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Race To The Truth
Colonization and the Wampanoag Story
Until now, you've only heard one side of the the "discovery" of America told by Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists. Here's the true story of America from the Indigenous perspective.
When you think about the beginning of the American story, what comes to mind? Three ships in 1492, or perhaps buckled hats and shoes stepping off of the Mayflower, ready to start a new country. But the truth is, Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists didn't arrive to a vast, empty land ready to be developed. They arrived to find people and communities living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they quickly disrupted everything they saw.
From its "discovery" by Europeans to the first Thanksgiving, the story of America's earliest days has been carefully misrepresented. Told from the perspective of the New England Indigenous Nations that these outsiders found when they arrived, this is the true story of how America as we know it today began.
When you think about the beginning of the American story, what comes to mind? Three ships in 1492, or perhaps buckled hats and shoes stepping off of the Mayflower, ready to start a new country. But the truth is, Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists didn't arrive to a vast, empty land ready to be developed. They arrived to find people and communities living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they quickly disrupted everything they saw.
From its "discovery" by Europeans to the first Thanksgiving, the story of America's earliest days has been carefully misrepresented. Told from the perspective of the New England Indigenous Nations that these outsiders found when they arrived, this is the true story of how America as we know it today began.
272 pages, Paperback
Published September 12, 2023
61 people are currently reading
2488 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
December 23, 2024
This is an important work of non fiction that is engaging and accessible for kids. Buying a copy for my local school district but also plan to get one for my own kids. Please support the authors important work!
October 31, 2024
Engagingly penned and nicely enlightening without being informationally overwhelming, for her 2023 middle grade and also Own Voices non fiction account Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, Aquinnah Wampanoag author and historian Linda Coombs uses two quite distinct narrational voices to share her presented and featured information with her readers, with her intended audience, with Colonization and the Wampanoag Story being suitable (and also in my not at all humble opinion absolutely and totally necessary) for ANYONE from the age of ten or so onwards who desires and requires a better and above all a not all that celebratory and uncritically positive account of how colonisation by European settlers/conquerors generally very much negatively affected, changed, completely disrupted and often indeed absolutely destroyed and ripped apart life and culture for the original inhabitants of what is now the United States of America (and indeed in ALL of the Americas).
And yes, the chapters of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story titled When Life Was Our Own, these sections clearly and concisely demonstrate the intergenerational (and also positive, to be emulated, to be appreciated and celebrated) sharing of knowledge the Wampanoag engaged in prior to colonisation and settlement by Europe (and Europeans), with Coombs teaching specific and also very important historical and cultural lessons, such as for example readers learning how the Wampanoag always harvested cedar with environmental respect and in a way that encouraged the growth of new saplings and equally how sachems, how tribal leaders, would resolve conflicts through football games in order to avoid fighting and unnecessary bloodshed, that the Wampanoag generally tried to avoid war and the mayhem that war engendered.
But quite a bit different from the When Life Was Our Own sections, Linda Coombs' narrational voice in the chapters of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story not titled When Life Was Our Own, these textually come across as much drier, less direct and personable, are mostly just facts and data oriented and are also inclusive of ALL tribal nations in southern New England (and also beyond, basically covering the Americas in general), showing history from the 1400s to the present and feeling much less like story-telling and more like a textbook exploration of racism and providing facts about the devastating effects of the Europeans’ presence, how the European explorers' 1524 arrival in present-day Rhode Island was followed by the Great Dying that wiped out entire Indigenous villages between 1616 and 1618 (most likely due to imported diseases that Native Americans had no immunity to fight against) and how European settlers and explorers then proceeded to extract profits from natural resources (and claim land for themselves and for their respective nations) in contrast to Indigenous beliefs that only the Creator who made the land could in fact in any way own it (with the juxtaposition of Linda Coombs' different voices in Colonization and the Wampanoag Story showing how colonisation was at best something problematic to and for the Wampanoag and something that caused heartbreak, destruction and genocide through miscommunication, ignorance, racial intolerance and a religious based attitude that exploring the world and taking land from the native populations of the Americas was somehow ordained by God and the Bible and thus both acceptable and to be seen as entirely justified).
Now Coombs' epilogue for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, it quickly summarises and describes the situation for Wampanoag people and other southern New England tribes in their traditional territories today and it reads both hopefully and also at times as frustratingly and sometimes as painfully as the main textual body of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story does. But yes, the epilogue for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story certainly does leave a bit of room for some optimum and hope, and which the text boxes in Colonization and the Wampanoag Story labeled Let’s Think About This and where Linda Coombs poses interesting and also very difficult critical thinking questions both challenging and equally engaging her readers, and with the the black-and-white photos and artwork nicely visually supporting Coombs's featured text, and with her two separate narratives combining to form and mesh into an educational, enlightening, thought-provoking whole (and personally speaking, a solidly four star reading experience for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for me, but yes, upped to five stars, as the bibliographic materials provided by Coombs are absolutely superb, are totally amazing and as such the very much appreciated and enjoyed icing on an already most delicious and wonderful reading cake).
Highly and warmly recommended is Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for both at home and in class use, but I would also not at all be surprised if Colonization and the Wampanoag Story ended up being challenged by Fascist and racists groups like Mums for Liberty and banned in Nazi wannabe US states like Florida, Texas, Idaho, Alabama etc.
