The Lost Colony Of Roanoke [Hardcover]

Jean Fritz (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 7 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

The Lost Colony of Roanoke is one of the most puzzling mysteries in America's history. In 1587, 115 colonists sailed to the new world, eager to build the brand new Cittie of Raleigh, only to disappear practically without a trace. Where did they go? What could have possibly happened?

Who better to collect and share the clues than Jean Fritz and Hudson Talbott?

The creators of Leonardo's Horse, an American Library Association Notable Book, again combine their masterful talents to illuminate a tragic piece of history that still fascinates Americans today.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-6-This fluidly written account describes the colony founded under the aegis of Sir Walter Raleigh in 1585. The opening section, "Looking," discusses the first attempt at settling the island and highlights the English policy regarding the Native population: "Never turn the other cheek" and "smite [hostile Indians] hip and thigh." When harsh conditions caused the men to return to England in 1586, 15 individuals were left behind to hold the colony. "Settling" describes how the second expedition arrived in 1587 and found the men gone, perhaps victims of the "hip and thigh" policy. The travails of these settlers began on landing and continued unabated until Governor John White agreed to sail to England to get help. "Lost" details White's frustrated attempts to get back to Virginia, and what he found when he finally returned two years later. In the final chapter, Fritz explores various theories about Roanoke's fate. She discusses the 1937 hoax involving stones with counterfeited inscriptions as well as current archaeological and historical exploration. Talbott's softly colored watercolor illustrations, ranging from cameo insets to two-page paintings, are at once detailed and impressionistic. Clever touches of humor abound. This book is superior to existing works such as Dan Mabry Lacy's The Lost Colony (Watts, 1972; o.p.). Fritz has scored again, making history breathe while showing both historians and archaeologists at their reconstructive best.
Ann Welton, Grant Elementary School, Tacoma, WA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 3-5. This history of the Lost Colony is more than a simple tale of settlers who disappeared, leaving a cryptic message behind. Fritz weaves the tangled threads of historical records, the multiple voyages, and the large cast of significant figures into a single narrative that enables children to envision the main events as well as many colorful details. The presentation is surprisingly traditional in some ways, from a Eurocentric reference to America as the "newfound land" to the anecdote (undocumented, as the appended notes acknowledge) about Sir Walter Raleigh's laying his coat across a puddle for Queen Elizabeth. In four chapters, Fritz discusses the English exploration of the region, the settlement on Roanoke Island, the mysterious disappearance of the colonists, and the conjectures, hoaxes, and evidence that have fueled speculation about the colony for 400 years. The fluid, expressive watercolors enhance the writing by using styles that reflect Talbott's research into the paintings of John White and sixteenth-century portrait artists as well as more romantic, imaginative interpretations of people and events. Notes and a bibliography are appended. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 7 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Juvenile (May 24, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399240276
• ISBN-13: 978-0399240270
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #107,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #60 in Books > Children's Books > History > United States > Colonial & Revolutionary

More About the Author

"The question I am most often asked," Jean Fritz says, "is how do I find my ideas? The answer is: I don't. Ideas find me. A character in history will suddenly step right out of the past and demand a book. Generally people don't bother to speak to me unless there's a good chance that I'll take them on." Throughout almost four decades of writing about history, Jean Fritz has taken on plenty of people, starting with George Washington in The Cabin Faced West (1958). Since then, her refreshingly informal historical biographies for children have been widely acclaimed as "unconventional," "good-humored," "witty," "irrepressible," and "extraordinary."In her role as biographer, Jean Fritz attempts to uncover the adventures and personalities behind each character she researches. "Once my character and I have reached an understanding," she explains, "then I begin the detective work--reading old books, old letters, old newspapers, and visiting the places where my subject lived. Often I turn up surprises and of course I pass these on." It is her penchant for making distant historical figures seem real that brings the characters to life and makes the biographies entertaining, informative, and filled with natural child appeal.An original and lively thinker, as well as an inspiration to children and adults, Jean Fritz is undeniably a master of her craft. She was awarded the Regina Medal by the Catholic Library Association, presented with the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award by the American Library Association for her "substantial and lasting contribution to children's literature," and honored with the Knickerbocker Award for Juvenile Literature, which was presented by the New York State Library Association for her body of work.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating look at the first English settlement in the New World, January 28, 2006

By 

Megan "Megan" (Massachusetts) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Colony Of Roanoke (Hardcover)

Jean Fritz is far and away the best writer of non-fiction history for children, and her newest book is, in my opinion, her best yet (though I have always thought "Can't You Make Them Behave, King George" nothing short of brilliant). Longer than most of her others, and illustrated with beautiful full-color paintings instead of the usual cute line drawings, it is also a more difficult and serious read.

That, of course, is meant in the best possible way: history is hot with kids, but it is more often than not a sanitized sort of history with a happy, feel-good ending tied in with the American Dream. The lost colony did not have a happy ending, and Ms. Fritz refuses to pander to her audience or to make ugly truths pretty. This is a delightful change from most history books for children.

Divided into four chapters, covering the planning, sailing, settling, and historiography of the colony, the last chapter is the real tour de force. I've never seen such a sophisticated demonstration of historiography for children, and I'm very impressed with how successful and interesting it is. Covering all of the major theories about what happened to the lost colony, this chapter gives an excellent account of exactly what historians, anthropologists, and archaeologists really DO: namely, they sort through the tiniest of clues, weeding out scams and forgeries, to develop theories that may never be proved.

This is a great book for all ages. I certainly learned a great deal that I didn't know about the colony: when the subject came up during a discussion with some historians I could more than hold my own based on what I learned in this book (try doing that with other kids history books!). Although enjoyable by anyone with an interest in history, it might be a very good choice for a boy who thinks that history is lame: there's enough sabotage, shipwrecks, and disaster to keep anyone's interest.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an American mystery, April 20, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Lost Colony Of Roanoke (Hardcover)

This book is very well done, and is based on extensive research (check out the notes section). If your child is interested in American history, or if you are doing a home school unit on colonial America, this book is perfect. Quite frankly, as a parent, I found the information interesting, well-formatted, and better than most other presentations of the Roanoke mystery I can remember.

Very good maps. A voyage-by-voyage explanation of the colony and its purposes, some of the controversies, the reasons why resupply ships failed to materialize, and the final mystery. Some good ideas about where the vanished colonists went are presented. Some of the scams are presented, as well.

It's 2011. I can't help but think a little genetic testing would clear up some of this.

Very good notes section. Bibliography. Excellent index.

One of the best parts of this book: portraits accompany the text.

Jean Fritz wrote "And then what happened, Paul Revere?"; Hudson Talbott illustrated our King Arthur books. Great team for this book.

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it!, October 21, 2011

By 

diogenes - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Lost Colony Of Roanoke (Hardcover)

I visited Roanoke Island last summer, and saw the outdoor play, "The Lost Colony of Roanoke." It was the first I had heard of this lost colony. I was delighted to find this book, which is easily read by my upper elementary readers. Book provides great information in classic Jean Fritz style.