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89th out of 148 books
—
63 voters
Our Strange New Land (Elizabeth's Jamestown Colony Diary #1)
by
Patricia Hermes (Goodreads Author)
In May 1607, three ships sailed up the James River in Virginia. In the riverbank marshes, they made land and hung the flag England¹s flag establishing the first permanent English colony in Jamestown Virginia. In 1609, the first ship carrying women and children arrived. After 71 days at sea, nine-year-old Elizabeth Baker is thrilled to be on dry land. Lizzie keeps a dia...more
Mass Market Paperback, 112 pages
Published
May 1st 2002
by Scholastic, Inc.
(first published 2000)
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This short book is part of an historical series written for 3rd-6th graders. It tells a compelling and believable story about life in the Jamestown colony from the viewpoint of 9 year old Elizabeth. The tension between settlers and Native Americans is well portrayed and the author lets us see both sides of that conflict as well as feel the pain and fear of remaining family members as settlers die from disease.
I would use this books as a 2nd grade read aloud for their Native American unit making...more
I would use this books as a 2nd grade read aloud for their Native American unit making...more
May 18, 2013
Dolly
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
older children and parents reading with them
Our oldest has been studying about Jamestown a lot this year and she came upon this series of three diaries by a character named Elizabeth.
She borrowed all three books from her elementary school library, but gave me the third one, Season of Promise, first (I have no idea why.) I read more than half of the book aloud to our girls, but our youngest tired of the format. I think this series is better as an independent read anyway. So I read that one, followed by The Starving Time. And although she...more
She borrowed all three books from her elementary school library, but gave me the third one, Season of Promise, first (I have no idea why.) I read more than half of the book aloud to our girls, but our youngest tired of the format. I think this series is better as an independent read anyway. So I read that one, followed by The Starving Time. And although she...more
When Elizabeth Barker packs for her voyage to America, she secretly packs her twin brother's drawing book in her sea chest. Caleb, unable to travel because of weak lungs, stays in England. As soon as her family arrives in Jamestown, Lizzie begins recording all of the events that take place so Caleb will know about their life during the year apart. So, the reader sees the hardships faced by these early settlers through the eyes of a nine-year-old girl. Lizzie describes the wonder and the fear of...more
I thought this was a wonderful book. I couldn't remember if it was fiction or actual diary entries, that's how good it was. The story is about 9 year old Elizabeth Barker and her family's adventure in Jamestown, Virginia. There are actual facts peppered throughout the story about such people as John Smith and Pocahontas that made me stop to question if the entire story was nonfiction. Elizabeth's interactions with her lazy neighbor boys and her descriptions of the fever that is killing so many a...more
Quick read in diary format covers two months from August 11 to October 9, 1609. Very accessible for young readers and, as far as I could tell (having read a half dozen children's non-fiction books about Jamestown in the past couple of days), historically accurate. The nine-year-old main character deals with some difficult issues (separation from her twin brother back in England, fear, adults who are less than perfect, adjusting to a completely different environment, and working hard while others...more
This story takes place in the summer of 1609. Elizabeth has come from England to Jamestown, Virginia with her family. Elizabeth and her family have a hard journey at sea. A hurricane has destroyed five of the nine ships. When Elizabeth finally arrives, she is extremely happy, but that soon changes when the climate and other factors are putting a damper on her mood. The tension between the Indians and the new arrivals is unsettling. Elizabeth also misses her twin brother, Caleb. She took his sket...more
I enjoy reading these historical fiction books. This particular one is written in journal form from a 9 year old girl named Elizabeth. It is fun to read about the experiences they had in traveling from England to the first Jamestown Colony in Virginia. These young children really experienced hardships in their lives and they witnessed, death, hunger, war and real tragedies. This little Elizabeth was an amazingly courageous girl.
You said you liked the time period of the Pilgrims, so I think you'll enjoy this book. It is in diary form and it is about Elizabeth Barker whose family sets sail from Plymouth, England, to Jamestown, Virginia. The My America and Dear America series are awesome books for history lovers!
First book in the series. Elementary appropriate. We read it as a family read aloud. It does a terrific job of delicately, but clearly discussing the death and disease and the hunger and fear that the settlers of Jamestown had to deal with.
Very good story. I love that it looks at colonial life from a child's point of view. Seems like a great series to help us get into our social studies content a little more!
I read this book to my kids. It was a good way to teach them some history without them knowing it. We enjoyed the story.
Sep 07, 2008
Angel
rated it
3 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Children learning about Jamestown
Shelves:
lydia-age-6
Good introduction to the original Jamestown Settlement and the hardships the European settlers faced, well written, but John Smith, Pocahontas and John Rolfe were only briefly mentioned. So we watched The New World together (Colin Farell as John Smith), and I fast-forwarded through the battle scenes (as she is 6 yrs old). This was an amazing film with beautiful cinematography and a soundtrack that made my heart swell. It definitely enhanced Lydia's, as well as my own, knowledge of Jamestown and...more
Elizabeth's perspective of the goings-on from August to October 1609 in Jamestown, may be helpful in teaching Social Studies to my 4th graders next year. I found the writing, overall, to be formulaic, predictable and gimmicky. This makes me think that my students would not be too engaged. There was a lot of the "I am sad" kind of journal writing, not showing she is sad, just stating it.
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I liked this book a lot. It was very interesting and well written. I could visualize everything that went on.
this is a great book. It's set in 1609, when the colonists started Jamestown..
REALLY GREAT BOOK!
REALLY GREAT BOOK!
Apr 12, 2013
Renae
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
historical-fiction,
middle-grade
Fair. A little lighter reading level than I prefer, but not terrible.
this book was pretty good. I read it for history this year
My 3rd grade 8 year old loved this book
Written by Patricia Hermes, published by Scholastic Inc., copyright year 2000.
Summary: Written in the form of the diary of a young girl who has traveled from England to Jamestown. Her 1609 diary touches on the many hardships of daily life for the American colonists.
Response: I love these historical fiction books written like diaries. I think this would be a great book for fifth graders studying Colonial America and would bring history to life in a simple way.
Possible Units: Colonial America.
Historical fiction
:)
shut ur fricken mouth
great book
This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.
I enjoyed this book. I would recommend it for grades 3rd-8th. It is written as Elizabeth's diary, and tells about the hardships of life in the Virginia colony. Disease and death were prevalent among the colonists. Elizabeth's brother was left behind in England because of his cough. This is a very realistic book of what it must have been like for the first colonists.
Oct 21, 2009
Sarah
added it
Will says, "Is there one from the Native Americans' point of view?"
Was reading this book aloud to my 3rd graders while we were learning about the 13 Colonies. This book seems historically accurate and has the voice of a young child, but we were all BORED. Didn't finish it...
We're studying Jamestown right now - this story really engaged my daughters and helped them peek into what life was like back then. My eldest was disappointed when I showed her pictures online of Indians - they look the same as you and me - she was looking for headdresses and face paint.
Juv. Fiction
I am reading some of these My America and Dear America series books this summer because so many of my students seem to enjoy them and I want to be able to discuss the books with them.
I am reading some of these My America and Dear America series books this summer because so many of my students seem to enjoy them and I want to be able to discuss the books with them.
Jan 15, 2008
Rue Hogarth
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
People intrested in colonial times.Or this seiries.
Shelves:
historical-fiction
This is a really nice book about a girl (Elizabeth) who has arrived in the new world (America). The book tells you about some of the troubles the colonists had. And, their accomplishments.
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