The Betrayal of Maggie Blair is part witch hunt, part religious and political freedom fighting, part survival in a difficult era. Maggie and her grandmother are sentenced as witches. The old lady is hung, but a friend steps in to help Maggie escape and flee to the mainland of Scotland and her father's brother. Uncle Blair is a Presbyterian Covenanter, which means he has pledged to keep his faith against the interferences of King Charles II of England, who has replaced the ministers in Scotland with his own men. His faith is strict and unyielding, but not as uncompromising as the penalties placed on the Covenanters - fines to beggar families and confiscate property and jail and execution for those unwilling to capitulate, which Blair will not do.

Maggie's life is fraught with uncertainty. A key factor is the jealous servant Annie, who lies to ensure charges against Maggie and Granny and who follows Maggie to her uncle's home and inserts herself into the household with her manipulative ways. She tells Maggie she wants what Maggie has, despite Maggie feeling she has little beyond her tenuous inclusion in her uncle's family.

The book is enjoyable and anticipatory. Secrets and hiding make up much of the story. Knowing little of this time and place, I found the historical setting interesting.

related-witchcraft, fugitives from justice, history of Scotland, 17th century, betrayal, family
RL=7th and up, YA