Burning Issy — Melvin Burgess

A haunting and original retelling of the infamous Pendle witch trials

"Are you frightened of dying, Issy?"

Issy is a foster child who doesn't know where she came from or who she really is. Night after night, she has the same nightmare: she is burning in a fire and at the heart of the flames is a face she is afraid to look at. With the terror of the witch trials surrounding her, fear and superstition are everywhere, and Issy must fight to unravel the truth of who she really is before it's too late. What she discovers leaves her no choice but to run -- from the Witch-finder, from the evil hag who wants her dead, from those she loves, and maybe even from her own true nature. Perfect for young readers who enjoy mysteries and adventure novels, Melvin Burgess prefaces this fast-paced historical novel with a discussion about the religious bigotry and fanaticism of the early 17th century.