about The Reader's Den

Welcome to week two of this month’s Reader’s Den! The Heretic’s Daughter is Kathleen Kent’s first novel based on the Salem Witch Trials. While Kent did an extensive amount of research, the story is very close to her heart as she is a “tenth-generation descendant” of the main character, Martha Carrier. Her family was very proud of their ancestor's role in this tragic moment in history.

“I grew up hearing stories about Martha Carrier and the fact that she was the only woman that directly confronted her accusers and the judges. My grandmother took almost gleeful pride that Martha was so outspoken and contentious. She always used to say Martha Carrier was not a witch, just a ferocious woman.” (Publisher’s Weekly)

Click here to watch a video of Kathleen Kent discussing her fascinating family story and why she wrote the novel. Stop by next week as we begin our discussion of The Heretic’s Daughter!

Welcome to this month’s edition of The Reader’s Den! We will be reading and discussing the historical fiction novel, The Heretic’s Daughter by Kathleen Kent. You can request a copy of the book by visiting the New York Public Library’s online catalog or stopping by your local branch to pick up a copy.

Sarah Carrier is the daughter of Thomas and Martha Carrier, who have recently fled the town of Billerica, Massachusetts in order to escape the deadly smallpox disease. They are coolly welcomed in the town of Andover and suspicions arise about the new Carrier family. However, the smallpox disease isn’t the only thing to spread throughout Massachusetts. Villagers are beginning to accuse their own neighbors of witchcraft, and the finger is eventually pointed at Sarah Carrier’s mother, Martha. Based on factual events and figures of the infamous Salem Witch Trials, The Heretic’s Daughter offers a page-turning glimpse into one of America’s most tragic events in history.

Feel free to post your thoughts and comments any time during the discussion by clicking on the “comment” link below.

Thank you participating in this month’s online book discussion. I hope you enjoyed The White Tiger as much as I did. If you didn’t have a chance to read the book and participate, please feel free to post your thoughts at a later time. The discussion will remain online in the Reader’s Den and hopefully, others will read the book and join in, as well.

Join us next month for our discussion on Kathleen Kent's historical fiction novel, The Heretic's Daughter. Request the novel online or visit your local library branch!

~Lynda P.

The goal of the Reader's Den is to offer library readers with busy lifestyles a convenient and unique way to connect with books and The New York Public Library. This online book club, accessible 24/7, gives readers an easy way to spark insightful discussions with the surrounding community, while reading at his or her own pace.

How does the Reader's Den select its books?
Each month, the selected books are chosen by The New York Public Library's librarians. The selections are noteworthy, popular, and deal with a variety of themes for discussion.

How do I get a copy of the selected book?
All titles selected for the Reader's Den can be found in the LEO catalog in multiple formats (book, audiobook, large print, etc). Reserve your copy online and have it delivered to your local branch! Contact your local librarian for further assistance.

How do I sign up for the Reader's Den?
There's no need to sign up! Leave your comments and reviews by clicking "add new comment" at the end of each post.

How will I know when the next discussion is running?
Check the Reader's Den page often for updates. You can also follow us on Twitter, Goodreads, or become our fan on Facebook!

We'd love to hear from our readers! Have any thoughts, suggestions, or questions? Email us at readersden@nypl.org.