Pocahontas Books

This is a captivating tale of the Powhatans and their Pocahontas, or Matoaka as she was known. Born the daughter of the powerful Powhatan, it's almost as though she were placed by providence at the juncture of the English and the eastern woodlands Indians.

Just ten when the Jamestown settlers arrived in 1607, she became early known for her cheer and joy in seeking friends amongst the colonists. But clashes came, and her aging father sought to expel the settlers, and almost succeeded, with the help the colonists' starvation and disease. Three years after their arrival, the colony was abandoned, the departing ships at the mouth of the James waiting for the morning tide to carry them to England.

The relief ships pulled into view at that instant, a miraculous event, and Jamestown survived, and in time established a firm foothold in Virginia. Clashes with the Powhatans continued, however, and the colonists captured Pocahontas as a hostage against the relief of the Indian-held English captives. In her captivity, which seems to have been a friendly one, she was converted to Christianity-- the stories of her memorizing the various church liturgies are dear-- and married the young colonist John Rolfe. Her father agreed to abandon his war against the settlers, and indeed touchingly sent a string of fresh water pearls for her wedding and deeded land to Rolfe. There were to be eight years of peace following their union.

The Virginia Company saw advantage to her traveling to London with her new husband, and by then young Thomas Rolfe, their child. They arrived in England in 1616, and she was received as royalty by King James and Queen Ann, and met many of the English notables of the day. But the climate took its toll, and she succumbed to tuberculosis or smallpox on the very eve of their departure for Virginia. She died in Gravesend in Kent County, and lies today in the little St. George's Churchyard there.

Her monument is the peace which allowed the English the final foothold in Virginia, in spite of its eventual price on the Indians. Barely twenty when she died, she is recalled as a sprightly girl, an evocation of an America long gone.

Woodward's book is filled with details and documentation, and well worth a five-star read! What she omits, however, is that Pocahontas is survived by thousands of American descendants today, each carrying her memory in their blood as the 400th anniversary of that first north American colony nears.

This was my daughter's FIRST Colorforms book. She loved it. Her favorite Disney animal character is Meeko. She learned quite a bit about art and design from this book. It was short and concise, not too overwhelming.

I always wondered if I'm a descendant of Pocahontas since I saw this book.

The graceful drawings by Glen Keane, one of Disney's finest animators, are brought to life in this beautiful flip book from Disney's 33rd full-length animated film, Pocahontas. Flip one way to see a full-colour scene from the film of Pocahontas and Meeko in the forest, then turn the book over and flip again to see an action scene with John Smith! One of the best in a series of flip books from Disney's most recently animated films, this book is ideal for Pocahontas fans and Disney collectors alike. For more of Glen Keane's animation, see `Disney's Tarzan: An Animated Flip Book.'

Tilton explores the role of Pocahontas and the "Indian Princess" legend in creating white elite identity and legitimizing the stealing of Indian lands. The claim of descent from an Indian Princess is very popular among many whites. Tilton argues that is a way of saying that we didn't steal the land but inherited it.

Here's another interesting quote from Tilton:

"...for many base wretches amongst us take up with negro women, by which means the country swarms with mulatto bastards, and these mulattoes, if but three generations removed from the black father or mother, may, by the indulgence of the laws of the country, intermarry with the white people, and actually do every day so marry. Now, if instead of this abominable practice which hath polluted the blood of many amongst us, we had taken Indian wives in the first place, it would have made them some compensation for their lands. ...We should become rightful heirs to their lands and should not have smutted our blood..."

The Rev. Peter Fontaine of Virginia, 1757.

Why do even the "liberals" among us accept the idea that one can be "white" and partially American Indian but tacitly accept the ridiculous notion that a white person with the same amount of black ancestry is only "passing for white"? Is it really because Indians had land and blacks had nothing? This book gives you plenty to think about.

The author carefully examines all the evidence of the life of Pocahontas - through anthopological, psychological, sociological analysis as well as the historical record. Of course much of what is commonly known is taken from the extensive and self-serving journals of John Smith, which the author takes with an appropriate grain of salt.

This is an excellent antidote to the Disney version and a must-read for students of pre-colonial U.S. history.

This book provide a fantastic glimpse of what life was really like in Jamestown in the very early days, as well as what sort of political milieu was present in tidewater Virginia at the time of settlers' arrival.

This book is in the series the library of American Lives and Times and describes the time of Pocahontas. This realistic portrayal for older elementary should give students a different version of history from the cartoon versions. Realistic artwork adds to the authenticity. The teacher may want to assign students to write a diary, while pretending they are Pocahontas (or another historical figure from the period).

For this second grade teacher, this was THE best children's non-fiction book on the Powhatan people. All the cultural attributes are covered about this complex society (food, shelter, clothing, transportation) and accompanying illustrations and photos are wonderful.

Quarter-Acre Of Heartache is a history of the survival of the Golden Hill Tribe in Trumbull Connecticut told in the words of Chief Big Eagle, spokesman for the oldest and smallest Indian reservation in America. In order to survive, Big Eagle and the tribe have endured many daunting legal, social and physical challenges. A history of injustice unfolds in the words of Big Eagle. Will it continue or will it be reconciled? The victory of building a traditional log cabin on the site of the Golden Hill reservation only comes after incredible legal and personal challenges and delays and more delays. Many black and white photos enrich the biographical text taken by Claude Clayton Smith. In the afterword by the author, it is stated that the entire " question of jurisdiction has been reopened with a new intensity, and the Indian tribes of Connecticut continue to squabble among themselves, as they did over three hundred years ago, while trying to unite in the face of the white man's rule (p. 168)." For varied audiences.

I can't really review this book because I haven't read it! However, my seven year old grand-daughter became totally absorbed in it and taught her six year old brother to play chess! They abandoned all other games for chess during their entire visit at our house.