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1609: Winter of the Dead: A Novel of the Founding of Jamestown
Nathaniel and Richard are delighted when Captain John Smith hires them as laborers aboard a ship bound for the New World. They will discover gold! Instead, they find that Virginia is a land of both beauty and terrible hardship. If starvation does not kill them, bitter cold night might.
192 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
60 people want to read
About the author
Elizabeth Massie
179 books161 followersElizabeth (Beth) Massie is a 2-time Bram Stoker Award and Scribe Award-winning author of horror/suspense, historical fiction, media tie-ins, nonfiction, and short fiction for adults. She also writes novels for teens and middle grade readers. Her series, Ameri-Scares, is currently in development for television by Warner Horizon (Warner Brothers), LuckyChap, and Assemble Media. Stay tuned! She lives in the Shenandoah Valley with her husband, illustrator Cortney Skinner.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
June 12, 2019
As a history major, I have studied various periods. The struggles humans have faced in different eras are no longer a problem thanks to modern technology and us learning from most of our past mistakes. Young Founders 1609 Winter of the Dead shows the struggle the first settlers faced, and how greed and overconfidence can spell ones undoing.
The book is about two boys named Nat and Richard who are orphans living in the city of London. When John Smith offers them a chance to join a merchant ship as laborers to the new world, they immediately take the job. After a rough crossing of the Atlantic, the boys arrive in hopes of finding gold and becoming rich. As the months go by, they realize that not only is their barely any gold, but that the colonists are unprepared for living in the frontier. As starvation and attacks from the local Native Americans wither them down, more colonists arrive without any skill to farm or hunt. This forces Nat and Richard to plan carefully as the greatest danger facing them is not outside the walls of Jamestown.
The story itself acts as a outside pair of eyes witnessing historical events happening. Nat keeps a journal of his journey, which helps the reader feel what he is going through. As a former orphan and thief, Nat knows when to keep his head down and when to hold on to resources. This ends up saving his life multiple times, as Nat learns that trusting certain people (mainly the colonists) can lead to harsher living for himself. Richard, is careful like Nat, though by a certain part of the book, we lose him as a main character. There are a couple of hints of what becomes of him, but from a certain point onward it is all about Nat. The author also manages to capture how the settlers portrayed the Native Americans, but also shows that the settlers at times acted more insane than the people living on the land they themselves sought to claim.
Overall, the story itself was interesting. I wish that it could have been a bit longer so that we could have gotten more of a closure for Nat instead of an open-ended entry.
The book is about two boys named Nat and Richard who are orphans living in the city of London. When John Smith offers them a chance to join a merchant ship as laborers to the new world, they immediately take the job. After a rough crossing of the Atlantic, the boys arrive in hopes of finding gold and becoming rich. As the months go by, they realize that not only is their barely any gold, but that the colonists are unprepared for living in the frontier. As starvation and attacks from the local Native Americans wither them down, more colonists arrive without any skill to farm or hunt. This forces Nat and Richard to plan carefully as the greatest danger facing them is not outside the walls of Jamestown.
The story itself acts as a outside pair of eyes witnessing historical events happening. Nat keeps a journal of his journey, which helps the reader feel what he is going through. As a former orphan and thief, Nat knows when to keep his head down and when to hold on to resources. This ends up saving his life multiple times, as Nat learns that trusting certain people (mainly the colonists) can lead to harsher living for himself. Richard, is careful like Nat, though by a certain part of the book, we lose him as a main character. There are a couple of hints of what becomes of him, but from a certain point onward it is all about Nat. The author also manages to capture how the settlers portrayed the Native Americans, but also shows that the settlers at times acted more insane than the people living on the land they themselves sought to claim.
Overall, the story itself was interesting. I wish that it could have been a bit longer so that we could have gotten more of a closure for Nat instead of an open-ended entry.
October 28, 2020
Good read, until it just stops!
January 6, 2022
I would give it zero stars if I could, but because I cannot I will simply say WHY?
June 19, 2024
Had an abrupt ending and no real resolution
July 19, 2025
"My name is Nathaniel Peacock. I am fifteen years of age, born on the 15th of February in the year of our Lord 1592. ... Soon I will be a rich man with all the money and goods I want, because we are going to Virginia, a land of beauty and wealth... In this land of Virginia I shall be able to act as I want and not as I must."