And yes, the chapters of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story titled When Life Was Our Own, these sections clearly and concisely demonstrate the intergenerational (and also positive, to be emulated, to be appreciated and celebrated) sharing of knowledge the Wampanoag engaged in prior to colonisation and settlement by Europe (and Europeans), with Coombs teaching specific and also very important historical and cultural lessons, such as for example readers learning how the Wampanoag always harvested cedar with environmental respect and in a way that encouraged the growth of new saplings and equally how sachems, how tribal leaders, would resolve conflicts through football games in order to avoid fighting and unnecessary bloodshed, that the Wampanoag generally tried to avoid war and the mayhem that war engendered.
But quite a bit different from the When Life Was Our Own sections, Linda Coombs' narrational voice in the chapters of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story not titled When Life Was Our Own, these textually come across as much drier, less direct and personable, are mostly just facts and data oriented and are also inclusive of ALL tribal nations in southern New England (and also beyond, basically covering the Americas in general), showing history from the 1400s to the present and feeling much less like story-telling and more like a textbook exploration of racism and providing facts about the devastating effects of the Europeans’ presence, how the European explorers' 1524 arrival in present-day Rhode Island was followed by the Great Dying that wiped out entire Indigenous villages between 1616 and 1618 (most likely due to imported diseases that Native Americans had no immunity to fight against) and how European settlers and explorers then proceeded to extract profits from natural resources (and claim land for themselves and for their respective nations) in contrast to Indigenous beliefs that only the Creator who made the land could in fact in any way own it (with the juxtaposition of Linda Coombs' different voices in Colonization and the Wampanoag Story showing how colonisation was at best something problematic to and for the Wampanoag and something that caused heartbreak, destruction and genocide through miscommunication, ignorance, racial intolerance and a religious based attitude that exploring the world and taking land from the native populations of the Americas was somehow ordained by God and the Bible and thus both acceptable and to be seen as entirely justified).
Now Coombs' epilogue for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story, it quickly summarises and describes the situation for Wampanoag people and other southern New England tribes in their traditional territories today and it reads both hopefully and also at times as frustratingly and sometimes as painfully as the main textual body of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story does. But yes, the epilogue for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story certainly does leave a bit of room for some optimum and hope, and which the text boxes in Colonization and the Wampanoag Story labeled Let’s Think About This and where Linda Coombs poses interesting and also very difficult critical thinking questions both challenging and equally engaging her readers, and with the the black-and-white photos and artwork nicely visually supporting Coombs's featured text, and with her two separate narratives combining to form and mesh into an educational, enlightening, thought-provoking whole (and personally speaking, a solidly four star reading experience for Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for me, but yes, upped to five stars, as the bibliographic materials provided by Coombs are absolutely superb, are totally amazing and as such the very much appreciated and enjoyed icing on an already most delicious and wonderful reading cake).
Highly and warmly recommended is Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for both at home and in class use, but I would also not at all be surprised if Colonization and the Wampanoag Story ended up being challenged by Fascist and racists groups like Mums for Liberty and banned in Nazi wannabe US states like Florida, Texas, Idaho, Alabama etc.
June 11, 2023
I teach third grade in Massachusetts, and our 3rd grade social studies standards include teaching Massachusetts history. However, it can be a struggle to find resources to accurately and thoughtfully teach about what life was like pre-colonization. This book definitely fills a needed gap by providing a narrative of traditional Wampanoag life as well as critically unpacking the effects of colonialism.
The book has two parts: one is a narrative called "When Life Was Our Own" which follows the day-to-day life of tribal members. The other is informational, discussing topics such as education, laws, and the process of creating a colony. The author switches back and forth between these two threads every chapter, providing a balance. The "When Life Was Our Own" narrative helps the reader create a stronger understanding of the context for the European laws and changes that were being imposed upon the Native Americans.
Thinking about my own students (generally 8 and 9 years old), I'm not sure how many of them would access this independently - I think they would definitely benefit from reading this with an adult to help break down some of the concepts and stay engaged. I could see this working as a read aloud for my classroom or even using some of the chapters independently as a resource.
Having an Indigenous perspective that critically thinks about history is so important and one that I want to make sure I center in my teaching. I will need to think about how I'll be incorporating this, but this is a resource I'm interested in using. I'll be talking to my school librarian about getting a copy!
The book has two parts: one is a narrative called "When Life Was Our Own" which follows the day-to-day life of tribal members. The other is informational, discussing topics such as education, laws, and the process of creating a colony. The author switches back and forth between these two threads every chapter, providing a balance. The "When Life Was Our Own" narrative helps the reader create a stronger understanding of the context for the European laws and changes that were being imposed upon the Native Americans.
Thinking about my own students (generally 8 and 9 years old), I'm not sure how many of them would access this independently - I think they would definitely benefit from reading this with an adult to help break down some of the concepts and stay engaged. I could see this working as a read aloud for my classroom or even using some of the chapters independently as a resource.
Having an Indigenous perspective that critically thinks about history is so important and one that I want to make sure I center in my teaching. I will need to think about how I'll be incorporating this, but this is a resource I'm interested in using. I'll be talking to my school librarian about getting a copy!
