Near Jamestown in 1622, a young English boy and the son of a Powhatan Indian chief find themselves caught up in the growing animosity between their peoples.
| |||||||||||||||
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Ruemmler depicts life in early Jamestown, Va., through Thomas, age 13, and Eagle Owl, a 15-year-old Powhatan Indian. Although the year is 1621, their worries parallel modern-day issues: facing racism and bullies, tense parent-child relationships and the vagaries of romance. The boys first meet accidentally, halfway between their neighboring settlements. Thomas initially dislikes this rambunctious fellow who playfully beans him and snatches his just-picked strawberries. Eventually, however--and despite a profound language barrier--they communicate a wish to be friends and serve as a "bridge of understanding between their peoples." Yet their embittered families quash such hopes, and after they witness the mutual destruction reaped by the Massacre of 1622, only familial bonds remain. The novel contains little dialogue and Ruemmler's often monotonous narrative makes for slow reading. His generally stylish writing is heavy on description, and readers may be puzzled by archaic expressions--"went abed early," "on Friday next." But Thomas and Eagle Owl emerge as sympathetic characters, too young and too outnumbered to effect social change. Ages 12-up.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From School Library Journal
Grade 8-11-- With balance and sensitivity, Ruemmler personalizes and humanizes the circumstances leading up to the 1622 massacre of 300 Jamestown colonists by the Powhatans. His fictional account focuses alternately on a young English colonist, Thomas Spencer, and on a Powhatan youth, Eagle Owl. In three brief encounters, they wrestle over Thomas's bucket of strawberries; both boys declare their unspoken friendship by sketching a symbolic rainbow in the earth; and Eagle Owl defies tribal authority by aiding Thomas's escape from the Indians. They separately experience similar coming-of-age trials in their quest for independence. The parallel worlds and lives of the boys conflict, however, as the Indians grow hostile over the takeover of their lands and the colonists grow possessive of their tobacco crops. Through vivid descriptions, rich in historical detail, Ruemmler evokes early colonial life, Indian lore, and the natural setting of Jamestown. Although lengthy descriptions, gradual plot development, and thematic intensity may discourage some readers, students and teachers of American history and literature will find Smoke on the Water a beautifully written, well researched, and valuable source of information on early America. --Gerry Larson, Chewning Junior High School, Durham, NC
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
More About the Author
Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.
Customer Reviews
|
There are no customer reviews yet.
|
|||
|
Video reviews
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
