Incantation By: Alice HoffmanPresented By: Jennifer ODonnell, Kathryn McEachern, Lindsay Spring, Hillary Dailey, Jenna Ferrara, Amelia Nichols, and Jennifer Barrett La Forte

Incantation: Ritual recitation of verbal charms or spells to produce a magic effectYou cannot argue reasonably with evil.

A Summary of IncantationProtagonist: Estrella de MadrigalSetting: Encaleflora, Spain in 1500Problem: Its the time of the Spanish Inquisition. During this time many Jews were put on trial, burned, or imprisoned. Many Jews converted to Christianity to avoid persecution before the Inquisition began. Catalina, Estrellas best friend, tells officials that Estrellas family is Jewish and they only appear as Christian to the outside world.

I wished that we lived in another time, another country. ~ Estrella

A Book Trailer

Author: Alice Hoffman

A is forAbra - Estrellas mother. Abra is not afraid of anything or anyone, she speaks many languages and is very intelligent. Abra heals others with herbs, spices and chanting. She has cards that are said to predict the future, studies meteorology, astrology, and healing with natural remedies.

B is forBurning Day - The novel begins with a burning day; a day that all Jewish books; medical, magic or other would be burned. Towards the end of the novel we learn that Estrellas own family, mother and brother, would be burned because they were Jewish.

C is forCatalina - Estrellas best friend. Estrella and Catalina were best friends since they were babies. Estrella has a crush on Catalinas soon-to-be fianc, Andres. This causes a kink in their relationship; Catalina becomes increasingly jealous of Estrellas relationship with Andres and after witnessing them kiss, Catalina turns in Estrellas family to officials because they are Jewish.

D is forDini - Estrellas pig. Other families killed a pig every spring to make chorizo sausages, but not her family. They did not eat pork, so Dini was growing fat and strong. Dini often slept in Catalinas room; in her bed.

E is forEncaleflora - The name of the tiny village in Aragon, Spain that Estrella lives in with her family. This town had been her families home for more than 500 years. The town is named after the lime flower.

F is forFriendship - Catalina and Estrella were the best of friends but that all changes after a spat of jealously between the two girls. Estrella believes that Catalina pretended to be her friend, and now appears differently than the person she had always known. Catalinas lies about Estrellas family had rewritten everything; their history, their friendship, and now Estrellas fate.

Best friends now enemies All because of a kiss between Estrella and Catalinas fianc

G is forGreen Wood - When Estrella reaches the Plaza, she sees her brother tied to a green wood post as well as her mother. Because her brother was studying to be a priest, his crime was seen as the worst so officials stripped him of his clothes, shaved his head, beat him with leather strips, and broke his bones one at a time.

H is forHidden Jews - There is a list of ways to tell who was a hidden Jew. 1. They wear clean clothes on Saturday.2. They light candles on Friday night.3. They fast twice a year.4. They tell stories of Queen Esther.5. They do not eat pork. 6. They name their children after those in the Old Testament.

I is forIntolerance - Estrellas family is reported to the court by Catalina, Estrellas best friend. The courts intolerance of practicing Judaism causes Estrellas family to be torn apart. Catalina tells the judgeNo one in Estrellas family eats chorizo (sausage made from pork)Their pigs were their pets, instead of food (Dini)Estrellas grandmother was once referred to as Sarah, a name from the Old Testament

J is forJealousy - We learn towards the end of the story that Catalinas jealousy of her fianc and best friend, Estrella, causes her to report Estrellas family to officials because of unusual things shes witnessed; the grandfathers secret life, people coming and going at all sorts of hours of the night, Estrella not blessing herself the way Catalina does, etc.

She did it as though turning us in to the court was the simplest thing, a households chore, a recitation of daily prayer. ~ Estrella

K is forKabbalah - Estrellas mother ties a piece of red yarn around her arm; under her clothing, for luck. This piece of yarn is a symbol for Kabbalah.

L is forLies - Estrella lies 3 times to her best friend Catalina1. Estrella tells Catalina that she is not staring at Catalinas fianc; Andres lovingly.2. Estrella tells Catalina that she has a stomach ache and she can not come over for dinner; really Estrella wants to avoid dinner because they are eating sausage and Estrella can not eat any because she is Jewish.3. Estrella tells Catalina that her beloved pearls look beautiful on Catalina. Really Estrella is mad that Catalina is wearing them; she only says this because Estrella knows that it would make Catalina happy.

