The Truth About Sacajawea

This is my 2nd book for the Back To History Challenge . I chose to read The Truth About Sacajawea by Kenneth Thomasma because much of it is local history. I live in Clatsop County, Oregon which is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition wintered while at the Pacific Ocean. I have been to Fort Clatsop many times and also to the Lewis and Clark Discovery Center at Cape Disappointment on the Washington side of the river. Both places have museuems and wonderful places to take visitors for a look at our countries history.

The author wrote this book using the actual journal enteries from Captains Lewis and Clark from the time that Toussaint Charbonneau and his Shoshone wife, Sacajawea joined the expedition as guides and interpreters. The first entry that included any mention of Sacajawea was made on November 4, 1804 and reads as below:
'Sunday, November 4, 1804 CAPTAIN CLARK
A French-Canadian, Toussaint Charbonneau, visits the two explorers. He wants to hire on as an interpreter and guide. Although he has two Shoshoni Indian wives, the explores engage Charbonneau and one of his wives who would be needed to interpret the Shoshoni language when the explores entered that territory.'
The author adds notes and much to the journal enteries from his own research, showing us all a clearer picture of the importance of this teenage mother on the 21 month journey to the Pacific Ocean. From the journal entries it becomes very clear how much the Captains relied on Sacajawea, not only for her interepreting skills, but also her knowledge of edible plants along the route, her calm manner in taking care of disaters and her mothering skills of her infant, Jean Baptiste.
This book is written for the young adult, but any one with an interest in Sacajawea and the Lewis & Clark Expedition would enjoy it. I actually didn't take away much new information from it, but I believe that is because of our close proximity to the fort and the time that I have spent there, reading parts of the actual journals.