400 Years of History

In 1607, a mismatched group of laborers, gentlemen, adventurers, and servants arrived on the eastern coast of present-day Virginia and established what would become the first permanent English settlement in America. The colony was financed by an independent entity, the Virginia Company, whose primary interest in “The New World” was economic. On their way to making large financial profits, its leaders hoped to establish friendly relations with the Native people and introduce them to Christianity and English ideas of civilization. Although both cultures tried to coexist, cooperation between people with widely different goals seemed doomed from the start. Twice the colonists were almost wiped out by starvation, disease, and violence. At one point, they packed their ships and left for England, only to be met on the water by a new governor and orders to go back. In 1619, the Virginia Company created the House of Burgesses, the first elected legislative body in America and a governmental model that would form the basis of our democratic system. The land was eventually transferred to the British government and made a royal colony.

The 400th anniversary of the founding of Jamestown is resulting in a reexamination of the facts and myths that surround this historic location. Students who know only Disney’s version of Pocahontas will gain a much more accurate view of the Native American girl through carefully researched fact-based and historical fiction titles. Ongoing archaeological discoveries at the site of the original Jamestown fort have helped scientists gather important new information about the colonists and their lives, and recently published books that explore the stories of the English settlers, the Powhatan Native people, John Smith, and other less-famous participants present a riveting portrait of the early beginnings of our nation.

MCDONALD, Megan. Shadows in the Glasshouse. illus. by Paul Bachem & Laszlo Kubinyi. (History Mysteries Series). Pleasant Co/American Girl. 2000. Tr $9.95. ISBN 1-58485-093-0; pap. $5.95. ISBN 1-58485-092-2.

Gr 3-5 –Kidnapped from London in 1621, 12-year-old Merry is sold as a bond-servant to the owner of a glass factory in Jamestown. She begins to enjoy her work and even befriends Angelo, a young Italian glassblower, when suddenly the glasshouse is vandalized and Angelo is wrongfully blamed. Merry must solve the mystery or lose her friend and the place she has come to consider home.

RANSOM, Candice. Sam Collier and the Founding of Jamestown. illus. by Matthew Archambault. (On My Own History Series). Millbrook. 2006. PLB $23.93. ISBN 1-57505-874-X.

Gr 1-2 –Four boys arrive with the original colonists in 1607, including Samuel Collier. This beginning reader imagines what life would have been like for Sam during the first few months of the colony as the group tried to build shelter, find food, and develop peaceful relations with the Native people. Colorful paintings help readers visualize the historical setting.

BORAAS, Tracey. The Powhatan: A Confederacy of Native American Tribes. (American Indian Nations Series). Bridgestone. 2003. PLB $22.60. ISBN 0-7368-1567-8.

Gr 3-5 –Although often referred to as “Powhatan Indians,” the Native people whom the Jamestown colonists first met were members of more than 30 distinct groups. This book describes the traditional lifestyle of these Eastern woodland Indians, including societal roles, food, clothing and shelter, and the effects of colonization. Color photographs of contemporary Powhatan people add to the appeal.

BRAUN, Eric. The Story of Jamestown. illus. by Steve Irwin, Keith Williams, & Charles Barnett. (Graphic History Series). Capstone. 2006. PLB $25.26. ISBN 0-7368-4967-X.

Gr 2-5 –Presented in a graphic-novel format that will especially appeal to reluctant readers, this story opens with the sighting of land on the Virginia coast and finishes with the fire that destroyed most of Jamestown in 1698. The book is presented as nonfiction and some direct quotations are included, but be aware that most of the dialogue is invented.

FRITZ, Jean. The Double Life of Pocahontas. illus. by Ed Young. Putnam. 1983. Tr $15.99. ISBN 0-399-21016-4; pap. $5.99. ISBN 0-698-11935-5.

Gr 3-6 –Fritz’s definitive work on Pocahontas continues to be required reading. Unsentimental and thorough, the author captures the contradictory nature of Pocahontas’s life in a readable manner without fictionalization. This book sets a standard that many newer titles do not reach.

