The Mysterious Disappearance of Roanoke Colony in American History [Library Binding]

Zachary Kent (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6-9–Kent describes the 1587 founding of the English settlement at Roanoke Island and the unexplained disappearance of the colonists three years later. The book opens with a sure hook for readers: the dramatic discovery of the deserted colony by Governor John White, grandfather of Virginia Dare, and the only clue, the cryptic word "Croatoan," carved in a tree. The text is liberally sprinkled with black-and-white reproductions, maps, and quotes from primary sources (all cited). The author traces the early efforts by the English to found a permanent settlement in North America including descriptions of the voyages of Sir Richard Grenville and Sir Walter Raleigh. Information about the Native American tribes in the region is included, and reproductions of period illustrations by John White are most interesting. The book closes with discussions of the mystery of the lost colony of Roanoke and the answers that researchers or historians continue to pursue. With its lively writing style and multiple illustrations, this book will be a good addition to history collections and provide support for school assignments.–Jennifer Ralston, Harford County Public Library, Belcamp, MD
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Reviewed with Tom McGowen's The Revolutionary War and George Washington's Army in American History.

Gr. 7-10. These two well-documented volumes from the In American History series chronicle significant historical events. Roanoke, more comprehensive and detailed than other books on the Lost Colony, details the history of English exploration and the settlement of Roanoke Island, North Carolina, to 1590, when John White searched in vain for his daughter, granddaughter, and the other colonists he had left there in 1587. The final chapter covers later efforts to find the settlers, twentieth-century research, and theories about the colony's fate. Rather than focusing on the mystery or tragedy of the story, Kent provides a clear, detailed account of early English settlement in the region, impacted by events in the home country. In Revolutionary War, McGowen provides a solid, chronological account of the battles. His readable military history acknowledges Washington's mistakes but also credits his strengths. In both books, primary sources not only document facts but also give voice to those who observed the events. The black-and-white illustrations include good, simple maps and well-captioned reproductions of period paintings, prints, and drawings. Occasionally, selections from a primary source document appear, boxed and captioned. Each book concludes with a time line, a glossary, a list of recommended books and Internet sites, and chapter notes. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Library Binding: 128 pages
• Publisher: Enslow Publishers (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0766021475
• ISBN-13: 978-0766021471
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,478,773 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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