Witness by Karen Hesse

Witness by Karen Hesse is the story of a small Vermont town that is invaded by the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. Many of the townspeople welcomed the Klan, joining their ranks immediately - including the preacher, an 18 year old student, and a prominent shop owner. Some of the townspeople remained wary, not joining but not stopping the hateful behavior. The rest, the African American father and 12 year old daughter, the Jewish father and 6 year old daughter, and even the people who were friends with them, were terrorized and even shot! Thankfully their reign of terror didn't last long... but certainly long enough to cause lasting damage, leaving folks scared, hurt, run off, and one dead.

This story is told through the perspectives of several different townspeople, including the two youngest and most hated by the Klan, 12 year old Leonora and 6 year old Esther. It is also told through some of the people who joined the Klan and even some people who didn't join and actively opposed their presence. I really enjoyed the free verse style of this book and the variety of perspectives shown. I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.