The Betrayal of Maggie Blair

Gr 9 Up—A fine historical novel about witchcraft, passion, and intolerance set in 17-century Scotland. Maggie Blair, 16, narrowly escapes execution for witchcraft that claims her grandmother, an unpleasant old woman whom a local landowner accuses of sorcery at least in part to steal her land. Maggie flees the Isle of Bute with the help of a family friend and makes her way to the mainland to the home of her uncle, a religious dissenter, but intolerance dogs the teen's steps when her uncle is arrested by the King's men for sheltering a notorious Covenanter preacher. Her quest to rescue him from the King's prison provides the novel's principal action. Although the theme of witchcraft and Maggie's adventurous nature will be the initial draws for many, the book's consistent quality and rich detail will keep serious readers enthralled. A dominant theme is real versus apparent virtue and the other dualities that often spring from these: intolerance and humanity, treachery and loyalty. All of Laird's characters are fully fleshed out, especially Maggie, who is tough and independent at the end of the novel, having shaken off all of the varieties of hatefulness that burdened her throughout the story. This is a beautifully crafted novel to be savored for its symbolic language, historical atmosphere, and vivid characters.—Corinne Henning-Sachs, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME

In 1680s Scotland, Maggie, falsely accused of witchcraft, seeks refuge with her father's family. But the Blairs are Covenanters, and life with them is also fraught with peril. Laird brings Scottish, English, and Protestant history to life, but even more potently presents a coming-of-age story, a stalwart hero, and a well-paced adventure that shows stubborn human nature in a thought-provoking light.