Joan’s Academy is stress and anxiety-filled. The mystery alternates between two stories and time periods: Colleen Rowley, a senior at a private all-girls school where a sudden illness is drawing attention from the media, and Ann Putman, an instigator of the Salem Witch Trials.Ĭolleen’s senior year at St. Howe deftly moves between two narratives and while this can sometimes be burdensome that’s not the case with CONVERSION. I sat down with my ARC later that week and within a few pages I was pulled into the story. “Megan, read the Physick book but then you should read the author’s newest book! I’ll read it this week and let you know what I think.” Her YA book Conversion was on my TBR list and I even had an e-arc on my phone. Then, just as I was recommending it to my sister I realized why Katherine Howe’s name was ringing a bell. Hmm, it sounds interesting, I thought to myself. The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe was published adult and adult books tend to fall by the wayside during the school year (my to-be-read pile is monstrous and that’s just YA and NF for my classroom library!). A quick Goodreads search cleared that up.

I was even more impressed when she listed a book I had not already read. As she rattled off the books, I was impressed by the diversity on the school-provided list. “Sarah, which of these books should I read from the summer reading list?” my fifteen-year old sister asked last month.

Conversion katherine howe summary