Cochula's Journey [Hardcover]

Virginia Pounds Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1996 | Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up

Describes the 1540 DeSoto expedition from the point of view of the daughter of an Alabama Indian chief whose village and people were devastated by the marauding Spaniards.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Fictionalizing Spanish records, Brown focuses on events of De Soto's expedition of 15391542 through what became the southeastern United States. She adopts the viewpoint of 16-year-old Cochula, daughter of the Alabama Indian chief of the village of Coosa, a person who, she states, ``we know in a roundabout way . . . did exist,'' and about whom she adds further specifics in a postscript. Occasional infelicities interrupt the flow of the book, but these are largely confined to the first third of the book; by the time Cochula meets the fair-haired, blue-eyed youth, Antonio, who befriends her, readers will want to follow the thread of their romance through the hardships and deprivations of those caught up in De Soto's quest for rumored gold. Along the way is much solid cultural information, and thus, the pill is competently sugared. (Fiction. 11+) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Review

In 1540, Hernando De Soto led a Spanish expedition across what later became the southern United States, on a search for gold. Along the way he ravaged Indian villages, enslaving and killing the natives. This historical novel mixes fact and fiction to tell the story of one Indian girl, Cochula, who unwillingly becomes a part of this ruthless journey. Cochula is the daughter of an Indian chief, who is unexpectedly killed, and granddaughter to the medicine woman. The grandmother also eventually dies, of smallpox, as do all the other women and warriors of Cochula's village. Cochula is saved by Antonio, a Spanish youth, who had joined the expedition as caregiver to the dogs. Antonio's story is skillfully woven together with Cochulas'. His role and relationship to her grow in importance as one travesty quickly follows another. The role of the dogs is also of significance. They are feared by the Indians, due to their fighting prowess, and yet Cochula finds friendship, even sisterhood, among them. This story is told in a straightforward manner with no attempt made to shield middle grade readers from the cruelty and egocentric greed of De Soto. While the tale may at times read like fact, the reader's interest in the characters and their safety keep the pages turning. The strength of character of both Cochula and Antonio and their individual transformations due to the intermingling of cultures and the passage of time is counterbalanced by the arrogant and inflexible nature of De Soto which drives the group onward. This book gives an enticing glimpse into this time period and could very well lead readers to learn more about this misguided expedition as well as the history of other Native American tribes and their confrontations in the New World. -- From Independent Publisher

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 158 pages
• Publisher: River City Pub (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1881320405
• ISBN-13: 978-1881320401
• Product Dimensions: 7.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.3 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,454,362 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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