Estrella de Mardrigal

Estrella de Madrigal is the main character and principle protagonist in Alice Hoffman's novel "Incantation." Estrella de Madrigal is described as being beautiful and having long, black hair. At sixteen, Estrella dreams of growing old with her best friend, Catalina, and raising their families beside one another. Estrella is very close with her mother, Abra; and they live with Estrella's grandparents. Estrella loves them as well, but doesn't like that her grandmother seems so cold and removed, and her grandfather believes she should be learning how to bake bread instead of pursuing an academic education at all.

As the Spanish Inquisition rages, however, Estrella's world comes crashing down around her. An edict from the government, asking for the help of citizens to root out false Christians leads Estrella to realize that she is herself Jewish (a fact which her family confirms); and that Catalina is not...