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304 pp.
| Viking
| March, 2019
|
TradeISBN 978-0-425-29183-2$18.99
(4)
4-6
This companion to Blood on the River continues the story of the Jamestown colony, now through the experience of Virginia Laydon, a child with an uncanny (and somewhat unconvincing) ability to see the future. Carbone includes details about daily life, slavery, tenuous relations with Indigenous tribes, and accusations of witchcraft. It's engaging historical fiction that does not shy away from addressing societal complexities.
(4)
K-3
Zoom In on Native American Leaders series.
These starter biographies offer brief descriptions (with one to three sentences per page) about important Native American figures; historical art and photos as well as contemporary scenic photos accompany the sparse texts. Only very cursory details about each subject is offered, but the series may serve as an adequate introduction for younger readers. Lists of quick stats and key dates are appended. Glos., ind. Review covers these Zoom In on Native American Leaders titles: Chief Joseph, Crazy Horse, Pocahontas, Sacagawea, Sequoyah, and Sitting Bull.
(3)
4-6
Cause-and-Effect Disasters series.
Five disastrous events in American history are explored from a cause-and-effect perspective. Each volume includes four succinct chapters, first establishing setting before relating the major events and their aftermath/results (e.g., the Chicago Fire and 1888 Blizzard precipitated future building codes and public warning systems). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentations. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Cause-and-Effect Disasters titles: The Jamestown Colony Disaster, Death in the Donner Party, Hurricane Katrina and the Flooding of New Orleans, The Great Chicago Fire, and The Children's Blizzard of 1888.
124 pp.
| Sterling
| October, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4027-6844-6$12.95
(3)
4-6
Sterling Biographies series.
Each title opens with an introduction that arouses compassion and interest for the featured subject. Succeeding chapters present chronological biographies, with vivid portrayals of daily life, culture, and the impact an expanding America had on the individual and his or her people. Paintings, drawings, and occasional photographs combine with detail-rich sidebars and maps to provide a cumulatively engaging, accessible history lesson. Timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Sterling Biographies titles: Sacagawea, Chief Joseph,Pocahontas, Sitting Bull, Geronimo, and Tecumseh.
32 pp.
| Walker
| May, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-0-8027-9554-0$16.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-8027-9555-7$17.85
(3)
K-3
Illustrated by
David Diaz.
Krull uses the relatively few known facts about the Powhatan princess to trace her life from age eleven through adulthood, touching on her volatile relationship with John Smith and marriage to John Rolfe. Krull rounds out the story with background information about Jamestown. The narrative is smooth and readable, and Diaz's lush digitally colored cut-paper illustrations feature bright borders around the text. Bib.
48 pp.
| National
| February, 2007
|
TradeISBN 978-1-4263-0012-7$17.95
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-4263-0013-4$27.90
(4)
4-6
Photographs by
Ira Block.
Lange chronicles what life was like for colonists in Virginia's Jamestown settlement, basing her discussion on archaeological discoveries and current theories. Both the past and the archaeologists' work come alive in the text; the well-placed photographs of artifacts and costumed reenactors are engaging, but the actors are never identified as such, which could be confusing. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.
32 pp.
| Enslow/Elementary
| August, 2006
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-2604-3$22.60
(4)
K-3
Heroes of American History series.
The brief text of this book, comprised of simple statements, may serve very young report writers. Almost every page includes a colorful illustration: a map, tinted engraving, oil painting, or photograph. Although the text is bland and oversimplified at times, the volume does an adequate job of conveying to early readers Pocahontas's historical importance. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.
48 pp.
| Bridgestone
| January, 2003
|
LibraryISBN 0-7368-1567-8$$22.60
(4)
4-6
American Indian Nations series.
Each of the books in this series examines a Native American group: the East Coast Powhatan and Wampanoag and the Blackfeet in Montana and southwestern Canada. Brief, choppy sentences are accompanied by contemporary and archival photographs, illustrations, and sidebars. Directories, map, reading list, recipe, timeline. Glos., ind. [Review covers these American Indian Nations titles: The Powhatan, The Blackfeet, and The Wampanoag.]
(3)
YA
In this carefully researched fictional account, alternating first-person narratives of Pocahontas and John Smith recount the 1607 interaction between the Powhatan and the English in Jamestown, Virginia. In his stirring interpretation of this clash of cultures, Bruchac crafts a riveting portrait of a brave and proud man and a satisfying picture of Pocahontas as a curious and peace-loving Powhatan girl. Bib., glos.
128 pp.
| Enslow
| April, 2002
|
LibraryISBN 0-7660-1842-3$$20.95
(4)
4-6
In American History series.
Each of the books in this series attempts to delineate the numerous causes and significant events that helped form a specific era in American history. These three books feature black-and-white photos and illustrations of uneven quality, boxed quotes from source documents, and timelines. Bib., ind. [Review covers these In American History titles: Jamestown, John Smith, and Pocahontas in American History; The Harlem Renaissance in American History; The Dust Bowl and the Depression in American History.]
(4)
4-6
In Their Own Words series.
Illustrated with black-and-white photographs and reproductions, the biographies in this series feature excerpts from the subjects' writings (if they exist) and other primary sources to present fairly complete pictures of these historical figures. The texts are accessible and straightforward but generally dry. A timeline and a list of resources are appended. Bib., ind. [Review covers these titles: Benjamin Franklin, Christopher Columbus, Harriet Tubman, Helen Keller, Pocahontas.]
(4)
K-3
On My Own Biography series.
Illustrated by
Jeni Reeves.
This beginning-reader biography is laudably straightforward about the reliability of information about Pocahontas. The author follows through by noting the sources for particular incidents: such as Pocahontas's allegedly saving John Smith's life and why it might not be true (e.g., Smith was a braggart). Occasionally awkward drawings illustrate the brief text; a timeline and afterword are appended. Bib.
128 pp.
| Benchmark
| October, 2001
|
LibraryISBN 0-7614-1209-3$$32.79
(3)
4-6
Lifeways series.
Each well-researched title in this series offers an extensive historical overview of a Native American tribe and explores its people's modern-day struggles. These books feature reproductions of contemporary and historical photographs and of artwork reflecting each nation's unique traditions. Each title includes a recipe, time line, language lesson, and annotated list of notable people of the profiled nation. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Lifeways titles: The Inuit, The Nez Perce, The Powhatan, The Shoshone.]
(4)
K-3
All Aboard Reading series.
Illustrated by
Shelly Hehenberger.
In simple, clear language, Milton purports to tell the true story of Pocahontas and John Smith, including the alternative theory that Pocahontas may have saved Smith's life in response to her father's instructions rather than out of love. The narrative is compelling, if somewhat romantic in its interpretation of Pocahontas's life. Golden-hued illustrations capture the mood of the tale.