The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce: A Pilgrim Boy, Plymouth, 1620

My Name Is America

by Ann Rinaldi

November 11, 1620 I am so weary, yet I must write, I have been ashore!...We walked a while along the beach, carefully at first because the elders were looking for the tracks of cloven feet to see if the Evil One was here. How strange it was to cast an eye to the nearby forest and not know what manner of beast was watching and might lunge out at us...Here in this place there are endless trees. We wonder, how far do they go on? I think forever, Tom. I think everything in this place goes on forever. I think that we have found Forever.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Middle Grade, Young Adult, Childrens, American History

158 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Ann Rinaldi (b. August 27, 1934, in New York City) is a young adult fiction author. She is best known for her historical fiction, including In My Father's House, The Last Silk Dress, An Acquaintance with Darkness, A Break with Charity, and Hang a Thousand Trees with Ribbons. She has written a total of forty novels, eight of which were listed as notable by the ALA. In 2000, Wolf by the Ears was listed as one the best novels of the preceding twenty-five years, and later of the last one hundred years. She is the most prolific writer for the Great Episode series, a series of historical fiction novels set during the American Colonial era. She also writes for the Dear America series.

Rinaldi currently lives in Somerville, New Jersey, with her husband, Ron, whom she married in 1960. Her career, prior to being an author, was a newspaper columnist. She continued the column, called The Trentonian, through much of her writing career. Her first published novel, Term Paper, was written in 1979. Prior to this, she wrote four unpublished books, which she has called "terrible." She became a grandmother in 1991.

Rinaldi says she got her love of history from her eldest son, who brought her to reenactments. She says that she writes young adult books "because I like to write them."

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I had time to get into this book I really enjoyed it. I liked how the characters in the story were all real people and we could learn what happened to them in the historical note, and how some of them connected to more modern day events. Like the ancestor who FDR descended from. I liked how real locations were used too, so that when I wanted to learn more about a person, place or event I could google it and find relevant information to the story and the historical context. The only flaw I noted was the day Samoset walked into Plymouth was not March 14, but March 16.

It’s amazing to imagine that these events actually happened. A group of people arrived with nothing and managed to build a village and start building our present day country. Making friends with all the local Indian tribes without being able to speak their languages, form peace treaties, and that it’s even true that a young boy who was lost was returned to the pilgrims by the Nauset.

Before reading his I’d already read the girl version of the mayflower arrival from dear America, although a year and a half ago and my review really wasn’t very good so I don’t remember all that much about it. I’m half tempted to re-read it now to compare the two. I’d also read the My America Jamestown settlement series. And thought I saw some similarities of events, though it was hard to recollect because again my reviews were bad and the synopsis was also vague. This book brought about a different point of view being that it’s from a boy, and an indentured orphan servant. Not a happy family member coming with his parents so it was much different in the beginning reading his point of view.

My one remaining question is, is the epilogue section true? Or is it just more story to tell us what the author imagines would’ve happened to characters like jasper and Tom?

I also enjoyed seeing the map of MA with area names from the Indians in the 1600s since I live in that area and many of those names are still towns today!

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was probably the least favorite of the Rinaldi books I have read to date. I liked the format for the story--a journal kept by a young indentured boy who comes to America. There is good information in the journal with interesting insight into the challenges and rewards he encounters in this experience. It gave me more appreciation to the people who came here to America for religious freedom and all that they went through. However, I thought the book at times plodded along.

[Lynette Caulkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'd take this to 3.5 if we could. This is the type of historical fiction I do really appreciate, using fictional or minor figures to tell the story instead of presuming to know what a key figure is thinking/feeling.

This book does a good job of painting the real picture of the arrival of the Mayflower pilgrims, so the reader sees how the land was actually already cultivated and that Native Americans had many different communities established in the Massachusetts region when the Europeans arrived. It also shows the hardship of a sickness that killed half of the pilgrims in the first few months, as well as the varied nature of the people who came over on the ship. They weren't all Puritans looking for freedom of religion, though that was the main drive for those who held the power. Others in the group were looking for a new start, adventure, or escape from poverty and/or persecution. Several of them had little choice in the matter (like the protagonist), being indentured or apprenticed to men who did decide to join the venture.

In any case, it gives a better picture of the coming of the Pilgrims to America than most people understand.

[Owen Brine · Rating 5 out of 5]

My name is america: Jasper jonathan pierce

this book is a inspirational story of a boy named jasper and him crossing the ocean without his two brothers. this book is about the sickness and challenges that jasper had to face. My favorite part of the book is when jasper and the passengers go through a terrible storm. I like how they preserver and go through this challenge and recover. the reason that the Ann Rinaldi wrote this because she wanted to show how people can show courage and happiness in the darkest and frightening times. I liked this book because jasper was a peaceful warrior.