March 2, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book before publication. Overall, I’d probably rate this book at about a 3.5- I really struggled to decide how I felt about this book because there were parts that were absolutely fantastic and thoroughly researched and then there were other parts that sounded very clunky, grew repetitive, or were worded in a way that cast a less than professional tone — perhaps some phrasing was meant to relate to middle grade readers more than adults, but some of the more casual phrases, comments, and verbiage came across as messy in comparison with the rest of the passages. I LOVED the focus on the Wampanoag life apart from English influence so that the reader was able to get a glimpse into pre-colonial indigenous culture, societal structures, economics, agriculture, and legal systems. Though, at first, the bouncing between a fictionalized story about a Wampanoag family during the course of a year in their lives and an almost textbook style history of colonization seemed jarring as the first time it happened, the historical text passage seemed to jump right past the initial contact in 1620 and fully into English abuses, and then went back to the historical fiction where the village had no knowledge of the English. Over the course of the book, I appreciate the juxtaposition between the two, but it could be hard for a middle schooler to follow without concerted effort. I did like the questions posed at the end of each section that caused the reader to think critically about the content they’d just read, but again, it read more like a textbook or a teacher trying to elicit a particular response - albeit legitimate. As a librarian, I’m not really sure how you’d catalog this book because it’s both historical fiction and nonfiction…. And while I read an advanced copy, I saw no citations and references, which is a bit concerning as about half of the book is nonfiction. I’m hoping that will be corrected at publication. The historical content was correct, but the citations are needed for credibility-sake. Overall, I’m glad I read it, and I’d certainly recommend it to some students and teachers, but the style would be hard to follow for some readers.
2023
October 13, 2025Indigenous Heritage Month TBR
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers
📱 Thank you to NetGalley and Crown Books for Young Readers
January 13, 2024
Excellent book, esp for elementary or middle school students, to learn about Native American history. Well-written with Wampanoag family stories woven in with historical accounts of European arrival and "Doctrine of Discovery" justification for taking over land from those they considered "native savages." Interspersed with critical thinking questions that would make great writing prompts or group discussion questions for a school or homeschool curriculum.
"When you think about the beginning of the American story, what comes to mind? People in buckled hats and shoes stepping off the Mayflower, eager to start a new country? In reality, the Pilgrims didn't arrive to a vast, empty land ready to be developed. They disembarked to find communities of people living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they quickly disrupted everything they saw. This part of our past is full of injustice, but it's also full of heroic rebellion and persistence.
Told from the perspective of the New England Indigenous Nations who have been on this land since the earliest days of this country, this is the true story of how America as we know it today began."
"When you think about the beginning of the American story, what comes to mind? People in buckled hats and shoes stepping off the Mayflower, eager to start a new country? In reality, the Pilgrims didn't arrive to a vast, empty land ready to be developed. They disembarked to find communities of people living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they quickly disrupted everything they saw. This part of our past is full of injustice, but it's also full of heroic rebellion and persistence.
Told from the perspective of the New England Indigenous Nations who have been on this land since the earliest days of this country, this is the true story of how America as we know it today began."
April 27, 2025
Okay so I have a lot of mixed feelings on this. Full disclosure I am white and have no indigenous blood. Take my review with a grain of salt. I liked a lot about this book but some parts had me hesitating. I'm not sure if this is because I have no personal experience with colonization and cultural erasure, or if there are genuine problems with this book. One undebatable issue I had was how small and unclear the images were in the book. The images weren't cited so I wasn't sure what I was even looking at, and the maps were illegible. So basically none of them were useful to me whatsoever. Another issue is I'm not sure what audience this is supposed to be for. Supposedly this is a children's book. Maybe a teen book. Either way it's unclear and the language is wildly varied. At one point it explains what a buck is (male deer) but then has buttloads of super complex language about enslavement, land laws, and systemic oppression. I also felt the language was a bit aggressive and pushing ideas to the extreme. This is where my bias might come into play. obviously what happened to all indigenous tribes in this country was disgusting and horrifying. I don't want to minimize that. I don't want to take away the loss of culture, people, religion, and ways of life. It is difficult for me to be honest without also being sensitive to the content. Either way, I think this is a valuable book to read about Wampanoag people that has been written with a modern eye.
February 25, 2025
I got interested in this book when I heard it was banned in some Texas area. Also data shows that half of Americans can read only below 8th grade level - which is the level this book is written in. Essentially, it was interesting to see how “difficult” the topic can become in order to be a target for banning.
I think it’s a very clever format: Indigenous stories about life rituals written from children’s perspective (language is easier and geared towards kids). The analytical part is more “grown-up” part (which I found more interesting as an adult). I also learned new things (for example, how Thanksgiving was invented as a lie) etc.
I think it’s a great book for teenagers and grown-ups alike to creatively learn some early American history. It’s not blaming anyone, just teaches to think critically when encountering stories, even when they come from primary sources (this was even a good lesson for myself).
I think it’s a very clever format: Indigenous stories about life rituals written from children’s perspective (language is easier and geared towards kids). The analytical part is more “grown-up” part (which I found more interesting as an adult). I also learned new things (for example, how Thanksgiving was invented as a lie) etc.
