James Towne: Struggle for Survival

This moving account of James Towne's difficult early years is told from the viewpoint of one of its settlers and enhanced by original quotations.
During the first summer of 1607, half the James Towne colony died; food was scarce, and the settlers battled oppressive heat and sickness. Over the next few years, supply ships from England became the colony's lifeline, as they brought much-needed stores of food and carried back offerings from the new land, as well as the settlers' homesick letters.
Conditions began to improve when Captain John Smith was elected president of the colony, and James Towne soon doubled in size. While some of the settlers had been reluctant to work, Smith required participation from all, and the colonists began to take pride in improving their conditions. Furthermore, by learning the native language and befriending a Native American girl named Pocahontas, Smith was able to establish, temporarily, an uneasy peace between the settlers and the natives whose land they had taken.
As new settlers began to arrive from England though, the resources of the budding colony were strained, and in the autumn of 1609 the colony suffered a Starving Time. Deciding to abandon James Towne at last, the colonists headed back toward England, only to have their journey intercepted by a messenger, who informed the settlers that new leaders sent by the King were due to arrive in the flailing colony any day, and urged them to return.
Not for long after their arrival, the discouraged James Towne colonists were met by a new governor and a ship full of healthy passengers with enough supplies and hope to work together to ensure James Towne's survival.

Author: Marcia Sewall
Publisher: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published: 05/01/2001
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.06lbs
Size: 10.32h x 10.33w x 0.42d
ISBN: 9780689818141
Audience: Ages 4-8

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 6.2
Point Value: 0.5
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 51221 / James Towne: Struggle for Survival


Award: Parents Choice Award (Fall) (1998-2007) - Winner


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Review - Children 05/01/2001 pg. 666
Horn Book Magazine 07/01/2001 pg. 477
Ingram Children's Advance 05/01/2001 pg. 66
Booklist 06/01/2001 pg. 1872
Publishers Weekly 07/09/2001 pg. 70
School Library Journal 06/01/2001 pg. 141
Hornbook Guide to Children 01/01/2001 pg. 438 - Superior,Well Above Average
Hornbook Guide to Children 07/01/2001 pg. 438 - Superior,Well Above Average

About the Author
Marcia Sewall is the author and illustrator of many award-winning books
for children, including Pilgrims of Plimoth, winner of the 1986 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Nonfiction; People of the Breaking Day; Thunder From the Clear Sky; and, most recently, Nickommoh!, written by Jackie French Koller. She is a graduate of Brown University and has studied and taught at various art schools. She currently lives in Boston, Massachusetts.


This title is only available via back order