SACAJAWEA: The Girl Nobody Knows

by Neta Lohnes Frazier ‧ RELEASE DATE: Sept. 1, 1967

Sacajawea is well-known; what she did is uncertain. Using original Journals and other primary sources, Neta Frazier attempts a reconstruction of the famous 1805 exploration, ferreting out the role SacaJawea played, Carefully, the author draws the picture of an Indian girl married to a bombastic French trader, a somewhat disobedient yet faithful wife and a devoted mother. Although Sacajawea withstood the hardships of the expedition as well as any man, it would be an exaggeration to say that she was its sole guide and savior. She was able to help out the party at a crucial time, but only because the Shoshone chief from whom the white men required food coincidentally was her brother; at another time she cut herself off from her own people by revealing their plans to Lewis and Clark. Mrs. Frazier admits all historical controversies surrounding Sacajawea's name, her friendship with Clark, and her fate after the expedition; ultimately she takes sides, backing up her opinions with well-documented information. Sacajawea is still a mystery, but this scholarly attempt at solution will be interesting to older girls (and would be to boys except for the trite title).

Pub Date: Sept. 1, 1967

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: McKay

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1967

Categories: NONFICTION