I think it’s a great book for teenagers and grown-ups alike to creatively learn some early American history. It’s not blaming anyone, just teaches to think critically when encountering stories, even when they come from primary sources (this was even a good lesson for myself).
June 14, 2024
I thought this was a well done presentation of the Wampanoag experience before, during, and after colonization. It will be uncomfortable for readers who have only been taught a romanticized version of colonial Plymouth and New England, but it's important to learn a fuller version of history. The sections about the seasonal practices and way of life of the Wampanoag are very detailed and interesting, and the chapters focusing on colonization had lots of references to and quotes of writings from the time period. I think this would be something to go through slowly with children, leaving lots of room for questions and discussion.
August 4, 2024
It’s clearly a collection of oral history stories from the author’s culture which is fine but it’s presented as “the truth”. It’s a lovely, utopian view of American indigenous cultures before western colonization, but actual history and archeological evidence show that there was war, illness and death even before the colonists arrived.
Read
January 27, 2025Very informative and an important nonfiction text for children to have access too. Quite engaging as well.
August 18, 2023
Colonization and the Wampanoag Story
by Linda Coombs
Pub Date 12 Sep 2023
Random House Children's,Crown Books for Young Readers
Children's Nonfiction| History| Middle Grade
Netgalley, Random House Children's, and Crown Book Readers have provided me with a copy of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for review:
So far, you've only heard one side of the story: Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists' descriptions of the "discovery" of America. A true account of America from the perspective of its Indigenous people.
If you were asked to think about the beginning of the American story, what would you say? In 1492, three ships docked off of the Mayflower, or perhaps buckled shoes and hats stepped off. The truth is, Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists didn't arrive to an empty, vast land ready for development. Upon arriving, they found people and communities living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they disrupted everything they witnessed.
There is a carefully misrepresented history of America's earliest days, beginning with its "discovery" by Europeans, and ending with its first Thanksgiving. This is the true story of how America as we know it today began from the point of view of the Indigenous Nations in New England.
I give Colonization and the Wampanoag Story five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
by Linda Coombs
Pub Date 12 Sep 2023
Random House Children's,Crown Books for Young Readers
Children's Nonfiction| History| Middle Grade
Netgalley, Random House Children's, and Crown Book Readers have provided me with a copy of Colonization and the Wampanoag Story for review:
So far, you've only heard one side of the story: Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists' descriptions of the "discovery" of America. A true account of America from the perspective of its Indigenous people.
If you were asked to think about the beginning of the American story, what would you say? In 1492, three ships docked off of the Mayflower, or perhaps buckled shoes and hats stepped off. The truth is, Christopher Columbus, the Pilgrims, and the Colonists didn't arrive to an empty, vast land ready for development. Upon arriving, they found people and communities living in harmony with the land they had inhabited for thousands of years, and they disrupted everything they witnessed.
There is a carefully misrepresented history of America's earliest days, beginning with its "discovery" by Europeans, and ending with its first Thanksgiving. This is the true story of how America as we know it today began from the point of view of the Indigenous Nations in New England.
I give Colonization and the Wampanoag Story five out of five stars!
Happy Reading!
November 4, 2023
With its combination of narrative fiction and nonfiction sections, Colonization and the Wampanoag Story provides a unique view of colonization of America and its impact on the native peoples living on the land. The narrative fiction sections provide an account of what day to day life was like for Wampanoag children prior to colonization. Culture, family structures, agriculture, and economics are all addressed throughout the narrative. The nonfiction sections interspersed between the fictional chapters counter the long-held myths about colonization, including the story of the first Thanksgiving. Thoughtful questions for readers are provided at the end of each nonfiction section to help readers process the information provided.
The fiction sections help readers develop a deeper understanding of how the arrival of European settlers and the imposition of their culture and rules as described in the nonfiction portions of the book disrupted the ways the Wampanoag and other tribes lived for years. Having the fiction section told from the perspective of a child helps to make the content relatable and accessible for middle grade readers. This book will be a useful resource for engaging readers in critically thinking about and developing a deeper understanding of this part of the history of the United States.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
The fiction sections help readers develop a deeper understanding of how the arrival of European settlers and the imposition of their culture and rules as described in the nonfiction portions of the book disrupted the ways the Wampanoag and other tribes lived for years. Having the fiction section told from the perspective of a child helps to make the content relatable and accessible for middle grade readers. This book will be a useful resource for engaging readers in critically thinking about and developing a deeper understanding of this part of the history of the United States.
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an eARC to read and review.
November 5, 2023
Review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐(5)/5
What a cool book! Weaving informational nonfiction chapters with experiential fictional narratives, *Colonization and the Wampanoag Story* provides a much-needed re-telling of indigenous history in the United States for a Middle Grade audience. Important topics and concepts like colonization, indigenous culture, economics, education, and religion are explained in the nonfiction chapters and then are illustrated through fictional chapters about a young Wampanoag (Little Bird) and her family. I enjoyed reading this book and found the clear and straightforward presentation of history to be accessible to young readers, while still being high quality in depth of content and critical perspective—a rarity in the Middle Grade Nonfiction space.
This book deserves a place in every school library, and I have already had multiple conversations with my colleagues in history departments about how this work could enhance their curriculum. I look forward to reading other books in the Race to the Truth series!
