In 1607, after two failed attempts to settle on Roanoke Island, English settlers established a colony at Jamestown. By 1625, over 8,500 people had migrated to Virginia, though 7,200 of them died of starvation, warfare and disease. Though they never achieved their original goals of finding gold, a northwest passage or the settlers of the Lost Colony, they did pave the way for future, more successful, settlements. It’s a fascinating story of adventure, conflict and even cannibalism, and Cooper’s use of Captain John Smith’s own accounts and reproductions of drawings and watercolors by John White, one of the early settlers, makes this volume special. An unfortunate misspelling of the word Croatan will be noted in an erratum and corrected in future editions. Internet sites and a very brief selection of additional readings for young people are included, as are a list of Algonquin words that became common English words and a two-page description of Powhatan’s people by settler George Percy. Clear writing, attractive layout and brevity make this a fine account of early colonization. (maps, time line, source notes, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 8-12)
