Judith Edwards

This book is told through the eyes of one of the young men from Kentucky that explored with Lewis and Clark. Hearing the stories of their training, travels, exploring, and findings feels true and connected from the point of view of someone there, Reubin Field. The book is informational and captivating to keep a young reader enticed by this part of history. I like that the story isn't only about their adventures but it gives the reader background information and what happened after Reubin show more returned home. The story feels more whole and complete set up like this, it reminds the reader that these were real people who lived lives like everyone else and had a great adventure.
The illustrations in this book also help tell the story and make it come alive off the pages entangled with the words. There are normally illustrated pictures that capture what is happening on the page and then there are also illustrations that look like doodles. These doodles are drawn as maps, coordinates, flowers, spears and other things the men may have encountered on their journey and jotted down to keep memory and information from it. This again makes the trip and explorers more real showing things as they saw them and captured them along with seeing the story brought to life in the normal illustrations. show less

With refreshing perspective, Edwards tells the journey of the unfamiliar Corps of Discover, whose leaders, Lewis and Clark, are well-known for scouting the land acquired by Thomas Jefferson through the Louisiana Purchase. The most interesting aspect of the book is the Corps' interactions with Native American groups, how even at this time, the Corps presented Jefferson as a loving father to the indigenous people. Without the help of Native American groups, the Corps of Discovery would have show more died on their journey to the Pacific Ocean. This story appears to be written for older readers, as there is a great deal of information on each page, and I think students would enjoy reading about the near-death experiences of the Corps.

I could use this as supplemental literature in American Literature. The first half of American lit. is nonfiction, and it is kind of dull, so this would help re-engage student interest. show less

I enjoyed reading "The Great Expedition of Lewis and Clark: by Private Reubin Field", but I think it bordered a thin line between narrative nonfiction and actual fiction. The description of the book on the front jacket describes the book as follows: "Focusing on a lesser-known figure from the corps, Judith Edwards has imagined what Reubin's voice might be like, and how he might have told the story of the two-year-and-four-month journey." I found this a bit confusing. How can the story be show more considered nonfiction if the narrator's thoughts were only imagined? This slight confusion aside, I do think the book has potential to capture the interest of young readers, especially those with a penchant for adventure. show less

This story of Lewis and Clark is narrated by a member of the exploration party. The illustrations are greatly detailed but dark. The story itself is energetically relayed. However, the book was less engaging for my children than I had expected. Perhaps, the book is best suited as a supplement to a lesson on Lewis and Clark.