J(unior High)* Young Sam Collier has left his father's farm for greater adventures aboard the Susan Constant as a page for Captain John Smith. The ship is sailing for the New World, a place the crew can only dream about. The reader is brought aboard the ship with Sam and his friends, who are constantly wreaking havoc on the decks. Their playfulness adds a unique element to this story. But the journey is not always easy and pleasant. Hardships such as seasickness, fever, disease, and bitter cold weather are suffered on the open seas. Once they finally arrive in Jamestown, life does not become easier. There, the crew is met with several setbacks, including attacks by Algonquin Indians. There is always the question of who will survive and how they will survive. Sam is one of the lucky ones.
This story, told from a boy's perspective, gives a unique look into part of the nation's history. Readers of historical fiction will enjoy reading about his courage in an unsettling time. It is apparent that Karwoski spent a great deal of time researching this time period. A great learning tool for middle school teachers to use as a supplement to the study of early settlers and settlements. --Shaunna S. Silva, Teacher, St. James School, Biddeford, ME
