The Adventurous Life of Myles Standish and the Amazing-but-True Survival Story of Plymouth Colony

by Cheryl Harness

A short, red-headed and red-faced man with a bold personality, Myles Standish is remembered for his soldierly defense of the Mayflower Pilgrims of Plymouth Colony. But he was just one participant in a legendary struggle for the colony’s survival in a harsh new world. Departing from Holland, the Pilgrims fought off hunger, disease, and terrifying weather to arrive on the northeast coast of North America. Working tirelessly to establish a settlement before the onslaught of winter, the settlers learned how to plant maize from the friendly Indians they encountered, including an invaluable translator they called Squanto and the great chief Massasoit.

But difficulties with other, unfriendly, Indians spurred Myles Standish to stand tall and build a fort to defend their homesteads. This exciting tale of the early settlers and their hard-won triumphs and many tragedies illuminates an important part of American history for young listeners. Acclaimed author Cheryl Harness' enthusiastic interpretation makes the story of the first Thanksgiving fascinating for children and their parents alike.

Genres: History, Biography, American History, Nonfiction, Thanksgiving, School, Childrens

Audible Audio

First published October 10, 2006

About the author

Author and illustrator. Worked variously as a student teacher, waitress, short-order cook, portrait artist, and needlework designer. Greeting-card artist for Hallmark Cards and Current. Presenter at schools.

Reviews

[Andrea M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Pilgrims see the natives of the area waving, but the Indigenous people run off. The Pilgrims are nervous, so they decide to post a watch. John Billington flatly refused to stay up all night on watch. Myles Standish is angry and takes John to the court presided over by John Carver. At the thought of punishment, John promises to be good and John Carver lets him off.

Miles was a soldier and he took his job of defending the colony seriously. He had armor and weapons and he knew how to use them. Every time there was trouble, he went out to talk to the indigenous peoples with his trusted Indigenous friend Hobomok. Most of the time he was able to make a treaty but when other people came to the new world, they messed with the treaties and made things worse.

Miles became the expert in Native languages and a hero to the colonists. He lived a long time and helped the colony pay off the debt to the moneymen who funded their original venture. He was honorable and true.

John Billington became a villain. When he got into a disagreement with a neighbor later in life, he shot his neighbor and was convicted of murder. He could have been a hero just for living in Plymouth colony but instead, he lost it all with his bad temper. He was hung from a tree.

Miles, too, could have been bad tempered. Miles Standish (or Myles, as the old spelling has it) was born in Lancashire, presumably in the family manor house of Duxbury Hall, in the year 1584. The story of his life is simple. The absolute facts upon which it is based are meagre, but enough is known to warrant the assertion that Miles Standish was heir to the name and estates of the Standishes of Lancashire, from which, by some trick not on record, he was, as he sturdily maintained in his will, “surreptitiously" defrauded.

He didn’t let the past destroy his character though he hoped to get his land back someday. From first to last he was the loyal supporter and trusty defender of the Plymouth colony. No danger unnerved him, no duty staggered him. With but eight men he started out, in 1623, to overawe and discourage the Indigenous of Massachusetts--then an unknown and perplexing quantity from obliterating the little colony. Single-handedly he checked an indigenous conspiracy at Weymouth and turned the tables upon the plotters, by himself assassinating the assassins--a deed that saved the colony from massacre. Friendly trade was his priority and together with others he made treaties that allowed for it. The Indigenous people accepted these treaties and gave furs in exchange for goods from Europe.

In the end, he got a land back (but in America not Lancashire) and called the new town Duxbury after his old estate. This was a satisfactory result, because Duxbury was where he and his family called home. Myles came to the new world, not for religious reasons, but stayed for friendship and the common good. This tale brings those days to life in an inspirational tale of courage and hard work. I also liked how old-timers and newcomers alike prayed for rain when they realized that everything depended on the timing of natural events completely out of their control. And their faith was rewarded with a rain that saved the harvest.

[Ruthe Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed every book I have read Cheryl Harness. A part of it is her amazing illustrations, mostly in color. This books was black and white - though they deserved to be in color.

I loved the content of the book - the story of Myles Standish and his role with the Mayflower and subsequent years at Plymouth Plantation.

[Helen Davenport]

Interesting presentation of Myles Standish. Many facts presented throughout the book. Very educational especially for young readers.

[Andrea Renfrow · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the timeline that runs along the bottom of the pages.

[A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exciting tale, hard to believe it really happened.

[Graham Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very very good overview that covers some framework I haven't seen elsewhere. However it's only partly about Standish--maybe 15-20%. Most of it is broadly about Plymouth.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook with my kids. Very informative, but not dull. My kids liked hearing the history in a more informational text and comparing it to historical fiction books we've read.

[Malory · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun biography and non-fiction account of the time period of the Pilgrims. This would be great for mid to upper elementary students. The audio is also well done.

[Gwen Ruebush · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read history that is fun to learn

[Audrey Vinas · Rating 1 out of 5]

Good book for younger kids! I’m reading it as a teen and most parts made me cringe! She says “many a” which started to get on my nerves, so I didn’t like it that much. Would recommend for kids ages 6-10 as long as someone is near by to help with a few words.

[Julie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

written in great “read-aloud” language and has wonderful illustrations. The story is about Miles Standish - a military leader who was hired to go with the pilgrims as they set out to make their way in the New World - but it is not exclusively about him. There are extensive quotes from William Bradford and Edward Winslow - the primary historians of the colony. What I loved most about this book is that it has a running timeline of other world events at the bottom of each page that helps to tell the story of what else was going on in the world as the Pilgrims were striving to establish their colony at Plimoth.

[Amy Dennehy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book was a very informative. This book details the life of George Washington. I also liked how the pictures furthered the text by providing captions and information about his life and accomplishments in the American military and the start of the American government. I think this book would be great to have in a classroom. The content is more mature so it would need to be with children in an older classroom, but the information was excellent. Every student should be informed about George Washington because he was a very important part in making America the way it is today.

[Angela]

A reasonable and documented easy history of new settlement. Picture-based with explanations about fear of the unknown, reciprocal attempts to contact indigenous people; misunderstandings, and background about the Mayflower wave of European settlers. I wanted to find out more about my Mayflower and indigenous roots; some of the answers I sought were here. Others are in a Harvard University Press account of the life of John Elliot, who documents the profound contribution of native peoples to European spiritual life in the New World, and the truly harmonious first 50 years of this experiment.

[Audra · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book in the children's section of the library and picked it up hoping to be able to better explain the pilgrams' history to my son. I learned a lot myself. It is written in a fun style and would be good for a 10 year old and up (but it does referrence a lot of beheadings in England, by the way). It also has a running timeline at the bottom of every page highlighting what was going on in the world at the time.

[Tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great, very readable, history of Myles Standish, the Pilgrims of Plymouth, and--as the cover says, "Much, MUCH More." I was looking for a middle-level book about this topic and was pleasantly surprised at how great this was.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reviewed for VOYA

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book! This book gives a great background to the political and religious background of the Pilgrims. It has a timeline throughout the book that is very helpful. The illustrations are fantastic.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've really enjoyed reading this book to the kids at night. I've even learned some things. It's been one of our favorite pilgrim books so far (second to the one by Rush Limbaugh).

[Marie F · Rating 4 out of 5]

Probably best as a read aloud or for older elementary/advanced young readers... but packed with information, so this could serve as a decent non-fiction source for school children.