KARWOSKI, Gail Langer. Miracle: The True Story of the Wreck of the Sea Venture. illus. by John MacDonald. Darby Creek. 2004. Tr $17.95. ISBN 1-58196-015-8.

Gr 3-5 –While headed to Jamestown in 1609, the Sea Venture blew off course in a terrible storm. The near- tragedy ended up saving many lives–the passengers spent the winter in relative comfort on the island of Bermuda while the inhabitants of Jamestown were decimated by “The Starving Time.” This fascinating, beautifully designed book includes well-executed woodcuts that capture the spirit and tone of the time.

KNOWLTON, MaryLee & Janet Riehecky. The Settling of Jamestown. (Events That Shaped America Series). Gareth Stevens. 2002. PLB $24.67. ISBN 0-8368-3225-6.

Gr 2-4 –This source accomplishes a difficult feat–it covers all of the important elements of Jamestown history, 1607-1700, but keeps the text very simple and appropriate for young readers. Contemporary color photographs and maps, as well as historical drawings and paintings, provide helpful visual context. A “Things to Think About and Do” section is a great teacher resource for related projects.

LANDAU, Elaine. Explore Colonial Jamestown with Elaine Landau. (Explore Colonial America with Elaine Landau Series). Enslow Elementary. 2006. PLB $23.93. ISBN 0-7660-2554-3.

Gr 1-3 –The author puts herself and her pet dog into the narrative to introduce and comment upon various aspects of Jamestown history. Cartoon illustrations of these unlikely tour guides appear alongside period illustrations, photos from the reconstructed Jamestown Settlement, and factual information. Some may find the time-travel approach a little goofy, but it does make history more accessible to younger children.

LANGE, Karen E. 1607: A New Look at Jamestown. photos. by Ira Block. National Geographic. 2007. Tr $17.95. ISBN 1-4263-0012-3; PLB $27.90. ISBN 1-4263-0013-1.

Gr 2-5 –In 1994, archaeologists began unearthing important new evidence about the original Jamestown fort. Their ongoing discoveries have changed many “established” ideas about the early settlers. Color photographs of the excavated areas and artifacts, as well as of costumed interpreters and re-created buildings from the nearby Jamestown Settlement living-history museum, depict both English and Native American ways of life.

MCLEESE, Don. Pocahontas. (Native American Legends Series). Rourke. 2003. PLB $28.50. ISBN 1-58952-728-3.

Gr 1-3 –This simple, abundantly illustrated title does an excellent job of summarizing the facts of Pocahontas’s life for the youngest readers. The illustrations, many of which are familiar pictures of Pocahontas and other historical drawings of Native Americans, are often full page, making the details easy to see. A good alternative to sentimentalized Pocahontas stories.

MELLO, Tara Baukus. John Smith: English Explorer and Colonist. (Colonial Leaders). Chelsea House. 2000. PLB $27.50. ISBN 0-7910-5345-8.

Gr 4-5 –A clearly written narrative covers Smith’s whole life, not just his two and a half years at Jamestown. Although this title lacks the detail of other biographies listed here, it is a good choice for younger students needing a more straightforward approach than Rosalyn Schanzer’s artistic John Smith Escapes Again! (Ballantine, 2006).

PIERCE, Alan. The Jamestown Colony. (American Moments Series). ABDO. 2005. PLB $25.65. ISBN 1-59197-733-9.

Gr 3-5 –Pierce includes background information on the rivalry between Spain and England that set the stage for the Virginia colony, setting this source apart from other “report books.” A discussion of Sir Walter Raleigh’s failed attempts to start a colony, an explanation of the history of tobacco, and exceptionally clear maps are other features worth noting.

ROSEN, Daniel. New Beginnings: Jamestown and the Virginia Colony 1607-1699. (Crossroads America Series). National Geographic. 2005. Tr $12.95. ISBN 0-7922-8277-9; PLB $21.90. ISBN 0-7922-8357-0.

Gr 3-5 –A good choice for older students or better readers, this overview goes into greater depth than some of the other elementary titles. It introduces a variety of significant historical figures and incorporates many historical paintings and drawings in an appealing design. Quotations from several primary sources are separated from the general narrative to emphasize the difference.

