Conversion by Katherine Howe

The first book I read by Katherine Howe was The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane, I had been floored by this novel as I am a massive fan of Salem witches and well written fiction. When I saw that she was coming out with a teen book I knew I'd be all over it. Distractions mounted and I only just got around to reading this gem and am slightly mad at myself for taking so long. Ripped into the two worlds you go between through chapters, I found myself unable to walk away, constantly looking at my bookmark, itching to pick it back up. Based on true events, Arthur Miller's Crucible, and realistic day to day teen girl struggles Conversion is sure to please just about any reader.

Colleen Rowley is your main character in 2012, an attendee of St. Joans elite private girls high school, she is in a battle for valedictorian when things around her start to crumble. Girls are falling ill in class, seizure like spasms, hair falling out, coughing up pins, inexplicable tragedies befalling everyone Colleen knows. Jump to 1706 and follow around Ann Putnam, the character omitted from Arthur Miller's crucible, but the young woman to finger 40 witches in the sleepy town of Salem Village. Colleen's home town of Danvers turns out to be originally know as Salem Village where so many women were hanged hundreds of years before, could the town be cursed? Perhaps the strange ailments that bewitched a group of young women in the 1700's is back and grabbing a new batch of girls? Maybe it's just a group of stressed out, over worked young girls reaching out for attention, filled with so many twists and turns Conversion will keeping you second guessing what you think is right the entire way.

Weaving together two equally captivating stories Conversion is an intense book you won't be able to walk away from. With deeply developed characters, emotional plot twists and mind boggling discoveries this is definitely a great novel to pick up for any YA fan. I really think this would make an awesome holiday gift for the avid reader, it'll occupy a decent amount of time and leave the reader feeling very relieved at the end and a little bit questioning. As I said before, I definitely regret taking so long to finally pick this book up, but I am thrilled to have finally read such a great book by a renowned author with such clear skill and passion for her trade.