BLOOD ON THE RIVER: JAMES TOWN, 1607 by Elisa Carbone (2006)

Puffin, 2007 edition. 256 pages. ISBN: 0142409324. Named one of School Library Journal's Best Books 2006.

Blood on the River is the story of Samuel Collier, a young orphan boy who, through a series of events, ends up as John Smith’s page on the voyage to the New World. After many adventures on the sea, Samuel arrives in James Town and even more adventure awaits. As Smith’s servent, Samuel is taught many things by the famous adventurer and learns much about both the colonists from England and the Natives that they interact with. Samuel lives through the hardships of those first colonists and the story of Pocahontas as well. As Samuel spends time in the new colony (and on the ship before that) he begins to learn that he cannot live life on his own and that he needs other people to survive. This is one of the most important lessons that Samuel can learn and one that John Smith makes on many occasions. Eventually Samuel learns this lesson and begins to grow and change because of it. —Matthew Hoehamer

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