I decided to pre-read this before handing it to my daughter next week. I'm really glad to have read it. It is a remarkably absorbing read - although quite depressing at times. I'm surprised and impressed at Fritz's approach here. She doesn't really sugar coat the story a great deal (although it is still appropriate for older elementary students - well, at least those who can deal with some death and violence).
I think a weakness of the story is that Fritz often tries to convey what Pocahontas *might* have been thinking or feeling. I realize, however, that's fairly unavoidable in a case like this when we have so little actual documentation to go on. And the author does make it clear when what she is saying is conjecture and the reader is free to agree or disagree with her analysis. She is also pretty sympathetic to Pocahontas (vs. John Smith for example, who is portrayed mostly as a self-interested opportunist), but again, that seems hard to avoid given what we know. If anything I am a little concerned about Pocahontas coming off as simply a 'victim'. But, to me, she comes off as a vibrant, feeling, clever individual who just so happened to be alive during a most extraordinary clash of cultures.
I see some readers feel this book has an anti-Christian slant. I am not a Christian myself so I am not particularly sensitive to that sort of thing, but I also don't really see that here. I think she presents the realities and beliefs of the time period accurately and much of it isn't so pretty by our modern standards.
I will absolutely be looking for more of Fritz's biographies and non-fiction work!
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