Pocahontas

On My Own Biography

by Shannon Zemlicka, Shannon Knudsen, Jeni Reeves (Illustrator)

As the young daughter of a powerful Powhatan leader, Pocahontas befriended the English settlers in Jamestown, Virginia. Although she helped them survive their difficult first years, and she may have saved settler John Smith's life, they took Pocahontas captive. After her release, Pocahontas married an English settler and journeyed to England. Although she was just twenty-one years old when she died, Pocahontas changed American history through her compassion and friendship.

Genres: Nonfiction

48 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

About the author

This author also writes as Shannon Knudsen.

Reviews

[Jean Petrillo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Zemlicka's edition of On My Own Biography series with illustrations by Jeni Reeves is a good example of a beginning biography for elementary students, grades 2 to 4. The subject is a famous person with a history that is not really known. As the author says, there are stories and legends about her that are discussed, but the author tries to stick to the facts. The illustrations are lovely but very two dimensional and monochromatic. They do follow the text and show what might have been happening at that time. Pocahontas' relationship with John Smith is covered, as well as her strength in character to help the English, even though they do not return the favor. She does eventually marry John Rolfe and move to England. Her actions bring peace but she sacrifices herself in the process. A sad story that is not at all like the Disney film. Important to share with students to begin to understand the complicated subject of indigenous people and colonization.

[Desi A · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not equipped to evaluate the accuracy by any means but the author did a good job of talking about what we do and do not know about Pocahantas and dispelling various myths that have entered into common knowledge (eg the part where she is said to have saved John Smith’s life).

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

After years of confusion due to the popular cartoons in my childhood, this book was a sight for sore eyes. This book gave me the facts and straightened out everything that Disney led astray in my mind. Thanks to this book, I finally have a sense of peace about certain events, even if they will never be fully explained.

See my other reviews at:

[Aneesa · Rating 4 out of 5]

[exciting story]
Me: Pocahontas was brave.
7yo: Really brave.
[turns page]
Book: But it may not have really happened at all.

I did appreciate the transparency about how we don't know nearly as much about Pocahontas as we like to think we do.

[Elisabeth Ensor · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book overall but several times it hinted at what Pocahontas was feeling, but yet they ultimately didn’t know? It seemed an odd inclusion of a story about her- like they wanted to tell the story but didn’t have the historical documents to include her feelings! It was mildly interesting.

[Teri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good!