Book Review: Incantation
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that this book does not flinch from the
excesses of the Inquisition era. It describes a variety of
grisly and gruesome violence against men and women, young and
old.
Families who read this book could discuss the plight of the Marranos: leave, or pretend to be Christian and hide their Jewish heritage. Why did they stay? Why did they continue to practice their faith despite the dangers? Teen readers may want to know more about the Inquisition and the Marranos.
Common Sense Media Review
There are two kinds of parents: those who think that
children should face the horrors of the world head-on, and
those who think children should be shielded from them. If you
are the second type, you are not going to want your children to
read this book. Though it is not long, and the reading level is
accessible to 10-year-olds, the author does not flinch from
matter-of-factly depicting the hate-filled violence of which
humans are capable. The last section of this book is grim, and
very disturbing.
As her family is rounded up by the Inquisition, Estrella witnesses torments that would almost be beyond belief, if the daily news these days didn't assure us that humans are indeed capable of them. In our era of growing worldwide religious tension, this book reminds us of the extremes to which religious intolerance and hatred can so easily lead. But that doesn't make it any easier to read.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
