POETRY - Witness

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 2001. WITNESS. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439271991

PLOT SUMMARY
In Witness, Hesse chronicles the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan in a small Vermont town in the mid 1920s. Set against a historically accurate backdrop, the author uses a series of personal narratives written in free verse form to tell the story. Eleven different characters give voice to the troubling events that wrench the town apart before pulling it together again. The novel opens with offerings by the two youngest characters, Leonora Sutter and Esther Hirsch. Leonora is a twelve year old African-American girl who is one of the story’s victims; however, her brazen attitude and wry demeanor help her persevere. Esther, who is Jewish, is also an innocent victim of tragic circumstances that unravel through the course of the telling. These two voices guide the reader through a large portion of the story, but they are supplemented by narratives from the town’s progressive doctor, the constable, several business people, a newspaper editor, a staunch clergyman, and a headstrong female farmer. The differing viewpoints provided by each of these characters span the gamut from hatred and intolerance to wary suspicion to downright abhorrence at the ignorance reflected in Klan activities. The result of Hesse’s efforts is a powerful and moving account guaranteed to leave the reader with quiet musings concerning their own personal beliefs and actions.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The precision and truth reflected in the historical aspects of this book are astonishing. Hesse incorporates real people and real events which provide a sense of legitimacy to the story. References to Senator Greene, John Philip Sousa, Miriam Ferguson, Prohibition, the Great War, and the Leopold and Loeb case all help set the stage for the story. Another distinctive feature that helps the reader transition through time to 1924 is the page of antique black and white photographs depicting each character in the book. The use of these photographs makes a unique contribution to the voice of each character, lending a face to the soliloquies.

Hesse’s imagery is a constant and commanding presence throughout the book. This gift makes itself apparent from the very beginning when Hesse describes Leonora as “. . . . .a wild brown island”. The very essence of hatred is depicted through a description of a huge Klan cross set ablaze atop a hillside: “in a matter of / minutes the cross arm / pulsed with fire. the / flames leaping, / seeking heaven, / neighbor, the white / crucifix scoring / the night / blazed perfect”. An excellent compliment to the imagery is the ease with which the rhythmic free verse flows.

Aside from the extraordinary imagery, the social commentary provided is also remarkable. As the townspeople stand witness to the hideous acts carried out by the Klan, they come to see the organization as having a deceptive authority which is causing society to slide backward toward the dark ages. Reynard Alexander, the town’s newspaper editor, sums up the wrenching effects of Klan activity by saying, “it has worked its / fingers through the fabric of the state / and if we do not mend the rents soon, / we’ll fall to pieces”.

All told, Hesse manages to touch on some very weighty issues such as prejudice, discrimination, and manipulation. However, it is her treatment of these issues and the dynamic nature of the characters that makes the novel so compelling. Because the townspeople are changed, the reader, too, is changed.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* ALA Notable Children’s Book
* School Library Journal Best Book of the Year - 2001
* Winner of the Christopher Award - 2002
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Eleven narrative voices chronicle actual events occurring in a sleepy Vermont town after the arrival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. This lyrical novel powerfully records waves of change and offers insightful glimpses into the hearts of victims, their friends and their enemies.”
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The small details seem just right and demonstrate that this is much more than a social tract. It's a thoughtful look at people and their capacity for love and hate.”

CONNECTIONS
* After reading and discussing various narratives from the book, have students incorporate these narratives into reader’s theatre performances.
* Choose a few passages from the book that are particularly full of imagery and challenge students to illustrate those passages (ie: “in that dark and narrow place, / i opened a hole for myself / but no matter how i turned, / the light from the cross / curled its bright claws under the door.").
* Discuss the meaning of prejudice and its root in differences among people. Have students identify various diverse aspects among people that may result in prejudice. Brainstorm ways to combat prejudice in society.
*Other books for young people with themes on differences and/or prejudice:
1) Taylor, Mildred. THE LAND. ISBN 0803719515
2) Uchida, Yoshiko. JOURNEY HOME. ISBN 0689716419
3) Voigt, Cynthia. IZZY, WILLY-NILLY. ISBN 0689804466
4) Woodson, Jacqueline. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN. ISBN 0590458817