SCHANZER, Rosalyn. John Smith Escapes Again! illus. by author. National Geographic. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-7922-5930-0; PLB $25.90. ISBN 0-7922-5931-9.

Gr 2-5 –Smith began his adventures at age 16 fighting against Catholic Spain in the Netherlands. He traveled in Europe, sailed on a pirate ship, was stranded on a desert island, and almost drowned a few times–then he headed for Jamestown! The detailed drawings of his many routes provide an excellent opportunity for practicing map skills, and the plentiful, vibrant watercolor illustrations will hold children’s interest.

SEWALL, Marcia. James Towne: Struggle for Survival. illus. by author. S & S/Atheneum. 2001. RTE $17.95. ISBN 0-689-81814-9.

Gr 2-5 –Full- and half-page watercolor and sepia ink paintings combine with a fact-based text and quotations from primary sources to create an attractive and informative portrait of Jamestown, 1607-1610, told from the point of view of an 18-year-old Lancashire carpenter. The picture-book format contributes a cinematic quality that captures readers’ attention.

SJONGER, Rebecca & Bobbie Kalman. Life of the Powhatan. (Native Nations of North America Series). Crabtree. 2004. PLB $25.20. ISBN 0-7787-0380-0; pap. $8.95. ISBN 0-7787-0472-6.

Gr 2-5 –Pocahontas and the impact of the European settlers on the Native peoples are briefly discussed, but Sjonger concentrates on what life would have been like for a member of the Powhatan tribes in the 1600s. Village life and variations in governance, food, clothing, shelters, and crafts are described. Color illustrations and an open layout make this title accessible to younger readers.

SULLIVAN, George. Pocahontas. (In Their Own Words Series). Scholastic. 2002. Tr $12.95. ISBN 0-439-32668-0; pap. $4.99. ISBN 0-439-16585-7.

Gr 3-5 –This book begins with an explanation of primary versus secondary source materials, then incorporates quotations from primary sources in relating Pocahontas’s story. Although similar in scope to Fritz’s biography, Sullivan’s is less dense and will attract slightly younger readers.

BRUCHAC, Joseph. Pocahontas. Harcourt. 2003. Tr $17. ISBN 0-15-216737-4; pap. $5.95. ISBN 0-15-205465-0.

Gr 6-8 –This novel reveals as much about John Smith as it does about Pocahontas, as the two characters tell their stories in alternating chapters. Pocahontas’s sections begin with short traditional tales that illuminate some aspect of her life, while Smith’s chapters start with quotations from English writers of the period. Bruchac provides discussions of early-17th-century English and Powhatan language.

CARBONE, Elisa. Blood on the River: James Town, 1607. Viking. 2006. Tr $16.99. ISBN 0-670-06060-7.

Gr 5-8 –When survival at Jamestown becomes extremely challenging, Samuel Collier, John Smith’s page, lives for a while in a Warraskoyack village and learns helpful skills from the Native people. Told from Samuel’s perspective, this compelling novel combines solid research with believable character development.

KARWOSKI, Gail Langer. Surviving Jamestown: The Adventures of Young Sam Collier. illus. by Paul Casale. Peachtree. 2001. Tr $14.95. ISBN 1-56145-239-4; pap. $8.95. ISBN 1-56145-245-9.

Gr 5-8 –Another version of what Samuel might have experienced, this novel focuses primarily on the English perspective of why the colonists came to America and how they survived. Karwoski demonstrates the rapid maturity that a boy would have undergone when faced with the barrage of problems that the Jamestown settlers endured.

BIAL, Raymond. The Powhatan. (Lifeways Series). Benchmark. 2000. PLB $37.07. ISBN 0-7614-1209-3.

Gr 5-8 –Opening with an overview of the role of the Powhatans in history, this title goes into specific detail about 17th- and 18th-century everyday life, as well as the effects of European colonization. Color photographs of the land and Native American re-enactors add immediacy to the discussion of contemporary Powhatan people and their efforts to preserve their heritage.

DOHERTY, Kieran. To Conquer Is To Live: The Life of Captain John Smith of Jamestown. 21st Century Bks. 2001. PLB $23.90. ISBN 0-7613-1820-8.

