Squanto's Journey

Review of Squanto’s Journey

A book written by Joseph Bruchac

A. Book Information

Bruchac, Joseph. Illus. by Shed, Greg. 2000. Orlando, Florida: Harcourt, INC. ISBN 0-15-201817-4.

B. Plot Summary

The story of the first Thanksgiving is related to children in America each November, but that story is seldom told from the Native American point of view. This book accomplishes just that. This book tells the story of Squanto of the Wampanoag tribe, who escaped slavery in Spain and made his way back home, only to find so many of his friends and family dead due to the “great illness.” Squanto became an interpreter and guide for the English, showing them how to care for the land and hunt. It was because of Squanto and others like him that the Pilgrims were able to feast with the native people of the land with food bountiful and plenty.

C. Critical Analysis

Joseph Bruchac is himself a person of Native American New England descent, but he says, “Being Indian does not mean that you automatically know about all things Native American.” Joseph Bruchac researched this story, consulting a Wampanoag scholar and the Plimoth Plantation, the living history museum.

In this story we hear Squanto’s tale, “My story is both strange and true…,” and indeed it is. It is strange and true that almost 400 years later, we are just now starting to get the story straight, and this book helps. One day in 1614 a boat with white men entered his people’s bay. One of the ship’s captains, Thomas Hunt invited Squanto and 20 other men to a feast on the boat, but he held them captive and took them to Spain where he sold them as slaves. This book recounts the truth that many of the white people who came to the New Land treated Native Americans unfairly. It also shows a strong leader in Squanto, who upon returning to his homeland was able to forgive and treat each white person he encountered as an individual. “I came to see that these pilgrims could be our friends and we theirs. Together we might make our home on this land given to us by the Creator of All Things.”

The wisdom of the Native American people is shown as they teach the white people to care for the land and use fertilizer, “Bury those fish in the earth and they will feed the corn.”

This is a traditional recount of a Native American, and his clothes represent such. In Greg Shed’s illustrations Squanto has a dark mahogany skin tone, chiseled features, and wears simple clothes, presumably made of hide. He is adorned with one feather in his long hair and carries tools around his neck.

In this book some terms from Squanto’s language are used such as “pniese”—someone who is expected to be a man of great honor and courage. Bruchac uses a glossary at the back of the book to further explain the terms he has chosen for inclusion.

This book is a great addition to every class, school, public or home library. One can only hope that more teachers will read this book around Thanksgiving time and set the brown paper bag Indian vests free!

D. Review Excerpts

From School Library Journal
Grade 2-5-A picture book that focuses on the young Indian who helped the Pilgrims survive the brutality of the New England winter. When he was 24, an English captain abducted Squanto along with 20 of his tribesmen and took them to Spain to be sold as slaves. Spanish friars helped him escape to England where he learned the language and dreamed of going back to his native land. When he finally returned, he served as translator and mediator between the English colonists and the other Indian tribes. He convinced Samoset, a sachem of the Pemaquid, to accept and work with the white settlers. It was this cooperation that helped the tiny Plymouth Colony to survive. Many authors have given the Native American credit for his role in the survival of the colony. What distinguishes this first-person account is the authenticity of detail. In his author's note, Bruchac describes the research that he used to flesh out the story with dates and names. However, because of the wealth of facts, the text has a stilted quality. Shed's full-page gouache illustrations are beautifully executed in golden, autumnal tones. There is a richness of detail in the pictures that echoes the passion for historical accuracy in costume and interior-and-exterior dwellings. However, the full-bled illustrations tend to overwhelm the text and the uniformity of their size and placement can become somewhat tedious. Still, most libraries will want to own this version.
Barbara Buckley, Rockville Centre Public Library, NY

Review accessed at:

http://www.amazon.com/Squantos-Journey-Story-First-Thanksgiving/dp/0152060448/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4518657-7306245?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1183740133&sr=8-1

E. Connections

Other books for young people by Joseph Bruchac.

· A Boy Called Slow. ISBN 069811616X

· Between Earth & Sky: Legends of Native American Sacred Places. ISBN 0152020624

· How Chipmunk Got His Stripes. ISBN 0142500216