Salem Falls

by

Jodi Picoult

I love Jodi Piocoult and have read many of her books. This one is scary though because it shows how kids can cause problems with adults by lying because many people will believe them anyway. This book made me think of the Salem Witch Trials, and I think it was supposed to since the author chose the title Salem Falls.

Jack St. Bride teaches at an all girls' school and is the soccer coach. Then the father of his star player accuses him of sexual misconduct. He is sure that it is a mistake and that he will be cleared, but he is sentenced and goes to jail.

Now released from jail, he has no where to go. He wanders until he sees a job as a dish washer in Salem Falls. He takes the job and is rebuilding his life. Until a coven of witches targets him, and the lies begin.

Quotes I like:

"It came over Gilly so quick sometimes: the feeling that she was going to explode, that she was too big for her own skin, as if anger had swelled so far and fast inside her that it choked the back of her throat. Sometimes it made her want to put her fist through glass; other times, it made her cry a river. It was not something she could talk about with her friends, because she might be the only freak that felt that way."

"Words were like eggs dropped from great heights: you could no more call them back then ignore the mess they left when they fell."

"He could drink an ocean and never dissolve the pride that was stuck in his throat."