Gr 6-8 –Jamestown is Smith’s most lasting claim to fame, but this biography also goes into detail about the man’s colorful exploits before his arrival in Virginia. Many of his actions and decisions were controversial then and now. Doherty does a good job of explaining possible motivations and establishing historical context, smoothly incorporating quotations from Smith’s writings and other primary sources throughout the text.

HARKINS, Susan & William H. Harkins. Jamestown: The First English Colony. (Building America Series). Mitchell Lane. 2006. PLB $19.95. ISBN 1-58415-458-6.

Gr 4-6 –Through a well-researched but no-frills approach, Jamestown’s history is chronologically presented. The text is engaging without invented dialogue or other fictionalization. Historical engravings, paintings, and drawings add color to the account. Several special “FYI” pages set off and present more details on important topics such as The Virginia Company and Pocahontas.

KUDLINSKI, Kathleen V. My Lady Pocahontas. Marshall Cavendish. 2006. Tr $16.95. ISBN 0-7614-5293-1.

Gr 7 Up –Kudlinski takes the few known facts about her subject’s life and embroiders them into a colorful tapestry of what “might have been,” delving into Pocahontas’s seemingly contradictory decisions with regard to loyalty and love. The character of Neetah, a companion, servant, and friend, is invented to provide insight into Pocahontas’s psyche and to illustrate how the Englishmen’s arrival affected all the Native people.

LAPALLO, Connie. Dark Enough to See the Stars in a Jamestown Sky. Llumina. 2006. pap. $19.95. ISBN 1-59526-421-3.

Gr 7 Up –Narratives about the women living in Jamestown are rare. Joan Phippen Peirce, an ancestor of the author, came to America in 1609, and short, diarylike chapters tell her story. While Plymouth Colony’s religious roots are often contrasted with Jamestown’s economically based conception, this title acknowledges the important religious convictions held by many of the Jamestown colonists.

ALLEN, Paula Gunn. Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Spy, Entrepreneur, Diplomat. HarperCollins. 2003. Tr $26.95. ISBN 0-06-053687-X; pap. $15.95. ISBN 0-06-073060-9.

Gr 10 Up –A professor of English and American Indian studies as well as a person of Native American descent, Allen tries to provide non-Indian readers with the tools to understand Pocahontas in her Native context. Although the work is scholarly, the author draws readers in by mixing historical research with compelling accounts of Native religious beliefs and alternate interpretations of the narratives written by English colonists.

HOOBLER, Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler. Captain John Smith: Jamestown and the Birth of the American Dream. Wiley. 2005. Tr $25.95. ISBN 0-471-48584-5.

Gr 8 Up –Authoritative and highly readable, this comprehensive biography belongs in all high school and public libraries. The Hooblers examine Smith’s role not only in Jamestown, but also in helping to explore and map the Eastern seaboard from Virginia to Maine. His writings about Virginia and his exploratory trips to New England unquestionably influenced other Englishmen to undertake ventures in “The New World.”

PRICE, David A. Love and Hate in Jamestown: John Smith, Pocahontas, and the Start of a New Nation. Vintage. 2005. pap. $14.95. ISBN 1-4000-3172-9.

Gr 9 Up –The title is a bit misleading only because it may suggest that the book ends in 1609 when Smith left Jamestown. This fast-paced but detailed narrative goes on to examine John Rolfe’s role in establishing tobacco as a cash crop in Virginia, the beginning of the plantation system, the arrival of African-American slaves, and the Indian uprisings that sought to eliminate the English invaders.

ROUNTREE, Helen. Pocahontas, Powhatan, Opechancanough: Three Indian Lives Changed by Jamestown. Univ of Virginia. 2001. Tr $29.95. ISBN 0-8139-2323-9; pap. $16.95. ISBN 0-8139-2596-7.

Gr 10 Up –The author is an anthropologist who has long studied the Native people of Virginia. It is often said that history is written by the winners. Accordingly, most of the historical accounts of Jamestown were written by the English. Rountree’s excellent work delves into the Native American side of the story and provides valuable insight into these three leaders and their very different responses to the Europeans.