Squanto’s Journey

By: Joseph Bruchac

Genre: Biography

Grade Level: 3-5

            Have you ever wondered what the First Thanksgiving was like from a Native American’s point of view? Squanto’s Journey is about Squanto a member of the Patuxet tribe and the Pilgrims.  Squanto was born into a family of leaders in 1590.  In 1614 he and more than 20 friends were invited to a feast on Thomas Hunt’s ship for a feast. They were tricked into being taken as captives. Hunt took them to Spain where they were sold as slaves. Squanto started to learn the language and told them that he wanted to go home. The Friar helped him get to England and in March of 1619 he sailed back to New England with Thomas Dermer. The Englishmen’s ships were being attack when they came to shore for what they did. Squanto wanted to speak with the Indians to trade in peace. When he got back he learned of an illness that was brought by the white traders. The illness had killed off him whole family and everyone that was close to him.  Together Thomas Dermer and he worked to make friendly contact with Nemasket and Pokanoket. Still one tribe’s powerful members thought of the Englishmen as serpents. In 1620 the Englishmen invited more Indians for a party on their ship and the White men shot the Indians. Squanto and Thomas went to the island of Capawack where Epanow and his warriors attacked them. Many English were killed and Thomas was injured.  Thomas was able to escape but Squanto was taken as captive and given to the Pokanoket as a prisoner.  That November the Mayflower reached shore. Squanto spoke to Massasoit the sachem of the Pokanoket and told him to befriend the English. He did not listen but watched the English all winter. Samoset the sachem of the Permaquid people came to visit and the next day March 16, 1621 went to the English settlement. He welcomed them and was given a coat and food he stayed the night.  On March 22, 1621 Squanto and Samoset went to Squanto’s old village which was now called Plymouth. He was freed from the Pokanoket to be an interpreter for the English and taught them how to plant and hunt.  The Englishmen harvested a lot of food and invited Squanto and his people for a feast which became known as the First Thanksgiving.

            I would put this book in my classroom library for many reasons. The author Joseph Bruchac is a scholar of the Native American culture. In the back of the book he has an author’s note which gives facts about the Native Americans, Pilgrims and the First Thanksgiving. He also has a glossary for terms that students would not know.  Squanto is worthy of a biography because he was a huge part of the First Thanksgiving, without him it might not have happened. The author uses exacts dates, settings and characters throughout the book. All of the characters are portrayed as they would be in a history book. He even used the exact names and terms that the Native American’s used. All of the events are based on fact and help the readers to understand Squanto’s story. It is very interesting because most books out there are on the Pilgrims point of view. I think this book could be used in a lesson on the First Thanksgiving. It is a fun way for students to learn about the important figures during this event. The pictures are also amazing in the book. The illustrator presents Squanto as you would imagine him to be like.  

This book follows the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks 7 Beginning Reading, 8 Understanding a Text, 9 Making Connections, and 10 Genre. The students will be able to understand the written and spoken language of the story and the time period. The students will also be able to identify ideas of the story. They will also be able to make connections with The First Thanksgiving especially if they celebrate Thanksgiving. The students will be able to understand the genre that this story applies to which is a biography of Squanto.