The Witch of Blackbird Pond (Yearling Newbery) By Elizabeth George Speare

JOHN NEWBERRY MEDAL FOR THE MOST DISTINGUISHED CONTRIBUTION TO AMERICAN LITERATURE FOR CHILDREN/KIT TYLER KNOWS, AS SHE GAZES FOR THE FIRST TIME AT THE COLD, BLEAK SHORES OF THE CONNECTICUT COLONY, THAT HER NEW HOME WILL NEVER BE LIKE THE SHIMMERING CARIBBEAN ISLANDS SHE HAS LEFT BEHIND. SHE IS LIKE A TROPICAL BIRD THAT HAS FLOWN TO THE WRONG PART OF THE WORLD. AND IN THE STERN PURITAN COMMUNITY OF HER RELATIVES, SHE SOON FEELS CAGED AS WELL, AND LONELY. IN THE MEADOW, THE ONLY PLACE WHERE SHE CAN FEEL COMPLETLY FREE, SHE MEETS ANOTHER LONE AND MYSTERIOUS FIGURE, THE OLD WOMAN KNOWN AS THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND. BUT WHEN THEIR FRIENDSHIP IS DISCOVERED, KIT FACES SUSPICION, FEAR, AND ANGER. SHE HERSELF IS ACCUSED OF WITCHCRAFT!