Title: The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Author: Richard L. Neuberger
Series: Landmark Books
Major Themes: Lewis and Clark, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Exploration, Louisiana Purchase
Synopsis: Join the Lewis and Clark Expedition on their famous trip—and feel like you are really there!
I think it has been about 17 years since I first read The Lewis and Clark Expedition. I remember thinking, when I read it to my oldest at that time, what a great book it was. About 4-5 years later, I read it aloud again, to several other children. I enjoyed it again! This year, I got to read it again, to yet a different set of children. What a great account of that expedition, I thought as I read it.
Publisher’s description:
What lay west of St. Louis? In the year 1804, there were only guesses, rumors, and wild tales. The West was alive with terrible monsters, dotted with rock-salt mountains where nothing lived! President Thomas Jefferson wanted the truth, and there was only one way to get it—he would send men to explore “the North American interior.”
To lead the expedition, Jefferson chose his secretary, Captain Meriwether Lewis. Lewis asked William Clark to be his partner. This truly American adventure included Germans, Irish, French, North and South, rich and poor. There was York, a black man as strong as any two of the team, and Sacajawea—the Indian woman who repeatedly saved the expedition.
Most people thought Lewis and Clark’s “Corps of Discovery” would surely fail. Neuberger’s story of how it succeeded, despite every peril, makes a spine-tingling tale for all Americans.
My thoughts:
The Lewis and Clark Expedition tells the story of that famous journey in a way that brings it to life. The descriptions are vivid, but they don’t bog down the story. There is a good balance between serious scenes and humor, and my little girls (ages 11 and 6) loved the story so much that they wanted me to keep reading. This is a wonderful book to use to study Lewis and Clark, or just to read as history/historical fiction. After reading this one again, and reading one or two other old Landmark books again recently, I want to collect all of them that I can.
WARNING: Chapter 3: A man died. Chapter 9: Fight between expedition and Indians.
Age levels:
Listening Level—Ages 5 – 8, 8 – 12, Family Friendly
Reading Independently—Ages 8 – 12
Links to buy this book:
Amazon: Paperback | Hardcover
AbeBooks: View Choices on AbeBooks.com
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