York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark: The African-American's Part in the Great Expedition by James J. Holmberg (1 book)

Bloomberg, Rhoda. (2004). York’s adventures with Lewis and Clark: an African-
American’s part in the great expedition. New York: HarperCollins. 88 pages.
ISBN # 0-06-009111-8

Award: 2005 Orbus Pictus Award Winner

Genre: biography

Classification: partial biography-spans from around 12 years of age until death

Content area: social studies

Grade level: 4th-8th

Credibility of author: The foreward is written by James J. Holmberg, editor of Dear Brother: Letters of William Clark to Jonathan Clark. Holmberg lectures about York and is the curator of special collections at the Filson Historical Society in Louisville, Kentucky.

Summary: This book uses research to inform the reader about York’s significant contribution to the Lewis and Clark expedition. It begins with York’s childhood when he was the personal “body servant” of Master William Clark. From there it leads up to York accompanying Clark and the others on the famous expedition across the Louisiana Territory. It describes how York was highly respected by the Native Americans and how his relationship with them probably saved the lives of the expedition more than once. From there, it describes the heartbreak of York’s life after the expedition up until his death.

Standards: Social Studies II: Time, Continuity, and Change; Social Studies III: People, Places, and Environment

Illustrations: Reproductions of paintings, prints, photographs, documents, and artifacts illustrate this large-format book.

Text structure: chronological

Tone: narrative, conversational

Voice: The author conveys a passion for her subject. When reading this book, one gets the feeling she is rooting for York to get the recognition he deserves.

Language: The sentence structure and vocabulary is age appropriate for 4th graders and up. The language is like an informal narration.

Access features: table of contents, chapter titles, introduction, illustration credits, bibliography, subject index, and endnotes containing background information and citations for the many quotations from books, letters, and journals

Use: I would use this book as a read-to or independent reading for 4th and 5th graders and independent reading for 6th and up. This book would be a great resource when teaching about the Louisiana Purchase and when celebrating Black History Month. I will definitely incorporate this book for the lead-up to our Lewis and Clark Day at school.

Response: This book was so good that I hated not being able to read the whole book at once. Because I did not know the history of York’s life, I kept visualizing a happy ending for him where he earned his freedom and went to live with the Native Americans as a chief. Unfortunately that didn’t happen, and I was heartbroken at the end for York and his wife and filled with anger at William Clark. I will never look at the William and Clark Expedition the same again. Before reading this book, I always envisioned Sacagawea along with Lewis and Clark. Now, York will always be a part of that picture as well. At least now York is beginning to receive some recognition. I would love to see York’s statue overlooking the Ohio River in Louisville, Kentucky.

Related texts:
The Incredible Journey of Lewis and Clark (Blumberg)
Dear Brother: Letters of William Clark to Jonathan Clark (Holmberg)