Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626 (Paperback)

~ (Author, Illustrator) "The Sparrowhawk's crew set sail October 12 from London in hopes of reaching Jamestown, Virginia..." (more)
Key Phrases: Master Brewster, Mistress Brewster, Captain Sibsey (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Illustrated with splendid handcolored woodcuts, this fictional diary of a 13-year-old boy "gives readers a rich taste of daily life in a Pilgrim colony," said PW. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 2-6-When the good ship Sparrowhawk is wrecked near Plymouth in 1626, a 13-year-old indentured orphan passenger is lodged with Elder William Brewster's family until his journey to Jamestown can continue. This is Christopher Sears's account of his stay there, written in journal form in comfortably large print and liberally illustrated with handsome colored woodcuts. His entries offer brief yet penetrating glimpses of Pilgrim life and his own hopes and fears, and his conversational narrative provides easily absorbed information on early American food, housing, religion, clothing, family life, and the local Indians. The strict Puritans of stocks and eight-hour Sabbath services are here, as are the fun-loving, dancing and drinking Pilgrims and "Strangers" of the colony. The youthful voice and observations, in language that is a remarkable blend of clarity and period flavor, provide a more intimate and involving picture of the period than more straightforward factual accounts. However, while there are many facts here-indeed, young readers might mistakenly assume that the journal itself is a historical document-there are no sources or notes. Bowen plays with the timing of at least one incident, and it would be interesting to know where any other liberties have been taken. Also, unfamiliar terms appear and their meanings are not always deducible from the context. Still and all, this is a lively, quality addition. Marcia Sewall's The Pilgrims of Plimoth (Atheneum, 1986) is more straightforward, is told in quainter language, and is illustrated with expressionistic paintings.
Nancy Palmer, The Little School, Bellevue, WA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Paperback: 88 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (September 30, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0064407195
• ISBN-13: 978-0064407199
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #419,646 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, but has a couple of errors., October 22, 1999

By	Susan J.Durand "rdurand" (Whitman, MA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Stranded at Plimoth Plantation 1626 (Hardcover)

I read this book, from our school library, to a class of third-graders. We are located near Plymouth and I read this as a prelude to our class trip to Plimoth Plantation.

It was interesting and gave some good insights into life in Plymouth in 1626. However, there were a couple of glaring errors. The boy in the story spoke of a visit from Squanto. This would have been impossible since Squanto died in 1622. Also, the author refers to the Pilgrims as Puritans in two or three different places in the story. The Pilgrims who came here for religious reasons refered to themselves as "Saints." The Puritans came to Massachusetts in 1630. The author should also explain, in the story, why March 25th was considered to be "New Year's Day." On March 25th, the date in the journal changed from 1626 to 1627.

The artwork was very interesting, presented in the form of woodcuts. This was tied into the story as the boy telling the story was making these woodcuts.

It's an interesting story and very informative. I would recommend this book to anyoe who would like to see what life was like in "Olde Plimoth."

4.0 out of 5 stars MASTERFUL WOODCUT ILLUSTRATIONS, April 19, 2004

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

Superbly illustrated with masterful woodcuts, Stranded at Plimouth Plantation is a thoroughly researched account of everyday life on the Plimouth Plantation.

The journal of Christopher Sears, a 13-year-old orphan who is stranded after a shipwreck, is the starting point for this story of courage and excitement.

An apt lesson in history for young readers.