Product Description

From the author of the award-winning juvenile historical fiction novel, SEAMAN: The Dog Who Explored the West With Lewis and Clark, comes an exciting new novel based on the founding of the first permanent English settlement in the New World. In 1606, King James I granted a charter to a group of London businessmen known as the Virginia Company to establish an English settlement in North America. In 1607, 104 men set sail aboard three tiny ships on a voyage to a new land. What they found became the first permanent English settlement in the New World—Jamestown. Among the brave adventurers who made the journey was a young boy named Samuel Collier, the page of famed Captain John Smith. Samuel accompanied Smith on the legendary journey to meet the Algonquin leader Powhatan. Disease, famine, and continuing attacks by neighboring Algonquin Indians took a tremendous toll on the settlers. Samuel was one of the few to survive the harsh realities of the New World during the first few years of Jamestown. Based on author Gail Karwoski’s careful research of the era, this fictional account portrays the struggles and successes of our country’s earliest settlers, as seen through the life of a young man. Young readers will enjoy this story of courage and survival while learning about this important period in the history of the United States.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #284475 in Books
• Published on: 2001-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 192 pages

From School Library Journal
Gr 5-7-Sam Collier, 12, thinks he "is the luckiest boy in all of England!" He is about to sail onboard the Susan Constant for the New World and will be Captain John Smith's page and apprentice for the next few years. The new colony in Virginia is a struggle to maintain-the colonists are unprepared for the hard physical labor, the unfriendly natives, the lack of food, and the harsh climate. Disease rapidly diminishes the population. Smith is a strong leader, but many of the colonists do not trust him. He is not a "highborn Englishman," and he was never cleared of an earlier charge of mutiny. When he is named to the ruling council, there is outrage, and the tone is set for the remainder of the book. The story takes place between 1606, when the ship sets sail, and 1609, when Smith returns to England. It is told primarily in the third person with occasional intrusions of Sam's thoughts as he questions a situation in which he has been placed or a decision Smith has made. This technique adds depth to the portrayal of the page's character, enhancing the fact-filled text. The story flows well and is a good fictional introduction to Jamestown. Casale's full-page pencil drawings nicely supplement the text. Maps aid in locating travel routes and Virginia sites mentioned, and an "Author's Note" helps to separate fact from fiction.

Patti Gonzales, Los Angeles Public Library

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review
"The story flows well and is a good fictional introduction to Jamestown. Casale's full-page pencil drawings nicely supplement the text. Maps aid in locating travel routes and Virginia sites mentioned, and an 'Author's Note' helps to separate fact from fiction." -School Library Journal "This story, told from a boy's perspective, gives a unique look into part of the nation's history. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy reading about [Sam's] courage in an unsettling time. It is apparent that Karwoski spent a great deal of time researching the time period. A great learning tool for middle school teachers to use as a supplement to the study of early settlers and settlements" -Kliatt "...recommended to readers who have enjoyed the Dear America and My America series." -VOYA

About the Author
Author GAIL LANGER KARWOSKI received her B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and her M.A. from the University of Minnesota, later earning her elementary and gifted teaching certificates at the University of Georgia. She has taught elementary, middle, and high school students. She lives with her family in Oconee County, Georgia.

Illustrator PAUL CASALE, a native of Brooklyn, graduated from the Pratt Institute, where he won numerous awards. A member of the Society of Illustrators, he has illustrated many children’s books, including titles in the Jewel Princess series and books written by Matt Christopher. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

Customer Reviews

P.A.C.E Reviews
A thrilling adventure! More thrilling even than all her other books combined!