Streams to the River, River to the Sea

This is a semi-biographical story of the young female guide who accompanied Lewis and Clark on their exploration of the Louisiana territory, back in the early 1800s. The author has done a good job fleshing out the characters and avoiding stereotypes, ultimately providing us an interesting tale based upon the journals of the travelers.

I really loved this telling of Sacagawea's story. It was told first person narrative beginning when she was captured by the Minnetarees, continuing through her potential marriages, her journey with Louis and Clark, and ending just after the journey. I don't know whether she was actually in love with Clark or that was O'Dell's poetic liscence, but the story is fascinating and a very good read. I was enthralled and wanting more.

A young Native American woman, accompanied by her infant and her cruel husband, experiences joy and heartbreak when she joins the Lewis and Clark expedition seeking a way to the Pacific. Sacagawea, a Shashone Indian, guided and interpreted for explorers Lewis and Clarke as they traveled up the Mississippi, but she had adventures long before that one, like the time she was captured by the Minnetarees, and taken away from her family and everything that she knew and loved

Sacagawea, a young Native American woman, accompanied by her infant and her cruel husband, experiences joy and heartbreak when she joins the Lewis and Clark expedition seeking a way to the Pacific.

When young Sacagawea first lays eyes on the white men coming up the river, she cannot imagine the impact they will have on her life - and she on theirs. For the men coming up the river are about to make history, and she is going to help them.

Sacagawea joined the Lewis and Clark team as an interpreter and guide. Her knowledge of the language, land, and people of the unchartered West made her an integral part of their success.

This would be a good book for a close read for middle school students because it will allow for them to dig deeper into the story of Sacagawea and will help them learn about pulling out key details.

What ages would I recommend it too? Fourteen and up.

Length? Most of a days read.

Characters? Memorable, several characters.

Setting? Real world, early 1800's.

Written approximately? 1986.

Does the story leave questions in the readers mind? Ready to read more. However, apparently, there two different futures for Sacagawea, and her children (either one son and one daughter, or multiple children) depending on the historical record read.

Any issues the author (or a more recent publisher) should cover? Yes. There are several places that need review. They don't seem real. In one place, it says they bought dogs for food, and a few pages later, she has never tasted dog. The timing and seasons seem off in several places. Also, the historical record show more took three years, not one as the end of the story says. Not really sure about the accuracy of many of the historical facts.

Short storyline: Sacagawea goes through several trials before her journey on the Lewis and Clark adventure.

Notes for the reader: Questioning some of the historical accuracy of some aspects. Especially, the degradation of women. Not all tribes saw women as cattle as the Europeans did. Women were valued, not abused this way. show less

A brave Indian princess finds adventure and love.. A Novel of Sacagawea