Incantation

Entertainment Reporter

Jaquelin De La Cruz

“A monster is hard to see and even harder to kill. It takes time to grow so huge, time to crawl up into the open air. People will tell you its not there; you’re imagining things. But a book is a book. Pages are pages. Hawks are hawks. Doves are doves hatred is always hatred.”

Estrella deMadrigal is a sixteen year old teenager living in Madrid, Spain during the Spanish inquisition in the 1500’. She is known by her family as “Esther” but she is not allowed to be called that outside her home. As well as Estrella, the rest of her family members have a nickname that only they are allowed to call each other by in private. Estrella and her best friend, Catalina, grew up together and have become like sisters. They both have black hair and many similarities. They have nicknames foe each other, Raven (Estrella) and Crow (Catalina). They both plan to raise their children as friends. They believe they know each other like a book from beginning to end, until the monster reaches their town square.

One day a rabbi’s books are burned publicly, beginning everything. Soldiers promise rewards to those neighbors who turn in Conversos, people who practice Judaism in their homes and in a church with a congregation of other Conversos. If one is simply accused of being a Marrano, a false Christian, they quickly suffer unbelievable punishment and humiliation.

Estrella has always realized that her family and Catalina’s family practice different traditions. For example, Estrella’s family does not eat pork, while Catalina’s does. Also, Estrella’s family lights candles before dinner, and Catalina’s does not. One of the main differences is the way Estrella does the sign of the cross backwards, being very strange to Catalina. Sooner or later Estrella was going to find out the truth. Her family and she are Jews, Marranos. Ultimately, in shock she is unsure of what to do. To tell her best friend and put her entire family in danger, or keep it a secret, which is what she decides to do. Shortly, Estrella realized that Catalina had turned in her neighbors in as Conversos to the soldiers, leading them all to their death.

Catalina is engaged to her handsome cousin Andres. But Andres falls in love with Estrella, causing great jealousy in Catalina. Poisoned by hate Catalina does an unforgivable act and betrays Estrella. Catalina turns in Estrella’s family, and they go through sequences of arrest among many consequences. Estrella confesses everything to Andres. And he is willing to do anything for her. But is their love strong enough for all the consequences that will follow?

To find out the end of this remarkable love story, as well as historical fiction go to your nearest bookstore or public library and check out Incantation by Alice Hoffman, also the author of Green Angel. The end has a surprising twist that will leave you shock.