44 pages 1 hour read

Alice Hoffman

Incantation

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2006

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In Incantation, Estrella deMadrigal, a young woman in 16th-century Spain, discovers her family's secret Jewish heritage amidst the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition. As the persecution intensifies, she grapples with identity, betrayal, and the struggle for survival, ultimately vowing to preserve her family's history and traditions despite the oppression they face. This book includes themes of death, torture, antisemitism, and cruelty to animals.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Alice Hoffman’s Incantation is widely praised for its lyrical prose and vivid historical setting, immersing readers in the turbulence of the Spanish Inquisition. Reviewers commend Hoffman's ability to create compelling, multidimensional characters, though some critique the narrative's pacing and predictability. Overall, it’s considered a poignant and thought-provoking read.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Incantation?

A reader who would enjoy Incantation by Alice Hoffman is likely someone captivated by historical fiction with a mystical twist. Fans of Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief or Isabel Allende’s The House of the Spirits will appreciate Hoffman’s lyrical prose and poignant themes of love, betrayal, and identity during the Spanish Inquisition.

Recommended

Reading Age

14-18years

Lexile Level

730L

Book Details

Genre

Historical Fiction

Fantasy

Jewish Literature

Themes

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Values/Ideas: Power & Greed

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Topics

History: World

Religion / Spirituality