"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 School Library Journal
Grade 7 Up-Joseph Bruchac's fascinating story (Harcourt, 2000) of the life of the woman who was pivotal to the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition is an outstanding example of historical fiction told from mutliple perspectives. The alternating voices of Sacajawea and Captain William Clark (Nicolle Littrell and Michal Rafkin), as well as excerpts from Clark's journals, illustrate the tremendous hardships faced by the Corps of Discovery along with the exhiliration of exploring new territory and encountering other cultures. In its well-crafted written format, readers can easily follow the narrative flow. The recorded version suffers from several defects that detract significantly from the pleasure of listening to it. The most noticeable is that Littrell's cadences and voice inflection have a distinctly sing-song quality that, while meant to convey the fact that English was a second language for Sacajawea, merely becomes annoying to the ear because they are so pronounced. In addition, the Native American stories (often featuring Coyote, the Trickster) at the beginning of many of the book's chapters are difficult to distinguish from the main text.
Cindy Lombardo, Orrville Public Library, OH
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Like Scott O'Dell's Streams to the River: River to the Sea (1986), this novel offers a vivid account of the famous guide's life, but this time, Sacajawea's first-person chapters are interspersed with those narrated by William Clark. The prologue begins in the voice of Sacajawea's grown son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, or "Pomp," who was an infant on the trip, and it is to him that his mother and "uncle" address their stories, which begin before Sacajawea joined the group and end after the journey was completed. Readers may find the introductions to each chapter distracting (Clark's begin with an excerpt from his actual diary, archaic spelling and language intact; Sacajawea's begin with a traditional Native American tale), and kids not drawn to adventure stories may grow weary of the detailed descriptions of the group's struggle and hardship navigating the rough terrain. But the alternating voices offer a fascinating, measured blend of cultural perspectives, creating a fuller impression of the extraordinary trip, and the social and historical climate in which it was undertaken. An extensive author's note discusses the fictionalizing process and cites source material. Gillian Engberg
Review
[star] An engaging book to share with young adults, who will find it all the more fascinating to learn that Sacajawea was a teenager when she made history with Lewis and Clark.” School Library Journal (starred) A grand adventure and an inspiration that is not to be missed.” Kirkus Reviews
From the Back Cover
At age sixteen, Sacajawea is married, a mother, and has been taken from her Shoshone people. She has been asked to join Lewis and Clark in their expedition to explore the land from the Mississippi to the Pacific Ocean. As a translator, peacemaker, caretaker, and guide, young Sacajawea alone will make the historic journey of Lewis and Clark possible.This captivating novel, which is told in alternating points of view -- by Sacajawea herself and by William Clark -- is a unique blend of history and humanity. It provides an intimate glimpse into what it would have been like to witness firsthand this fascinating time in our history. This is Sacajawea's legendary journey . . .
About the Author
JOSEPH BRUCHAC is a poet, storyteller, and author of more than sixty books for children and adults who has received many literary honors, including the American Book Award and the PEN Syndicated Fiction Award. He is of Abenaki and Slovak heritage, and lives in Greenfield Center, New York.
