Sacajawea [Hardcover]

Joseph Bruchac (Author)

Book Description

Series: Lewis & Clark Expedition | Publication Date: March 1, 2000

Captured by her enemies, married to a foreigner, and a mother at age sixteen, Sacajawea lived a life of turmoil and change. Then in 1804, the mysterious young Shoshone woman known as Bird Woman met Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Acting as interpreter, peacemaker, and guide, Sacajawea bravely embarked on an epic journey that altered history forever. Hear her extraordinary story, told by Sacajawea and by William Clark, in alternating chapters and including parts of Clark's original diaries. •Authentic telling by an American Book Award winner and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Native Writers Circle of The Americas •Includes a black-and-white map showing Lewis and Clark's trail •Told in the compelling voices of Sacajawea and William Clark—in alternating chapters—for two unique viewpoints •Sacajawea will be commemorated in the year 2000 with a U.S. Treasury dollar coin bearing her likeness

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

"We are to ascend the Missouri River with a boat as far as is navigable and then to go by land, to the western ocean, if nothing prevents."

With these words from one of the members of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's Corps of Discovery, the men embark on their fateful journey. Encountering danger, hardship, and excitement along the way, Lewis and Clark carry out their plan of attempting to bring peace to the various Indian nations while exploring the western part of the continents. One of the most important moments on this great expedition comes when they meet Sacajawea, a Shoshone woman who becomes translator, peacemaker, caretaker, and guide--and an invaluable member of the Corps.

Told in alternating points of view by Sacajawea and Clark, this historical novel will rivet every reader, history buff or not. Including excerpts from Clark's and Lewis's journals as well as traditional Shoshone tales, the often-humorous, always compelling story inspires, educates, and entertains. Joseph Bruchac has written more than 60 books for children and adults, and received many literary awards, including the PEN Syndicated Fiction Award and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Native Writers' Circle of the Americas. (Ages 13 and older) --Emilie Coulter

From Publishers Weekly

Bruchac's (The Arrow Over the Door) intimate novel about Lewis and Clark's epic Western exploration unfolds through the alternating voices of Sacajawea, their Shoshone interpreter, and Clark. Sacajawea's now-grown son, Pomp (Jean Baptiste Charbonneau), introduces the two narrators, explaining that Shoshone custom dictates that "one can tell only what they have seen"; since he was not yet born at the beginning of the adventure, he recounts the tale as it was told to him. Sacajawea's chapter follows, opening with a creation tale of the "great flood"--each of her chapters begins with either Shoshone tales or those of other tribes the crew encounters, and many function as cautionary fables; relevant journal entries introduce Clark's chapters. This framing device results in a few contrived references in the narrative (e.g., "The fur trade, Pomp, can make a brave man rich or cost him his life," says Clark), and the assumption that Pomp already knows the story occasionally diminishes the suspense. But Bruchac builds the alternating chapters chronologically and keeps the pace moving. Both narrators recount intriguing cultural nuances; for example, when a deserter from the expedition is recovered, the Otoes Indians plead the white man's case, arguing that it would be better to kill him than humiliate him with a public whipping. The greatest strength of the novel, however, is Sacajawea's voice, enhanced by the lyrical repetition of traditional storytelling ("It was the Moon when the Leaves Fall from the Cottonwoods," she recalls of the day she first sees Lewis and Clark). The author adheres closely to journals kept by members of the expedition, creating characters who are both lifelike and compelling, at a fascinating juncture in history. Ages 12-up. (Mar.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 199 pages
• Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books; 1st edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0152022341
• ISBN-13: 978-0152022341
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,048,032 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Joseph Bruchac is a highly acclaimed Abenaki children's book author, poet, novelist and storyteller, as well as a scholar of Native American culture. Coauthor with Michael Caduto of the bestselling Keepers of the Earth series, Bruchac's poems, articles and stories have appeared in over 500 publications, from Akwesasne Notes and American Poetry Review to National Geographic and Parabola. He has authored more than 50 books for adults and children. For more information about Joseph, please visit his website www.josephbruchac.com.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good historical fiction, September 16, 2000

By 

"mollycc" (Colorado, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacajawea (Hardcover)

I really enjoyed this book! I have always found the Lewis and Clark expedition to be fascinating, and this book combines the viewpoints of William Clark and Sacajawea. The two are telling their tales of the expedition to Sacajawea's son, and the story includes Native American legends as well as actual excerpts from William Clark's trip journals. I would recommend this book to any teens interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!! A joy to read., July 20, 2001

By 

Anne G. Williams (Huntington Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sacajawea (Hardcover)

I think one of the best things about this version of the Lewis and Clark story is the way the author alternated chapters by Sacajawea and Captain Clark. The whole book is told as a collections of stories for Sacajawea's son, Pomp, who was a favorite of Captain Clark. Their separate characters and backgrounds, American and Indian, shine through their versions of the memorable moments of the voyage to the Pacific Ocean and back.

This may be listed as a book for children, but it should not be labeled for any particular age group. Adults will enjoy it too.

The book so clearly points out the great optimisim of the early explorers that led them through dangerous situations with such confidence. The reliance upon actual texts from the participants of the voyage make this a very authentic story.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just for teens, February 13, 2001

By A Customer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sacajawea (Hardcover)

I got this book for my 10 year old daughter, but I picked it up and found I couldn't put it down. It was a wonderfully entertaining story full of historical detail, and as told from the 2 points of view, Clark and Sacagawea, it just came alive in my mind. Joseph Bruchac tells a fascinating story and educates at the same time. I highly recommend this book for teens as well as adults.