This is the first book I have read from the sub-series My America. The My America series seems to focus more on immigrants or migrants coming to or traveling across America. There are a few differences between these diaries and the others I have been reading. First, this series is for more of a high elementary or beginning middle school reading level. Second, each character has three books to describe their journeys and experiences.
This first diary highlights young Elizabeth's journey and settling in America at the Jamestown colony in 1609. Her tale is full of the struggles that the settlers encountered when first trying to settle there not to mention Pocahontas and Captain John Smith become two of her closest acquaintances. Her story features several deaths of people that Elizabeth knows and one joyful birth of her little sister.
The only thing I did not like about this book was the fact that sometimes it repeats itself or goes off on tangents that I did not find important. This is only personal though. The diary is written perfectly well from the point of view of a nine year old but being an older reader it is hard to put myself in that mind set. Also, I think the Historical Note in the back of the book gives a little too much away to the reader about what the next diary will be about. I guess from a realistic stand point most kids don't read past the end of the novel into things such as Historical Notes. Either way I am interested to see where Elizabeth's story goes from here!
More information on the novel for those of you who are interested
- Reading level: Ages 7 and up
- Mass Market Paperback: 112 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic Inc. (May 1, 2002)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0439368987
- ISBN-13: 978-0439368988
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