Incantation by Alice Hoffman
Everything is so good for Estrella deMadrigal. She is a normal sixteen year old who calls Spain her home. She lives a pleasant life in her town, with her grandparents, mother, and best friend, Catalina. The two are always together, and very kind to each other.
Then, the Spanish Inquisition changes everything. In the town square, Estrella, finds a paper. There have been marranos found in her town. A marrano, which rudely means pig, is the name for a Jew who is pretending to be Christian and who practices Judaism. The paper is saying to be on the lookout for marranos. Then there is a list of things that marranos do.
Estrella is shocked afetr reading the list. She realizes that she is a marrano, and that her family only goes to church to not be revealed. She also learns that her real name is Esther, after the great Jewish queen. But of course, she can’t tell Catalina. She becomes attached to her family roots, and Catalina’s cousin and bethrothed as well. But, that doesn’t play out well for Estrella.
When Catalina sees Estrella and him talking in her backyard, she gets filled with anger. Catalina wants to get back. And then, one day, the deMadrigals hear a knock on the door. And Grandfather knows who is knocking. Things go very badly starting then, and you can only imagine what type of events take place. What will become of Esther’s fate?
Incantation is a wonderful book. Ms. Alice Hoffman is a world-renowned author who is very talented. It is a very touching, shocking, and adventurous book. Even the pickiest of readers will find pleasure in “Incantation.”
Review by Rama G. – 6th grade
DMS Book Reviews 
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