A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 (Dear America Series) [Hardcover]

Kathryn Lasky (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1996 | Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Dear America (Book 3)

The diary of a young Pilgrim girl who makes the dangerous journey on the Mayflower to America is filled with her thoughts about her new friends, her contact with Native Americans, and her love for her new land.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

In this entry in the Dear America series, subtitled ``The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple,'' Lasky (She's Wearing a Dead Bird on Her Head!, 1995, etc.) demonstrates how vigorous historical fiction can enliven the facts found in most textbooks. The Pilgrims, as they came to be known, traveled in a small cargo ship, the Mayflower, for two miserable months of bad food, unfit drinking water, vicious storms, and sheer boredom on a leaky old vessel that had never been intended for human cargo and lacked even the most basic amenities. Mem, one of the 34 children among the 102 people on board, tells the story in diary entries. Almost as bad as the journey was what the travelers found when it was over. Mem's story is one of incredible courage in the face of almost insurmountable obstacles, but it is also a story of real people with all their foibles, who refuse to give up no matter what happens. In the course of these inspiring events, Mem herself almost gives up, but a sense of humor and her hopes for the future carry her through the worst of them. Memorable. (Fiction. 9-12) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (September 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 059050214X
• ISBN-13: 978-0590502146
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #206,118 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hi Readers! Thanks for coming by my author page. I've written all sorts of books - from fantasy about animals to books about science. One of my favorite animal fantasy series, Guardians of Ga'Hoole, is a major motion picture. I liked writing about Ga'Hoole so much that I decided to revisit that world in a new series, Wolves of the Beyond. Visit my website, www.kathrynlasky.com to see a slide show about the real wolves I researched for the series and for the latest update on the Guardians of Ga'Hoole movie. All my best, Kathryn

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Journey to the New World is wonderful, April 12, 2002

By 

katherine, 13 (MA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 (Dear America Series) (Hardcover)

A Journey to the New World by Kathryn Lasky is a fictional diary of Remember Patience Whipple based on records from the Mayflower in 1620. Remember Patience Whipple is a 12 year old girl who is opinionated, but can only confide in her precious diary she calls Imp.  Times were very different back then, especially for young girls, as illustrated in her story.  For example, she had to wear three petty coats, could not speak her mind, and was expected to behave like an adult everyday.  Life on the Mayflower was rough and tedious.  Sleeping quarters were cramped, there was limited amounts of sea worthy food, people got motion sickness often, and you did the same thing everyday; wake up, eat, help around the ship, go to sleep.
   This book can be easily enjoyed for it has an interesting yet historical story line, and is told through a quiet, strong minded young lady who a lot of girls can relate to.  It has simple vocabulary, yet is very insightful. This book is great because Remember Patience Whipple sees and meets new beings which is educating for the reader because it differs from our modern world.  For example she meets the authentic Native -American named Squanto to whom she gives pudding and foods in exchange of his tribe's foods, and helpful hints for hunting in the rugged North America and living in their new Plimouth Settlement. Although A Journey to the New World is educating and captivating, this book would be for ages eight to thirteen years old, (though
some grown ups have found it enjoyable), because it is not a very challenging book to read, yet is great at keeping the reader wanting to learn more about Remember and daily life in the 1620's.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Pilgrim girl's new life in the New World., July 24, 2000

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 (Dear America Series) (Hardcover)

Remember Patience Whipple, called Mem, is a bit frightened at the thought of the New World her family is sailing to on the Mayflower. She hears tales of strange "feathered people" who will attack the settlers. But she has more immediate concerns - the dreadful Billington boys, who mercilessly tease Mem and her friend Hummy, the ever present seasickness, and the daily boredom during the long, tedious sea voyage. But once she arrives in the New World, things become even worse. During the long, cold first winter at Plymouth, many settlers become sick and die. Mem is frightened that her family might be next. When spring comes, she thinks they are safe - until her mother falls ill and dies. Can Mem find the strength and courage to go on without her mother? And can she come to accept her future stepmother, quiet, sad Mistress Potts? What I liked best about this book is that it told what a young girl who sailed on the Mayflower and lived at Plymouth Colony might have thought and done. In making the main character a young girl, the author brought the history to life, and I really like the fictional diary format used in this series - it makes you feel really close to the characters.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Remember Patience Whipple's diary and adventure to the New World., August 10, 2005

By 

Toni Masters - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Journey to the New World: The Diary of Remember Patience Whipple, Mayflower, 1620 (Dear America Series) (Hardcover)

Remember Patience Whipple, nicknamed Mem is a young pilgrim girl, her life in danger by the notorious King James. She is aboard the Mayflower, that will one day take it's passengers to the New World. Even though she longs to see the New World, Mem is afraid of all the feathered men and women that inherit it. Days in the Mayflower are long and boring and she and her friend, Hummy are constantly annoyed by the Billington Boys. But when they set foot on the New World, a furious plague attacks her people, killing many including her mother. Her friend, Hummy soon leaves her and Mem is in despair and longs to leave on a boat to a place she once called home. But after weeks of mourning and despair, Remember catches the deadly illness and must fight for her survival. This is a wonderful diary on a pilgrim girl and I found it very enjoyable.