How To Hang A Witch

There are many lessons Sam learns over the course of the novel about self-acceptance. What is one of these lessons, and how does learning this message change her and lead to her full transformation at the end of the novel?

The two examples of motherhood in this novel are very polarized. The mother figure is either a wicked stepmother or an angel. What do you think was the author’s purpose for not having a middle ground when it comes to mother figures? What would the addition of a middle-ground character offer the text?

Sam has two love interests in this novel. Why do you think the author wanted two distinct characters instead of combining them into one? To your mind, could a relationship between Jaxon and Sam work out? What does he lack that Elijah had?

How does Sam’s character change from the beginning to the end of the novel? Find and examine three specific moments of growth and explore their significance.

Elijah says the Salem Witch Trials were possible because people stayed silent and stood by while their neighbors were convicted. What other historical events have occurred because people didn’t act when they should have?

During the Salem Witch Trials, those who spoke up were often convicted themselves. Does the novel suggest that it is fair to judge people who stand by when bad things are happening around them? Why or why not?

The author talks about how history repeats itself and the dangers that come from not learning from the past. She cites the behavior during school bullying as a similar situation to that of the trials. Is there another time you can think of where history has repeated itself because humans didn’t learn from past mistakes? How is this event similar to or different from the Salem Witch Trials?

The characters use fashion and style as symbols for who they are in this novel. How is the Descendants’ use of black clothing different from Sam’s use of black clothing? Further, how does it foreshadow their shifting relationship?