I connected with this book by the challenges I face at school and life. Making the right or wrong choices.
I learned that in dark time I can always look on the bright side. I would most defiantly recommend this book to a person who is looking for a inspiring book to read.
this book has changed my point of view to things and I am more appreciative of things.

[Kelsey Hanson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must be in a holiday-themed mood lately. Well, it's November might as well read something about the Pilgrims. This book does provide a bit more info than the traditional Thanksgiving myth that we are told from a very young age. This reveals the differences between the factions onboard the Mayflower and does focus on the hardships experienced. The cynical side of me suspects that this is a much rosier telling of history and there was a few moments (mentions of mystical powers and second sight) where I had to suspend my belief a bit. But overall an interesting quick read.

[Sparrow · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very slow beginning. The writing felt more archaic or unorganized than usual, but it eventually found its flow and story. It was good, but I didn't quite connect with Jasper. I think the book failed to really get to the heart of living in 1620 Plymouth. I think it was because the book was more about the place than the characters, which ultimately ruins the connection.

[Brooke · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know if I like reading about the Mayflower yet. I have to read Journey to the New World to know for sure.

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce
Author: Ann Rinaldi
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I didn’t think I had read this one, but according to my Goodreads, I have. I don’t remember this title. I have been reading this series for twenty years. I started reading it when I was in fifth grade. I love these books. I love how they bring history to life, in a way that is kid-friendly and engaging.

In this one, we follow Jasper, who is an indentured servant on the Mayflower. He and his master are making their way to a better life. Jasper is a street rat, who has been forced to leave his brother behind. He decides to keep a journal for his brother, telling him of everything that he has seen and experienced. While on the Mayflower, Jasper gets to see some of history’s biggest moments and meet some famous people. He sees all of the uncertainty that comes along with making the dangerous journey, starting over, and being in a place that so many people have been before.

This is an entry in the My Name is America, which is a spin-off to Dear America. While I have always preferred Dear America over My Name is America, I do enjoy what these books bring. These are all told from the point of view of boys or young men. I like that history is brought to life on the page. Now, this one includes things that may not be in history books. For example, we get to see a duel fought over a girl. We go into detail about the first winter at Plymouth and the illness that plagued the Pilgrims. There are also familiar bits too. We have the meeting of the Native Americans and the signing of the Mayflower Compact. Now, the details on the first Thanksgiving are a little vague, but that is okay. I mean, we don’t know for sure what went down.

Now, this book is not as action-packed as some of the other entries in the series. This is very much a slice of life and setting up a colony. It does not have any wars or battles. If you are looking for a faster-paced book, this is not going to be the book for you. I liked getting to see the day-to-day life both on the Mayflower and in the early days of the Plymouth colony. It lays the foundation for what is to come.

Overall, I did enjoy this one a lot. Now, it does use Indians instead of Native Americans, so keep that in mind if you decide to pick it up.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5/5. Ann Rinaldi is a name I’m wary of in the Dear America canon, because of her inaccurate and harmful account of the Carlisle Indian School. (We’ll get to that one later.) I wasn’t too sure what to expect with this book, but I can say for sure her writing isn’t horrible. The book itself is slow and I wasn’t too terribly interested in anything happening (which is why it took me so long to read it), but at least the writing was okay.

There’s honestly not much to talk about here in terms of plot. Jasper is an indentured servant and he sails to America on the Mayflower. People die, they make friends with the natives, the end. I’m honestly not sure how sugarcoated the account of the Indian-Pilgrim relations is, but I’m willing to bet I’m right to be a little skeptical, especially considering who penned this.

On an unrelated note, the cover portrait is taken from the same painting the portrait on the cover of A Journey to the New World is from. I don’t know if that’s a coincidence or if the Dear America people couldn’t find other Pilgrim art to use, but I thought that was a neat detail that these two books share that, especially since both are fictional accounts of the Plymouth settlement.

My Name is America was never one of my favorite spinoffs of Dear America, but hopefully this one doesn’t set the tone for the entire series.

[Maddy Doeden · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am giving this book a three out of five stars for the fact that it was history so it was important in life, although some parts were boring. What made it boring was for the fact that it wasn't always as descriptive as it could have been or it was longing on. Although this was a journal of a young man and his obstacles on the way to America. The main reasons why he came to America was for the fact that he wanted religious freedom and the chance for a new life. From this book, I have learned that not everything will just be handed over to you in a blink of an eye you really have to work for what you want. Also, times like those were rough and you might have had near death experiences but the way that you get through all that is the most important. So I rate this book three stars due to the fact that Jonathan never gave up on what he wanted in life, he always kept trying.

