This book mesmerized me and I read it in one sitting. It is about a village in Spain, during the 15th or 16th century, inhabited by Christians, Muslims and Jews. The Jews live behind a gated wall which is locked each night. Their books are all burned and they are all considered as heretics. The entire village knows that they will all perish one day.
Those Jews who wish to live, live a life of pretense. They pretend to have Christian names, they pretend not to observe the Sabbath, they pretend all the while not do the Jewish things that they do.
The main characters of the book are a Jewish girl, Esther; no one knows that is her real name and her friend Catalina. Catalina is not a Jew. She does not know that her best friend is a Jew.
Esther's brother is in Seminary as becoming a Catholic priest is one way to help protect the Jews. She lives with her mother, grandmother and grandfather who is a teacher. Unbeknownst to the community, he teaches the village Jews at night in a cellar room. He is also a surgeon and only the Jewish community knows that as well.
Catalina's intended falls in love with Esther and when Catalina discovers this she becomes so angry that she turns the family in as Jews. What follows is horrible. Actually, what goes on throughout the entire book is horrible.
This book is written by Alice Hoffman. A writer I have yet to see "blow" a book. I highly recommend this book. It is short, easy to read, but I wouldn't have a child under 15 or 16 read it.
I, however, know that within the next 6 months, I will have read it again. I have never read material like this written in such a simplistic manner. Kudos to Hoffman. She has done it again. ( )

Terror and grief are intermingled with love and fidelity. This tale transcends time. Though historically based, the fictional characters are timeless. Their struggles about humanity and loyalty and love reveal to the reader truths about humanity: time unfortunately does not change how differing beliefs and cultures react to one another. The friendship between Catalina and Estrella seems typical and almost too predictable, as does the humans named Estrella and Andres falling in love seems timeless; yet, far-fetching is the thought that a Catholic and Jew would marry during this time period. Hoffman inspires introspection as to where our society ranks in regard to similar tales. A definite companion book for any teen interested in Jewish history. ( )

I loved this book, but it literally hurt my heart while I was reading it and again is giving me a nauseous feeling as I write about it. I highly recommend it for teens and adults as a really good, quick read, but caution recommending it to younger students. While the content and level would be understandable for a lot younger, the events are vividly described and I found them to be very disturbing. ( )

What happens when a young woman (16) learns that her entire life has been a lie? This is what happens to Estrella di Madrigal in Spain during the Spanish Inquisition.

She watches as those around her are arrested, tortured, and put to death because they are Conversos (Jews who have converted to Christianity). She feels for them but is happy that she and her family attend the Christian church headed by Friar DeLeon and that her brother is a seminarian.

Estrella's best friend and neighbor is Catalina. They have been close since birth but it is Catalina's cousin Andres, who lives with Catalina's family, that ultimately causes the rift between the two girls. Catalina has always believed that she and Andres would be married. But Andres sees Catalina as a sister while he looks at Estrella in love.

With the horrors of the Spanish Inquisition as a backdrop, Estrella soon learns from her honored grandfather that she is Esther, that her entire family are Marranos (Jews converted to Christianity but who practice judaism in secret). Because of Estrella's love for Andres and his for her, Catalina and her family betray the Madrigals; Estrella watches from the shadows of the crowds as her family is first denounced, then tortured, and finally put to death. She is the only one to escape.

This book is short but packs a mighty punch. Easy enough to read in one sitting but don't, no matter how much you are tempted. Take time to digest what you are reading here. Although meant for the younger reader, most adults should find this a compelling story. A word of caution: the descriptions of the torture of the Marranos is very detailed and vivid and may not sit well with the squeamish.

Different from Alice Hoffman's other novels, I found this one nevertheless equally as good. Ms. Hoffman hasn't disappointed me yet. ( )

"Incantation" is a simple, yet compelling story of a young girl's discovery of her true heritage and identity. Set in Spain, in the 1500's, 16-year-old Estrella discovers that life can change unexpectedly, and learns life lessons that impact her life forever. Estrella discovers love, deals with a crumpling friendship - that she thought would last forever, and risks her life for her family as she embraces her Jewish heritage. This painful and beautiful story, is a great read for teens and adults alike. ( )