The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark

Bibliographic information: 

Rowland, Della.  The Story of Sacajawea, Guide to Lewis and Clark.  Dell Publishing, 1989, illlus. Leonard, Richard, p. 92. 

Brief plot description:

Sacajawea was known by her people the Shoshoni, as Huichu meaning Little Bird.  She lived in the Bitterroot Mountains and her people were a nomadic people.  Sacajawea was captured by the Minnetarees along with one of her friends and taken across the Great Plains.  She was with this tribe for three years before they sold her to a white trapper to be his wife, Toussaint Charbonneau.  In 1804, the Corps of Discovery visited the Minnetaree and Mandan chiefs for an interpreter.  These choose her; her husband would come with her.  Along the way she gave birth to their son.  They made it to the Shoshoni tribe where she was reunited with several people from her childhood.  Clark was taken to see Cameahwait who is Sacajawea’s brother.  The discussions that went on in the tepee went through four translations before Lewis and Clark could understand.  Where else will the corp go? 

Brief review:

I liked this book because it had great information in it.  The book did seem a bit boring as far as a story, but the information was good.  It has illustrations that are in black and white and are sketches that help tell the story.  The book also contains a table of contents and a map of the journey.  I think that this story could be used for fourth through seventh graders.  I think that it could be used as a guide or resource when studying Sacajawea or the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  I would not suggest reading the whole book all the way through unless one is really interested in learning the facts of Sacajawea and the Corp.

Genre label:

Biography

Reading level/interest level:

4^th- 7^th grade

Similar materials in style content, theme or characters:

Sacajawea by Joseph Bruchac

Sky Dancers by Connie Ann Kirk

Awards:

1990 Maine Student Book Master List