**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Coombs, and Random House Children’s/Crown Books for Young Readers, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.
What a cool book! Weaving informational nonfiction chapters with experiential fictional narratives, *Colonization and the Wampanoag Story* provides a much-needed re-telling of indigenous history in the United States for a Middle Grade audience. Important topics and concepts like colonization, indigenous culture, economics, education, and religion are explained in the nonfiction chapters and then are illustrated through fictional chapters about a young Wampanoag (Little Bird) and her family. I enjoyed reading this book and found the clear and straightforward presentation of history to be accessible to young readers, while still being high quality in depth of content and critical perspective—a rarity in the Middle Grade Nonfiction space.
This book deserves a place in every school library, and I have already had multiple conversations with my colleagues in history departments about how this work could enhance their curriculum. I look forward to reading other books in the Race to the Truth series!
**Acknowledgments & Disclaimers**
✨ Thank you to NetGalley, Linda Coombs, and Random House Children’s/Crown Books for Young Readers, for providing an ARC and the opportunity to share an honest review of this book.
✨ All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.
✨ My reviews and ratings strive to evaluate books within their own age-demographic and genre.
July 5, 2023
3.5/5
This one was hard for me to rate because it's kind of all over the place. I think the non-fiction part is great. It's so important to learn about the colonization of Native Peoples and I thought that element of the book was good and informative. This book also weaves in a fictional story of youth in a Wampanoag tribe. I love the idea of mixing historical facts with a fictional story based on real events. I think it's a good way for kids to engage with history while also finding loveable and relatable characters (I was raised on the PBS show Liberty's Kids), but I personally thought the fictional story was underwhelming. Still, I can see this being a great addition to any elementary classroom!
Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
This one was hard for me to rate because it's kind of all over the place. I think the non-fiction part is great. It's so important to learn about the colonization of Native Peoples and I thought that element of the book was good and informative. This book also weaves in a fictional story of youth in a Wampanoag tribe. I love the idea of mixing historical facts with a fictional story based on real events. I think it's a good way for kids to engage with history while also finding loveable and relatable characters (I was raised on the PBS show Liberty's Kids), but I personally thought the fictional story was underwhelming. Still, I can see this being a great addition to any elementary classroom!
Thanks to netgalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review!
August 4, 2023
This book was a very interesting read for me. As a classroom teacher, I love the idea of this and the whole series! We need more true history books.
This book is told in two parts. One is the fiction story. The other is history.
As I think about what grade/age this book is for I am torn. The fiction part of this story would be great for 3 -4 graders. The vocabulary is more sophisticated in the nonfiction sections. This would require an older student or more advanced reader.
This book would also be fantastic as a read aloud.
Overall, this is an important story and I would love to have it in my classroom library.
This book is told in two parts. One is the fiction story. The other is history.
As I think about what grade/age this book is for I am torn. The fiction part of this story would be great for 3 -4 graders. The vocabulary is more sophisticated in the nonfiction sections. This would require an older student or more advanced reader.
This book would also be fantastic as a read aloud.
Overall, this is an important story and I would love to have it in my classroom library.
December 1, 2024
In their own language Wampanoag means the People of the First Light, because the Wampanoag inhabited the eastern coast of America. They were the first to see the sun rise in the east.
Part of the publisher’s Race to the Truth series Coombs’s history of the way of life of her indigenous ancestors and the effect that the European “discovery” of the Americas had on her nation when English colonial settlers began arriving in their homeland and claimed it as a New England. The book has two parts one is a narrative story with fictional Wampanoag characters called “When Life Was Our Own,” which describes their traditional way of life in a year before any Europeans arrived. It covers how they fed themselves with hunting, fishing, gathering, and growing crops, and the skills and values that were then taught to the young by the older members of the tribe.
These sections When Life Was Our Own sections are printed in white characters on a black background.
They are interspersed with more traditional black characters on a white background with provocative questions about the impact of the new settlers who began arriving in the 17th centuriy after the native population had been decimated by new germs from Europe that spread a pandemic across the eastern part of North America.
Soon the new English settlers, who had developed immunity to these germs began to outnumber and crowd out the original settlers, and using the Doctrine of Discovery to force the original inhabitants of the land to conform to English laws such as ownership of land, then clearing the land for pasturing their livestock and growing their crops in large fields. What was originally a tolerant cooperation between the original inhabitants and the new colonist erupted into what is now referred to as King Philip’s War, the first of a bloody war against the people who the English referred to as “Indians” that set a pattern that would continue into the 19th century.
In these alternating sections of Coombs well documented book critiques the negative impacts that settler colonization has had in American history and the effects that it still has in the present.
Part of the publisher’s Race to the Truth series Coombs’s history of the way of life of her indigenous ancestors and the effect that the European “discovery” of the Americas had on her nation when English colonial settlers began arriving in their homeland and claimed it as a New England. The book has two parts one is a narrative story with fictional Wampanoag characters called “When Life Was Our Own,” which describes their traditional way of life in a year before any Europeans arrived. It covers how they fed themselves with hunting, fishing, gathering, and growing crops, and the skills and values that were then taught to the young by the older members of the tribe.
These sections When Life Was Our Own sections are printed in white characters on a black background.