M is forMarrano - literally means pig. This was a name that people who practiced Judaism secretly, were given, like Estrellas neighbors, the Arrias family.

N is forNothing - At the end of the novel Estrellas family is left with nothing. Their house was taken, Estrellas grandfather, mother, and brother were murdered, their material possessions were collected by soldiers. All thats left is Estrella, her grandmother, and Andres.

O is forOppression - means the exercise of authority or power in a burdensome, cruel, or unjust manner. This word describes the way Estrellas family was treated by officials after being found out that they were Jewish.

P is forPrejudiced - Others were prejudiced against the Jews. The Jews lived behind gates in a section that others called Juderia. At night this gate was locked; like you would locked a caged animal. The children that lived there had no shoes. They were defined by red circles on their coats. By law they could not own land, marry outside their faith, or eat a meal with a Christian.

Q is forQuiet - Estrellas family had to keep quiet about being Jews. In fact, Estrella was raised to think that they were something different; Christian. Estrellas real name; Esther, was used only at very special occasions and in private; like when Estrella received the pearl necklace from her grandmother. (Esther is a name from the Old Testament; a name that would identify her as a Jew.)

This kind of knowing you can never tell to anyone. If you want us to survive, you cannot trust a soul. ~ Estrellas grandmother

R is forRing - On the day of Estrellas grandfathers arrest, soldiers came and took what they needed for a trial; candlesticks, silver, letters, Estrellas jewelry box with her pearls inside, but Abra, Estrellas mother, had luckily thought to hide her emerald ring in her shoe. The soldiers took nearly everything and destroyed her house.

S is forSpanish Inquisition - lasted from 1481 until well into the 18th century. It was established by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile. It was intended to maintain Catholic orthodoxy in their kingdoms. It was a time when Jews were victimized by Christians.

Its a bad time to be in the world. ~ Abra (Estrellas mother)

T is forTown Square - Many events occurred in the Plaza or town square: burning of books, burning of Marranos, riots ensued and decrees posted of how to tell who was a hidden Jew. There was a well in the center of the plaza. The water pulled up was said to come from heaven. It was sweet and clear.

U is forUndisclosed - Estrellas family had to remain undisclosed about their Judaism. Estrellas grandmother tried to keep the familys secret belief in Judaism undisclosed information, but realizes that Estrella needs to know the truth. In the end, Estrella vows that she will not forget her family.

Forgetting them was the real evil. ~ Estrella

V is forVictimized - The Arrias family, Estrellas neighbors, were turned in to officials by Catalinas family. They were put on trial because they were Jews who were only pretending to be Christian. Many rumors were beginning to spread. One rumor was that Senora Arrias killed small children, and that was the reason that her sunflowers grew so well; because she sprinkled the blood on the ground.

It was the time when anything could happen. It was the time when a single word could turn your world upside down. ~ Estrella

W is forWitchcraft - Catalina, was so upset that Andres is in love with Estrella and not her, that she tells officials that Estrellas family practices witchcraft. In effect, this lie turns officials to look at Estrellas family and their beliefs. This is what begins the evil for Estrellas family. Esters mother was accused of practicing witchcraft and her grandfather of being a sorcerer.

X is forXenophobia - Xenophobia is an irrational or deep rooted fear of or apathy towards foreigners or people of other cultures. This was a major factor in the establishment of The Spanish Inquisition.

Y is for Yearning Estrella yearns to see her mother and brother after they are imprisoned. She knows their fate and wants to make it easier for them. Estrella goes to see a doctor who gives her two tablets made from white powder. Estrella brings these tablets to her mother to take so that she could end her life herself, instead of being burned.

Z is forZohar - the most powerful book, studied by Estrellas grandfather. He is a prominent leader in their community; although he remains very secretive about what he does in his study late at night. He is a teacher and a surgeon. He opens up to Estrella and allows her to enter his study. He even begins to teach her Hebrew.

I thought I knew the world. I thought I knew myself.I thought I knew my dearest friend. But I knew nothing at all.

