Curses, Hexes and Spells facts for kids
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| Author | Daniel Cohen |
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| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
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Publication date
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November 1, 1974 |
| Media type | Print (hardcover and paperback) |
| Pages | 125 |
| ISBN | 0-397-31493-0 |
Curses, Hexes and Spells is a non-fiction book written by Daniel Cohen. It was published in 1974. This book is for young readers. It explores the idea of "curses" and other mysterious beliefs.
The book looks at stories about curses affecting families, places, and even ships. It also talks about special objects called amulets. These objects are believed to offer protection from bad luck or harm. The book also briefly mentions birthstones.
Contents
Exploring Curses and Spells
Curses, Hexes and Spells dives into many interesting tales. It explains what people in different cultures have believed about curses. A curse is often thought of as a wish for bad things to happen to someone or something.
Curses on Families
The book shares stories about famous families believed to be under a curse.
- The House of Atreus: This is a family from ancient Greek myths. Their story involves a long history of tragedy and conflict.
- The House of Habsburg: This was a very powerful royal family in Europe. They ruled many countries for centuries. Some people believed they faced unusual misfortunes.
- The Kennedy family: This is a well-known American political family. They have experienced several sad events over the years. This has led some to wonder if they are cursed.
Mysterious Places and Wanderers
The book also explores places and legends linked to curses or strange events.
- The Bermuda Triangle: This is an area in the Atlantic Ocean. Many ships and planes have supposedly disappeared there under mysterious circumstances.
- The Devil's Sea: This is another area, located near Japan. It is also known for strange disappearances.
- The Flying Dutchman: This is a famous ghost ship legend. The ship is said to be cursed to sail the seas forever. It can never make it to port.
Protection from Dangers
Besides curses, the book talks about ways people tried to protect themselves. It mentions amulets. These are small objects that people wear or carry. They believe amulets can bring good luck or keep away bad things. The book also touches on birthstones. These are gemstones linked to the month a person was born. Some cultures believe they have special powers.
Challenges and Banned Books
Curses, Hexes and Spells has been a topic of discussion in libraries. It is on lists of books that some people have tried to remove from schools or public libraries.
- The American Library Association listed it as one of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books between 1990 and 2000.
- It also appeared on The New York Times list of 50 Most Frequently Banned Books. It was ranked number 11 on that list.
When a book is "challenged," it means someone wants to limit access to it. They might want it removed from a library. This often happens because some people believe the book's content is not suitable for certain age groups. In this case, some thought the topics in Curses, Hexes and Spells were not right for children.