They are interspersed with more traditional black characters on a white background with provocative questions about the impact of the new settlers who began arriving in the 17th centuriy after the native population had been decimated by new germs from Europe that spread a pandemic across the eastern part of North America.
Soon the new English settlers, who had developed immunity to these germs began to outnumber and crowd out the original settlers, and using the Doctrine of Discovery to force the original inhabitants of the land to conform to English laws such as ownership of land, then clearing the land for pasturing their livestock and growing their crops in large fields. What was originally a tolerant cooperation between the original inhabitants and the new colonist erupted into what is now referred to as King Philip’s War, the first of a bloody war against the people who the English referred to as “Indians” that set a pattern that would continue into the 19th century.
In these alternating sections of Coombs well documented book critiques the negative impacts that settler colonization has had in American history and the effects that it still has in the present.
December 28, 2024
5 Stars for the concept.
I loved that this combined an oral-history-style story with critical questions after each section. I appreciated the unsubtle reminders that most history lessons in the United States are traditionally incomplete, and leave out not just whole perspectives, but entire pieces of our country's story.
But I have quibbles.
First, the white-on-black text was a real challenge. I think just a black edge would have offered up sufficient visual contrast. This may be just a me-problem, and I may just need to deal with my aging eyes.
But second, I wanted more even pacing between the story and the thoughtful questions. The rhythm and relationship between the story and the supplementary information was not as smooth as I would have liked. I might have had better luck if the story was printed in its entirely on the upper 2/3 of the pages, with the questions and "think about it" paragraphs on the bottom 1/3.
Generally, though, this book brings together the history of the Wampanoag alongside the colonists from Europe and does not allow the Indigenous side of the story to be lost or ignored or conveniently glossed over. And it does this at least partly by simply encouraging the reader to think about things, although there's a fair amount of pointing the reader down a particular line of thought.
An important piece of the story for anyone who teaches or celebrates about American Thanksgiving, United States history, or our founding myths.
I loved that this combined an oral-history-style story with critical questions after each section. I appreciated the unsubtle reminders that most history lessons in the United States are traditionally incomplete, and leave out not just whole perspectives, but entire pieces of our country's story.
But I have quibbles.
First, the white-on-black text was a real challenge. I think just a black edge would have offered up sufficient visual contrast. This may be just a me-problem, and I may just need to deal with my aging eyes.
But second, I wanted more even pacing between the story and the thoughtful questions. The rhythm and relationship between the story and the supplementary information was not as smooth as I would have liked. I might have had better luck if the story was printed in its entirely on the upper 2/3 of the pages, with the questions and "think about it" paragraphs on the bottom 1/3.
Generally, though, this book brings together the history of the Wampanoag alongside the colonists from Europe and does not allow the Indigenous side of the story to be lost or ignored or conveniently glossed over. And it does this at least partly by simply encouraging the reader to think about things, although there's a fair amount of pointing the reader down a particular line of thought.
An important piece of the story for anyone who teaches or celebrates about American Thanksgiving, United States history, or our founding myths.
November 10, 2023
This middle-grade historical book has a little bit of everything, for every kind of reader. It begins with a piece of historical fiction titled “When Life Was Our Own”, detailing the season-to-season life of a Wampanoag family and their local community before European contact.
The characters and their storylines are so well-developed that the reader forms a personal connection to the main character, Little Bird, and her beautiful family. I found it tender and wonderfully reminiscent of one of my favorite middle grade novels, National Book Award Finalist The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, which also follows a young Ojibwe girl named Omakayas and her family over a period of time.
The story of Little Bird and her family weaves throughout the book, alternating with chapters of nonfiction Southern New England Indigenous history, written in the voice of Coombs herself, a historian from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. She speaks openly and honestly, including a plethora of thought-provoking discussion questions throughout, making it a valuable resource for an elementary classroom.
The juxtaposition of historical fiction chapters with expository nonfiction ones is powerful and eye-opening. I have not seen another history book for this age group that covers so much of the Indigenous perspective.
The characters and their storylines are so well-developed that the reader forms a personal connection to the main character, Little Bird, and her beautiful family. I found it tender and wonderfully reminiscent of one of my favorite middle grade novels, National Book Award Finalist The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich, which also follows a young Ojibwe girl named Omakayas and her family over a period of time.
The story of Little Bird and her family weaves throughout the book, alternating with chapters of nonfiction Southern New England Indigenous history, written in the voice of Coombs herself, a historian from the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah. She speaks openly and honestly, including a plethora of thought-provoking discussion questions throughout, making it a valuable resource for an elementary classroom.
The juxtaposition of historical fiction chapters with expository nonfiction ones is powerful and eye-opening. I have not seen another history book for this age group that covers so much of the Indigenous perspective.
May 2, 2025
SHORT STORY:
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Plot & Events: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
World-Building: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Characters: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Originality: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Personal Interest: ⭐☆☆☆☆
Ending: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
NONFICTION:
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Informative: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of reading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Personal Interest: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organization: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Average: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3.4 stars
I did my rating system a bit different for this book, because it's a strange mix of a fiction story and nonfiction history. I know what she was trying to do, but the fiction story was SO BORING! I still believe it's a powerful book with a true story that needs to be told in as many forms as possible. The white washed bullshit that they still teach in our public schools is primitive, rudimentary, out of date, not to mention downright unethical. I would say this is a good book to give a middle grade child to learn about the truth, and perhaps they would find the story more interesting than I.