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jasper is a young boy who comes to America aboard the Mayflower in 1620. The story tells about the crossing and its difficulties, the problems the colonists had when they got here and how they started their colony, how they dealt with the various Native American tribes that they encountered, and the terrible toll that disease took on the early settlers.

The book also goes into the Saints or Separatists, who were the Pilgrims, and the Strangers, who were those who were in the Church of England, and the differences between the two groups.

It's an interesting book, breathing some life into the usually 'just the facts, m'am' type of approach usually given to the Pilgrims.

[Tristan Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about a young boy on the original pilgrim expedition to the new world. Or as we know it today, the coastline of Massachusetts. Near Boston. Jasper, the character in this book, has his brother, Tom left behind. He makes it to the colony, and befriends the Indians. I won't be spoiling the whole book here. And soon enough, his brother Tom comes for him. In another ship named the Fortune. So, this book really had a lot of good supporting factors in it. Especially how the Indians helped them survive the first few years. Leading to the first thanksgiving. Jasper eventually moved to Duxbury, where he became a merchant. 4.5 stars. Very good book.

[Sean Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading Level: 5.6

Summary: The story of an orphan and a pilgrim to a new world, exposes the struggles people experienced in the 1620's. There's no better way to personalize history than through a historical fiction.

Genre: Historical Fiction

Mentor Writing Traits: Ideas and word choice create the world in the 1620's.

Classroom Integration: This can be integrated into a history lesson about the pilgrims and the Mayflower. The students could read this story and then write a narrative from the perspective of the Nauset - Native Americans.

[Molly · Rating 3 out of 5]

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.

[Priscilla Herrington · Rating 4 out of 5]

Noted Young Adult historical fiction writer Ann Rinaldi tells the story of the Mayflower, the Plymouth settlement, and relations with Native Americans through The Journal of Jasper Jonathan Pierce, A Pilgrim Boy. The setting is the Mayflower and then Plymouth in 1620.

As is typical in the books in the Dear America series (of which My Name Is America is a subset) there is additional information about the events and characters.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love how Ann Rinaldi spins up history. At the back of the book, she talked about how little most of us knew of the pilgrims day to day or the true drama that went on in there travels to Plymouth. It’s fascinating how much in common each age has with the other despite technology.
This wasn’t my favorite Rinaldi story. It’s in diary style, which is a great story telling format. I just didn’t connect as well with Jasper. I liked just reading the facts of the story and journey to America.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had to read this for a book discussion with a group of elementary students. I wouldn't have read it otherwise. I definitely learned some things about the Pilgrims and the Mayflower journey, but honestly did not enjoy this book. (But a solid historical fiction recommendation for 3rd-6th grade for my librarian friends.)

[Camden Dusenbery · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book didn't interest me that much. I did like how it explained the story of a boy named Jasper and the hardships he had to go through. It explained the tribulations of the pilgrims crossing the Atlantic Ocean too them settling in the United States. Probably wouldn't have read it through if I wasn't forced to read a book about history.

[Jenny Clark · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is geared more for a younger audience. Even though Jasper is 14, he read a lot like a younger kid, not someone who was almost an adult. The writing is good despite that, but I felt like a good bit was overly simplified. Not my favorite in the series at all. I've found the war journals are the most believable.

[Megan Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite the great amount of factual information in this book, parts of it were just a little tiny bit unbelievable. But whatever. It's still a good story, and sneaks enough historical content in that it'd be a good supplement to the standard history curriculum.

3/5 on here, 6/10 for myself

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was probably my favorite book thus far I've read in the My Name is America series. I don't know why, exactly, I just really, really enjoyed it. I loved the story line, the writing style, etc. Jasper was a great character. Very good book. 5 out of 5 stars. I would recommend this any day.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one seemed shorter than normal, maybe because I read it in one day on vacation. I liked it and even learned something about weirs (fishing traps) that I then saw in the Museum of the Cherokee Indian on vacation.

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some of the Puritan views portrayed here seemed a bit more based on stereotypes than actuality, but for the most part this book was a good look at the time period, and much more detailed than the Dear America version.

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Not a 5 star but really close. The ending made me shed a few tears. I also really enjoy the epilogue of these books explaining that the people writing the journal are real and what they grow up to be.

[Amanda Wel]

Mayflower/Plymouth Rock

[Terri]

I'm really enjoying this story about a boy who sailed on the Mayflower. It's a historical fictional novel and really makes me appreciate what life must have been like to come to America in 1620.

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed this form of historical fiction for the young reader. The two I have read are well written and I feel reflect accurately the attitudes and historical backdrop of the era.

[Roark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about a boy who writes a journal for his brother who was left behind in London. His name was Tom.

[Meg · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am readding this in school as a book club book but I did like the girl writing the diary instead of the boy

[Taylor · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am really enjoying this book so far!!