Katie Kennedy is the author of several books for young readers, including The Constitution Decoded and Learning to Swear in America. Her newest work of middle grade nonfiction, Did You Hear What Happened in Salem? The Witch Trials of 1692, illustrated by Nick Thornborrow, recounts the infamous 17th-century trials. Combining historical details with a true-crime format, the historian offers a look into a moment in American history marked by hysteria, fear, misogyny, and injustice. Kennedy spoke with PW from her home in Iowa about how she navigated writing darker themes for a young audience, why true crime was the ideal format, and which aspects of the Salem witch trials are still engrained in American society.

What inspired you to reimagine the Salem witch trials for middle graders through the lens of true crime?

For most people, the 17th century feels like a long time ago, but it doesn’t feel far to me. When you look at what was actually happening, it could be a present-day true-crime podcast. You have people believing inexplicable things. Misinformation and disinformation are spreading wildly to impact the community. People are turning on their neighbors—people they’ve known their entire lives—and killing them. It’s such a strange story, but also one that resonates.

How did you approach these heavier themes in a way that works for a younger audience?

That was hard. I was talking to my editor early in the process. On one hand, it’s spooky fun for kids, and I don’t want to scar them for life. On the other hand, it’s mass murder. I said, “You’re asking me to explain the inexplicable, and I don’t know how to.”

My editor said it’s okay to lean into the incredulity of it. That helped. When I could simply point out that things made no sense, it freed me. For example, during one of the pre-trial interrogations, a woman who claimed to be a victim stuck pins in her own knee and said, “Look, the witch stuck pins in my knee.” Someone standing there said, “I just saw you do that.” People acknowledged that she did it herself—and they still believed the witch had done it. How do you make sense of that? Once I could lean into the sheer absurdity and admit that it was madness—mass psychosis—I could tell the story.

Can you share more about your research?

I tend to over-research, then realize I still need to produce chapters. I started with primary sources. I already knew the story, but I always try to come in fresh. There are great historians out there who’ve done amazing work, but I want to know what I think before being influenced.

There was a copy of trial records at a local college library. My husband works on that campus, so he got it for me. He had to carry it in a special bag because it was so heavy. At one point, I returned it, thinking someone else might need it, then realized I needed it again. He had to carry it across campus a second time. Probably the closest we’ve come to divorce—kidding, of course.

Seeing the original handwriting of Thomas Putnam, one of the main accusers who swore out the first complaint, was chilling. Seeing how often his handwriting appeared on the backs of arrest orders, and knowing what was about to happen to those people... it was intense.

Then, I turned to secondary sources and looked for little details. For example, the meetinghouse where the examinations were held had broken windows, so they just boarded them up. It was dark and gloomy inside. Imagine being tried for witchcraft in a place with no light.

As this is the first book in a series, what other historical moments are you planning to cover?

The next one, which I’m revising now, is about the Alamo—the Texas Revolution, 1835–1836. It’s an interesting moment, heralded in U.S. history as a heroic act of resistance. But these people were fighting for the right to keep slavery. I think we’re aiming for two books a year. It’s hard to know everything, but there are so many topics I’d be happy to take on—Dutch colonialism, Russian history... lots of possibilities.

Did You Hear What Happened in Salem? The Witch Trials of 1692 by Katie Kennedy, illus. by Nick Thornborrow. Workman Kids, $8.99 paper Sept. ISBN 978-1-5235-3005-2