The Curse of the Toads

The Curse of the Toads (known before publishing as A Suspicion of Toads) is a novel set in England in 1682. The story follows the life of a young boy called Reuben, whose grandmother has been hanged for witchcraft. The book was shortlisted for the 2007 Calderdale Children's Book Award.
Main characters
* Reuben - A young boy looked after by his grandmother Sarah Mearback
* Sarah Mearback - An old, quiet woman interested in medicine and the healing powers of herbs and plants
* Dr Flyte (Bartholomew Flyte) - A man who claims to have herbs and ailments which can cure most illnesses
* Baggs - An orphan who became Doctor Flyte's assistant
* Meg Silver - A superstitious woman who originally accused Sarah of witchcraft
* Shadow - A dog that follows Reuben intently but for no apparent reason (there is a strong possibility that this is the spirit of Reuben's grandmother)
* Dr Brittlebank - Sarah Mearbeck's cousin and Doctor Flyte's rival
Synopsis
The book is based in two different timesets, both in third-person narrative; one before Reuben's Grandmother, Sarah Mearback, is hanged and one after. The book constantly switches between the two.
Sarah Mearback is a reputable midwife, but after delivering a baby which was said to have a birth mark in the shape of a toad, she is accused and successfully convicted of witchcraft.
Consequently, Reuben is outcast from his village. A seemingly empathetic Doctor Flyte picks him up in his carriage and offers his hospitality in return for assistance. Reuben is from this point followed by a mysterious dog, who makes appearances throughout the remainder of the book. Reuben first realises Dr Flyte is a fraud in a town called Clodbury, in which Dr Flyte fakes the effectiveness of his medicine and successfully sells his ailments - merely bottles of herbal water. Shortly after Reuben discovers Dr Flytes reliance on a toadstone, fuelled by superstition that it possessed magical powers.
Reuben is outraged by the trickery but is not permitted to leave Dr Flyte due to the unpaid hospitality. Dr Flyte visits another town, but his rival - Dr Brittlebank - is waiting, and the rival fakes death in order to ruin his business - the town believe he is dead and chase Dr Flyte away. Reuben, taking the opportunity, escapes and hides in a forest nearby. Unfortunately, Dr Flyte pursues him and discovers him. Dr Flyte drags him to a large hole in the ground - Cal's Couldren, but Reuben distracts him and escapes by seizing his toadstone. Dr Flyte trips and is left hanging off the edge of the pit. He begs for redemption, but both Baggs and Reuben hesitate and Dr Flyte slips, falling to his death.
Dr Brittlebank, appears at the scene and offers hospitality to Baggs, Reuben and the dog, named Shadow. Both accept, but as Reuben sleeps, Shadow disappears.

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