This book is about a young, Puritan girl, Susanna English and how she deals with a dark secret.  Susanna comes from a well-off family with strong religious beliefs.  While delivering goods to the less fortunate, she comes across Reverend Parris's home.  She peaks in only to see the slave, Tituba talking with a group of her peers.  In her excitement, she is finally let in where she talks to Tituba about black magic.  Later in the book, the same girls in the Reverend's home have began to speak of witches in Salem.  The girls name many people as witches for sport.  Susanna is aware that the girls are lying the whole time. She lives in fear of speaking up, because she wants to protect her family and herself.  The outbreak is unreal in Salem, good people are being accused and thrown in jail.  This guilt really sets in when her mother is placed under arrest.  With the help of family friends, and her beloved Jonathan, Susanna finally gets the courage to speak up about what she knows.  Susanna was forced to live with the guilt of so many people being hung.  she was able to reunite with her family at the end.