The Double Life of Pocahontas

Bibliographic information: 

Fritz, Jean.  The Double Life of Pocahontas.  Puffin Books, 1983, p. 96.

Brief plot description:

What is the real story of Pocahontas?  Pocahontas lives in the village of Werowocomoco located in Virginia in 1607 and the English set up a fort at Jamestown.  John Smith is taken captive by Pocahontas’ people and she is to save him from death so that her father can get weapons.  The weapons aren’t given to them and they begin to fight each other.  Powhatan plans to kill John, but his first plan fails.  Pocahontas was kidnapped by the settlers who wanted a ransom, but her father doesn’t send enough.  Pocahontas gave up hope and began to listen more to the Christian ways of the Europeans.  John Rolfe also helped Pocahontas be Christianized or Europeanized.  John Rolfe began to have feelings for Pocahontas but he knew he shouldn’t like her.  Finally John decided he wanted to marry Pocahontas.  What does the rest of Pocahontas’ life include?

Brief review:

I really like this book because it tells in detail the life of Pocahontas, the other natives, and the English settlers.  I think that this book could be used for fifth through eighth grade classes.  It would be good to use when talking about Jamestown or other settlements of the United States by Europeans.  This book could be used in a small group or individually.  The main idea of this book is to show how one woman changed the settlers, and how she changed knowing European ways.  The book does include a note, bibliography, and index that will help the reader understand the book and life of Pocahontas.    

Genre label:

Biography

Reading level/interest level:

5^th- 8^th grade

Character names/descriptions:

Pocahontas- 11 years old

Powhatan- Pocahontas’ father

John Smith- 27 years old

Captain Kocoum – 14 years old; marries Pocahontas

John Rolfe- marries Pocahontas

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac

The Navajo by Geraldine Woods

North American Indian: The Hands- On Approach to History by David Hamilton Murdoch

Awards:

Boston Globe/ Horn Book Nonfiction Award, 1984

ALA Notable Book