I first read this book around 2004 or 2005 for school. I remember really enjoying the book, but not liking the protagonist until the very end. On a whim, I decided to read the book again about 20 years later (2025) and found myself with my opinions flipped: I didn't enjoy the book nearly as much as I remember, but the protagonist had my sympathy very quickly.
The book follows Nat and the other first settlers of James Towne and their miserable first years as they try to survive the harsh conditions of the new world. As historical fiction, it’s very interesting to read about how terrifying and grueling it was for the first people to sail to Virginia. Through Nat’s eyes, the troubles the settlers face become moral ones as well.
From the beginning, this book is also about Nat’s journey to find what kind of man he’d like to become. Over the course of the story, he meets and befriends several boys and men; people he decides he wants to emulate or distance himself from. It’s sad to watch, because everyone around him disappoints him or dies. Nat himself constantly disappoints others, with his refusal to speak up or help out the other settlers. Nat and Richard’s final argument with each other, as well as Richard being left with the Powhatans, stayed with me for years after reading the book the first time. It was still as impactful the second time. I love how Richard and his fate continues to haunt Nat long after he's gone. Massie never reveals what happens to him, either. Like Nat, the readers are also left to wonder without knowing if Richard has grown to be a man; and if he has, what sort of man did he become?
As some of the other reviews point out, the book does sort of just end without a conclusion to the settlers' fates. But as I stated before, this book is about Nat becoming a man, so it makes sense that it would end when he finally decides on what sort of man he'd like to be - and then acts on it. My only complaint is that there is no final catalyst to his decision at the end to speak up for Peter Scott. We do see it building throughout the book with his interactions with everyone, particularly his last meeting with Laughing Boy. But it's several chapters later that the incident with Peter and his wife happens, so it's not clear what changed Nat's mind. Still, it's touching to see Nat finally do what he's feared the most this whole journey. While it may be too little, too late, Elizabeth Massie portrays it as an extremely brave thing to do, and something that will only help him in the future.
I first read this book around 2004 or 2005 for school. I remember really enjoying the book, but not liking the protagonist until the very end. On a whim, I decided to read the book again about 20 years later (2025) and found myself with my opinions flipped: I didn't enjoy the book nearly as much as I remember, but the protagonist had my sympathy very quickly.
The book follows Nat and the other first settlers of James Towne and their miserable first years as they try to survive the harsh conditions of the new world. As historical fiction, it’s very interesting to read about how terrifying and grueling it was for the first people to sail to Virginia. Through Nat’s eyes, the troubles the settlers face become moral ones as well.
From the beginning, this book is also about Nat’s journey to find what kind of man he’d like to become. Over the course of the story, he meets and befriends several boys and men; people he decides he wants to emulate or distance himself from. It’s sad to watch, because everyone around him disappoints him or dies. Nat himself constantly disappoints others, with his refusal to speak up or help out the other settlers. Nat and Richard’s final argument with each other, as well as Richard being left with the Powhatans, stayed with me for years after reading the book the first time. It was still as impactful the second time. I love how Richard and his fate continues to haunt Nat long after he's gone. Massie never reveals what happens to him, either. Like Nat, the readers are also left to wonder without knowing if Richard has grown to be a man; and if he has, what sort of man did he become?
As some of the other reviews point out, the book does sort of just end without a conclusion to the settlers' fates. But as I stated before, this book is about Nat becoming a man, so it makes sense that it would end when he finally decides on what sort of man he'd like to be - and then acts on it. My only complaint is that there is no final catalyst to his decision at the end to speak up for Peter Scott. We do see it building throughout the book with his interactions with everyone, particularly his last meeting with Laughing Boy. But it's several chapters later that the incident with Peter and his wife happens, so it's not clear what changed Nat's mind. Still, it's touching to see Nat finally do what he's feared the most this whole journey. While it may be too little, too late, Elizabeth Massie portrays it as an extremely brave thing to do, and something that will only help him in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 1, 2016
This is a book about the early years of the Jamestown colony. It's a realistic story of greed and stupidity among the men behind the founding of the colony and the running of the colony.
The business organization responsible for the founding of the colony was interested in making a quick profit, and people had been mislead to believe that the America was a place where riches could be had just by walking around and picking them up, such riches including gold.
Nathanial Peacock, 15, is the main character of the story, and it's through his eyes that we see one of the biggest problems with the colony, and that was the 'gentlemen' who came to the colony and were too rich and too lazy and too sure of themselves to lower themselves to doing physical work and helping others out. The 'gentlemen' spent most of their time arguing among themselves about who was to lead the colony.
