent. It is for younger readers but may be difficult for them to understand without context and assistance. All and all I think this book will be great for libraries and will really inform younger people about the horrors that occurred during this time period. We need to do anything we can to inform and educate especially given the current political climate surrounding books. This novel will help add to that information and education.

*5 star rating given because it is a non-fiction novel and shouldn't be rated as less without good reason.