Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage

Mayflower 1620: A New Look at a Pilgrim Voyage

Author: Catherine O’Neill Grace

ISBN: 0792261429

Publisher: National Geographic, 2003

Age: 9-12

Genre: Non-fiction

Summary: This fresh account of the voyage of the Mayflower is illustrated with photographs taken on a 2001 cruise of the Mayflower II.  The story of the Mayflower, her crew, and passengers is presented in a brief and accurate portrayal of the difficulties of life at sea.  The author illustrates the planning, preparation and skills that went into a voyage during the 1600’s, and discusses the difficulties that arose, or more than likely did arise, between so many people of differing backgrounds and beliefs.  

Read A-likes: 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving; Sarah Morton’s Day: A Day in the Life of a Pilgrim Girl; and Tapenum’s Day: A Wampanoag Indian Boy in Pilgrim Times.

Personal Thoughts: This book was a brief and yet well presented fresh look at the voyage that began the settling of a nation.  It was interesting to get a different view on a familiar story in history.  The real-life photographs included made it feel much more real and recent rather than something that simply happened in the past.