The young boys like Nathanial were treated like garbage, and were even at times traded to the Native Americans for food. All the actual work of the colony was put on their shoulders. It wasn't a democratic arrangement by any means; it was a dictatorship in all the worst meanings of the word.
The end result of everything was chaos, starvation and violence in the colony, with a death rate of about 80% due to illness, Indian attack, and an occasional execution.
It's a very dark story that is well told.
The business organization responsible for the founding of the colony was interested in making a quick profit, and people had been mislead to believe that the America was a place where riches could be had just by walking around and picking them up, such riches including gold.
Nathanial Peacock, 15, is the main character of the story, and it's through his eyes that we see one of the biggest problems with the colony, and that was the 'gentlemen' who came to the colony and were too rich and too lazy and too sure of themselves to lower themselves to doing physical work and helping others out. The 'gentlemen' spent most of their time arguing among themselves about who was to lead the colony.
The young boys like Nathanial were treated like garbage, and were even at times traded to the Native Americans for food. All the actual work of the colony was put on their shoulders. It wasn't a democratic arrangement by any means; it was a dictatorship in all the worst meanings of the word.
The end result of everything was chaos, starvation and violence in the colony, with a death rate of about 80% due to illness, Indian attack, and an occasional execution.
It's a very dark story that is well told.
January 24, 2008
The book is about how the first pioneers arrived in Jamestown, Va. It tells about the harshness of the land, the hunger, the diseases, the vermin they had to fight along with the indians, who they couldn't understand. It also tells about how little boys were traded with the indians in order to get interpreters. In short, it's a story of struggle where even though at the beginning friendship was of no importance to the protagonist, at the end he understands that it is the only thing that could keep him and everyone else alive.
I recomend this book to people who like suspense and adventure, because you never know what is going to happen at the turn of the page.
What I learned from this book is that everyone has their own customs and ideas and we have to know and respect them in order to live peacefully.I also learned that the biggest treasure one can have is a friend, specially during difficult times.
I liked the book, because even though it happened a long time ago, it still has elements that happen in the present, like intolerance, bigotry, love, hate,friendship, etc.
I recomend this book to people who like suspense and adventure, because you never know what is going to happen at the turn of the page.
What I learned from this book is that everyone has their own customs and ideas and we have to know and respect them in order to live peacefully.I also learned that the biggest treasure one can have is a friend, specially during difficult times.
I liked the book, because even though it happened a long time ago, it still has elements that happen in the present, like intolerance, bigotry, love, hate,friendship, etc.
December 18, 2019
This book is about a boy named Nat who travels to the Jamestown Colony in 1609 in hopes of making a better life for himself, but instead finds himself facing starvation.
This is a great time period to base a novel on, but I don't think the author did as well as she could have. The reader never really feels the edge on all that the characters go through, and the events seem brushed over. Also, the main character Nat is a completely unlikable brat, and I hate when the characters are like that in books.
This isn't a bad book, it just isn't a great one either.
This is a great time period to base a novel on, but I don't think the author did as well as she could have. The reader never really feels the edge on all that the characters go through, and the events seem brushed over. Also, the main character Nat is a completely unlikable brat, and I hate when the characters are like that in books.
This isn't a bad book, it just isn't a great one either.
April 9, 2016
Massie animates the Jamestown story we've all read in our history books. She gives life and personality to the various historical characters whose avarice, bungling and bravery are sterilized in most classrooms.
I only rated it a "3" simply because, as a former history teacher, there was no suspense for me as the tale unwound. She's done an excellent job presenting the story. I'd like to think small excerpts of this book would enliven any academic study of the early Jamestown colony.
Pre-teens and early teens, unfamiliar with the Jamestown history, should be fascinated with the book.
I only rated it a "3" simply because, as a former history teacher, there was no suspense for me as the tale unwound. She's done an excellent job presenting the story. I'd like to think small excerpts of this book would enliven any academic study of the early Jamestown colony.
Pre-teens and early teens, unfamiliar with the Jamestown history, should be fascinated with the book.
January 3, 2015
Good historical fiction about the Jamestown colony and how difficult it was for the first settlers. Like most good HF, this had right amount of speculation and plot interspersed with facts and wasn't too "preachy" or unbelievable for the reader.
Read
April 8, 2010F MAS yf 1609
February 16, 2016
History in story form.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews