Pocahontas

by Joseph Bruchac

Book Overview

In 1607, when John Smith and his "Coatmen" arrive in Powhatan to begin settling the colony of Virginia, their relations with the village's inhabitants are anything but warm. Pocahontas, the beloved daughter of the Powhatan chief, Mamanatowic, is just eleven; but in spite of her age, this astute young girl acts with wisdom and compassion, and plays a fateful, peaceful role in the destinies of two peoples.
Drawing from the personal journals of John...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0152054650
• ISBN13: 9780152054656
• Release Date: October 2005
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 0.38 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

5th Graders Review

I REALLY LIKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT GOES BACK IN TIME WHEN THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. I FOR ONE LIKED THE PART WHERE POCAHONTAS HAS TO HELP HER BROTHER PRACTICE FOR HUNTING BY THROWING FRISBEES UP IN THE AIR AND HIM TRYING TO SHOOT THEM WITH HIS ARROWS. I ALSO LIKED THE PART WHERE THE CHIEF (POCAHONTAS' DAD) AND SOME OF HIS MEN GO TO TRY TO MAKE PEACE WITH THE COATMEN. MY FAVORITE PART WAS WHEN POCAHONTAS GOES WITH HER DAD TO SEE THE COATMEN AND TRY TO TALK WITH THEM. I ALSO LIKED THIS BOOK BECAUSE IT IS LIKE HISTORY IN A FUN KIND OF WAY. IT TALKS ABOUT WHEN INDIANS AND WHITE MEN ARE TRYING TO MAKE PEACE AND HOW JOHN SMITH AND HIS COATMEN FOUND LAND. I REALLY THINK THAT ALMOST EVERY ONE WILL LIKE THIS BOOK BECAUSE YOU ARE LEARNING HISTORY IN A FUN WAY. AND I RECOMENDED THIS BOOK FOR EVERYONE BECAUSE IT GOES BACK IN TIME AND HOW THINGS RELLY WORKED A LONG TIME AGO AND BECAUSE OF HOW FUN THIS BOOK IS TO READ. I AM IN THE 5TH GRADE AND I LIKE THIS BOOK A LOT!

Loved it

I really enjoyed this book, particularly the way it gives you both Pocohontas' and Smith's point of view, and I thought it was really fair and insightful about both sides. The only thing about the Smith chapters I didn't like was that, in the beginning, they went off on so many tangents it was confusing. While that may have been true to character, it made it harder to read. Last, I wish the book were longer! I would have liked to read on about what happened to Pocahontas after Smith left.

True story of Pocahontas

I really enjoyed this book and it has inspired me to do more research on the early days of Virginia. I liked the alternating tales of the eleven year old Pocahontas, and the woeful John Smith, who was somewhat of an egomaniac if one is to believe the author, who took the story from Smith's own diaries. It, of course, dispells all the romantic fantasies of Pocahontas saving Smith's life. In fact, she married John Rolfe, not Smith. For all his complaining about being mistreated for his lack of family connections, John Smith probably was the hero he portrays himself to be. Otherwise it seems Jamestown would have failed miserably. Some of the most interesting details involve the infighting, which at times turns deadly, the treason, selfishness, and other human faults and frailties revealed in Smith's accounts. Readers will also enjoy the story of the eleven year old Pocahontas, and the "royal" lifestyle she enjoys as her father's favorite daughter.

Pocahontas a review by Jocelyn

Do you like early ages? Then you should read this book called Pocahontas by Flora Warren Seymour because it will encourage you to read books about Native Americans and early ages. The protagonist, Pocahontas, is a little girl whose nick name is "Playful Girl" and she's always curious about things beyond her village. A favorite part of mine was when John and Pocahontas first become friends. When they let two bald eagles go free in the soaring wind full of colorful breezes, I almost felt as if I was there. I also liked the scene when they fall in love while they were running through the woods with a pack of fawns. Finally, my last favorite scene was when Pocahontas saves John, the pale face warrior, from being killed by her father, Po-Hawton. She saved him by running up to her father a saying "I'm a Princess and Princesses get what they want, and I want him!" He was about to get killed because John's whole crew and his bigger boss invaded the Indians. I really encourage you to read the book Pocahontas because it will help you learn about how the Native Americans.