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Plot & Events: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
World-Building: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆
Characters: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Originality: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
Personal Interest: ⭐☆☆☆☆
Ending: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
NONFICTION:
Writing Style: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Informative: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ease of reading: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Personal Interest: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Organization: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Average: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ 3.4 stars
I did my rating system a bit different for this book, because it's a strange mix of a fiction story and nonfiction history. I know what she was trying to do, but the fiction story was SO BORING! I still believe it's a powerful book with a true story that needs to be told in as many forms as possible. The white washed bullshit that they still teach in our public schools is primitive, rudimentary, out of date, not to mention downright unethical. I would say this is a good book to give a middle grade child to learn about the truth, and perhaps they would find the story more interesting than I.
November 7, 2024
2.5 stars and a did not finish. This is two books in one. The non-fiction chapters are informative, read like a textbook, and will be a good resource for teachers. Educators can pull out the facts to create lessons and use the questions often posed in this section as prompts for discussion and/or writing. They were a bit heavy-handed in directing how the reader should feel after reading the facts.
The narrative story is way too much telling and not enough showing. There is no dialogue. The characters have names but there is no depth to them. It is hard to get a sense of any of them. The story did not engage or create much interest. It was " and then this, and then that." Not dynamic at all.
The idea of combining facts with fiction is what historical fiction is all about. This one stumbled along the way.
The narrative story is way too much telling and not enough showing. There is no dialogue. The characters have names but there is no depth to them. It is hard to get a sense of any of them. The story did not engage or create much interest. It was " and then this, and then that." Not dynamic at all.
The idea of combining facts with fiction is what historical fiction is all about. This one stumbled along the way.
July 15, 2024
I started reading this on paper, but the white print on black paper gave me trouble. I switched to the audio around chapter 5, and that was better.
This is essential information for understanding our history and culture, concisely and clearly presented, froma perspective we don’t see enough. As an adult, I enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.
I think the series has done itself a disservice by putting a carton-Disneyish image on the cover. It suggests a graphic novel, which it is not, and a younger audience. The pages are text-heavy and though the content could be appropriate for younger readers, the writing style makes it more for stronger readers, middle school and up. The packaging is confusing.
This is essential information for understanding our history and culture, concisely and clearly presented, froma perspective we don’t see enough. As an adult, I enjoyed it and got a lot out of it.
I think the series has done itself a disservice by putting a carton-Disneyish image on the cover. It suggests a graphic novel, which it is not, and a younger audience. The pages are text-heavy and though the content could be appropriate for younger readers, the writing style makes it more for stronger readers, middle school and up. The packaging is confusing.
September 18, 2024
Race to the Truth is a powerful and thought-provoking book that challenges many assumptions about Native people at the time of European colonization. It encourages critical thinking and a re-evaluation of long-held attitudes toward Native communities, including the lingering impact of these views today.
One of the standout features for me and my son were the sections called "When Life Was Our Own," which offered insight from the perspective of the Wampanoag and Southern New England tribes. These sections provided a deeper understanding of their experiences, making the history more personal and impactful. This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to approach the history of colonization with a more accurate and respectful perspective.
One of the standout features for me and my son were the sections called "When Life Was Our Own," which offered insight from the perspective of the Wampanoag and Southern New England tribes. These sections provided a deeper understanding of their experiences, making the history more personal and impactful. This book is a must-read for anyone wanting to approach the history of colonization with a more accurate and respectful perspective.
February 4, 2025
I do wish this was released as a historical fiction and it's non fiction companion.
I can see this format being useful as a curriculum/book read over a unit in a school setting.
That's really my only "negative" and it's not really a negative, just my own preference.
The story of Little Bird and her family titled "When Life was our own" was interesting, but the history presented in the other half by author and member of the Wampanoag people was what kept me reading.
It's an accessible and simple explanation of the colonial systems put in place that shows in real time how the early laws and decisions being made were specifically and intentionally implemented to destroy the indigenous cultures encountered by Europeans.
I can see this format being useful as a curriculum/book read over a unit in a school setting.
That's really my only "negative" and it's not really a negative, just my own preference.
The story of Little Bird and her family titled "When Life was our own" was interesting, but the history presented in the other half by author and member of the Wampanoag people was what kept me reading.
It's an accessible and simple explanation of the colonial systems put in place that shows in real time how the early laws and decisions being made were specifically and intentionally implemented to destroy the indigenous cultures encountered by Europeans.
May 19, 2023
An interesting read.
I like that it offers the story of the native inhabitants of the Northeast. But while explaining some aspects, it doesn’t give any definitions of some words young readers may not be familiar with, assuming they would know.
There are also two tenses used: when describing the native life, the present tense is used, but then the past tense is used for all the other narration.
I also thought many of the illustrations were rough and needed more definition.
The book has its scope, but it offers a glimpse of life for the original people of America.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the early read.
I like that it offers the story of the native inhabitants of the Northeast. But while explaining some aspects, it doesn’t give any definitions of some words young readers may not be familiar with, assuming they would know.