~ Estrella de Madrigal, Spain 1500

The book certainly deals with some very serious, heavy issues, however there is a message of hope at the end. Final Thoughts

*Estrellas family is Marrano; which literally means pig. This designation was allocated to people that practiced Judaism secretly. This secret is made public when Estrellas best friend, Catalina tells officials that the de Madrigal family practices witchcraft. Catalina betrays Estrella because she is so upset that her fianc is in love with Estrella and not her. In effect, this lie turns officials to scrutinize the de Madrigal family and their beliefs. This begins the evil for Estrellas family. Eventually her grandfather will be brutalized and her mother and brother burned. *Has many notable quotes in the text. Here are some of our favorites! Never look at other peoples bad fortune. If you do, it will come back to find you instead of its rightful owner. Always look carefully, Look with more than your eyes. Women know things that men will never know. We keep he best secrets. We tell the best stories.

*A quote from Estrella, Catalina and I were so close nothing could become us. When I looked at my friend I saw not only the child shed been and the girl that she was, but also the woman she was about to be. Other girls I knew talked behind your back and smiled at you falsely. Not Catalina. She knew who I was deep inside.*When Estrellas grandfather is arrested and put to trial the judge wants him to prove that he is not Jewish by eating pork. Officials captured Dini, killed him, made sausage from him and forced Estrellas grandfather to eat the sausage. *Estrella believes that her ancestors from over a hundred years ago, should have run from this place so that they would not have to pretend to be something they are not. *In Estrellas words, Catalina remains dead to her. Estrella speaks a curse to Catalina; May you know anothers suffering, may you know it all the days of you life, now and forever, until you understand what you have done. *Green wood burns so long; it lasts an eternitythats what they wantedsuffering.*Estrella soon discovers that her family does all of these things, but she has been told that they do these rituals because of other reasons besides religious purposes. For example, for fasting twice a year, Estrella has been told by her family that they do this in remembrance of her father. *Kabbalah teaches us that there is an upper, all-inclusive force, or the Creator, controlling everything in reality. All the worlds forces descend from this comprehensive force. Some of these forces are familiar to us, such as gravity or electricity, while there are forces of a higher order that act while remaining hidden to us.Kabbalah holds the knowledge of how these hidden forces are structured, and the laws by which they influence us.

*On page 68, Catalina states, After three, there is no point in counting.*On page 59, Estrellas grandmother said, It means pig. What do you think theyll do to people they consider to be pigs? Theyll cook them, God help us. Theyll burn them alive. Unfortunately this was the fate of Estrellas family. *Estrellas grandmother waited to tell her of her heritage because she did not want Estrella to carry the burden of being a Jew before she had to. *The soldiers knew nothing of the hidden room where Estrellas grandfather taught and practiced medicine. The books and surgical tools were safe. While imprisoned, Abra gives the ring to Estrella hidden in an onion. This was the ring that Estrellas father had given to her mother when he pledged his love - It was now Estrellas final gift from her mother. Estrella later sells the ring to make her way to Amsterdam; for a better life.

*During this time many Jews were put on trial, burned, or imprisoned. Many Jews converted to Christianity to avoid persecution before the Inquisition began.

*Soldiers had taken over the town square and were seen everywhere. *Estrella states, Those people we loved would fade as though wed never loved them, as if theyd never walk and talked and burned. Forgetting them was the real evil. That was the hole of darkness. *It was known in Estrellas community that if you turn a Jew in, youll share all he owns, halved with the court. Estrella later saw Catalina and her mother rummaging through the Arrias home. This tells us that they must have turned in the Arrias family. *They called my grandfather a sorcerer. The greatest sorcerer of our town and of our times. The most evil, the most dangerous, an even bigger threat to the townspeople than the black fever had been. ~ Estrella*A hundred years beforehand, most of the Jews in Spain had either been forced to convert of flee the country. The stubborn ones who remained and declared themselves to be Jews were the ones who lived behind gates of Judiera.*Abra, Estrellas mother, gives those tablets to Luis, Estrellas brother.

*On page 106, Estrellas grandfather asks her, What will you say if anyone ever asks you if youve been inside this room? Estrella replies, What room? She knows its a good answer and new way that she will have to think in order to protect her family. *This quote appears at the beginning of the novel. *Despite losing her mother, brother, and grandfather, Estrella has a future with Andres. He stood by her side even though he knew she was Jewish and its dangerous. Estrella, Andres, and the grandmother can make their way to Amsterdam in search of a better life. At the end, Estrella makes a promise. Even when I was an old woman, older than my grandmother, older than the oldest raven in the sky, Id remember everything Id ever known and seen. Id sit down and make my sons and daughters listen, though we were thousands of miles away, far on another shore.