3.5; it was literally fine. it was a decent enough harrowing plot for a middle grade book, but i felt like the conflict and its resolution were really rushed after over half of the book built up the ambiance and day to day life of the wood family. it obviously avoided any of the sexual jealousy, envious hate, and sexual violence that came hand in hand with witch accusations, cause it’s a middle grade book. but without higher stakes it felt like there was no real threat to anyone in the story other than abject mentions of a hanging and flogging from the past or stockades of the present. it was literally fine, mid, a decent read.