There are also two tenses used: when describing the native life, the present tense is used, but then the past tense is used for all the other narration.
I also thought many of the illustrations were rough and needed more definition.
The book has its scope, but it offers a glimpse of life for the original people of America.
Thanks to Random House and NetGalley for the early read.
August 4, 2023
This book was a very interesting read for me. As a classroom teacher, I love the idea of this and the whole series! We need more true history books.
This book is told in two parts. One is the fiction story. The other is history.
As I think about what grade/age this book is for I am torn. The fiction part of this story would be great for 3 -4 graders. The vocabulary is more sophisticated in the nonfiction sections. This would require an older student or more advanced reader.
This book would also be fantastic as a read aloud.
Overall, this is an important story and I would love to have it in my classroom library.
This book is told in two parts. One is the fiction story. The other is history.
As I think about what grade/age this book is for I am torn. The fiction part of this story would be great for 3 -4 graders. The vocabulary is more sophisticated in the nonfiction sections. This would require an older student or more advanced reader.
This book would also be fantastic as a read aloud.
Overall, this is an important story and I would love to have it in my classroom library.
October 9, 2023
Very fitting that I finished this book on "Indigenous People Day". I see this book quickly becoming banned/challenged in school because it gives a realistic, accurate account of the history of the "founding" of America. Heaven forbid our children learn real history. The format of the book is interesting, going back and forth between the story and then a historical/questioning section. I learned something new from this book. I think the illustrations could have been better. They were hard for this old lady to make out. I have the other book in this series and have pre-ordered the third. They will be going out in my little free library after I finish them.
Read
January 14, 2024The book is structured as two strands woven together. The first is “When Life Was Our Own,” a historical fiction story about a pre-contact Wampanoag village following a 12-year-old girl named Little Bird. The chapters follow the seasons, showing how closely the Wampanoag live in harmony with the land and their fellow nature-dwellers. The second is a non-fiction series of topics such as “Creating Colonies: More Than a New Place to Live,” “Laws: The European Legal System Imposed,” and “The Truth, Today.” The non-fiction chapters provide history that is not typically taught in American schools and contain excerpts from primary sources such as Mourt’s Relation and Of Plymouth Plantation. The historical fiction section illustrates how the English people’s assumptions about the Wampanoag were incorrect. There are a few questions at the end of each non-fiction chapter, prompting readers to think critically about what they have just read. There is an extensive bibliography organized by subject as well as a “Resources for Young Readers” list.
The illustrations are quite small, making it difficult to see details, particularly of the maps. There are other illustrations which are clearly photographs of re-enactors but are captioned as though they are actual pictures, such as “Wampanoag men being kidnapped to be sold into slavery in Europe.” Some illustrations are stylized artwork by Wampanoag artists but with captions such as “We are still here.” Aside from the illustrations, I found the reading level for the “When Life Was Our Own” section to be fairly young but the non-fiction section to be older.
Upper elementary and middle school students interested in learning more about the history behind the Thanksgiving mythology could enjoy this book. It could also be used by teachers in the classroom - as young as 3rd grade - who could use the narrative for independent reading, then scaffold the fact-based history sections as part of a non-fiction literacy unit about Thanksgiving, the Wampanoag, or Native Americans in general.
The illustrations are quite small, making it difficult to see details, particularly of the maps. There are other illustrations which are clearly photographs of re-enactors but are captioned as though they are actual pictures, such as “Wampanoag men being kidnapped to be sold into slavery in Europe.” Some illustrations are stylized artwork by Wampanoag artists but with captions such as “We are still here.” Aside from the illustrations, I found the reading level for the “When Life Was Our Own” section to be fairly young but the non-fiction section to be older.
Upper elementary and middle school students interested in learning more about the history behind the Thanksgiving mythology could enjoy this book. It could also be used by teachers in the classroom - as young as 3rd grade - who could use the narrative for independent reading, then scaffold the fact-based history sections as part of a non-fiction literacy unit about Thanksgiving, the Wampanoag, or Native Americans in general.
December 1, 2024
Inside Colonization and the Wampanoag Story there are two colors of pages. The black pages illustrate what life was like throughout the seasons pre-colonization for the Wampanoag by following a fictional typical family. The white pages give facts and information about what went on during colonization and beyond and how it affected the people who already lived there. The author, who is Wampanoag, makes it clear that her intention is not to make anyone feel bad for what has already happened, but only to educate so people can have a better understanding of that past and use that to make better choices in the futures.
September 11, 2023
This book is basically two books in one. "When Life Was Our Own" is the story of a girl, Little Bird, and her family as they go throughout the year. Interspersed between this story is the history of the colonization of America and how it affected the Indigenous people. I really enjoyed this book and hope that this type of education is incorporated more into schools. Highly recommend this book for a home library!
"This book relates history that happened, but which has been omitted or erased, or is distorted and stereotyped in history books today."
"The responsibility of humans, in return, is to keep the earth as created; to keep all of Creator's systems of life working as created; to keep the balance of life."
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
"This book relates history that happened, but which has been omitted or erased, or is distorted and stereotyped in history books today."
"The responsibility of humans, in return, is to keep the earth as created; to keep all of Creator's systems of life working as created; to keep the balance of life."
I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
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