A very factual and detailed account of the Lewis and Clarke expedition focusing on the contributions of York, a slave of Clark.

York's Adventures with Lewis and Clark is a chapter book about the Lewis and Clark expedition geared towards late elementary school and early middle school students, but also has a lot to offer adult readers because of its unique and valuable perspective. It features maps, illustrations, a table of contents, end notes, a bibliography, and an index. The writing is clear and fact-oriented, while painting a complex psychological portrait of the expedition and its aftermath.

As more information surfaces about York, author Rhoda Blumberg explains, we increasingly realize the absolutely critical role he played in the Lewis and Clark expedition. Additionally, this book frankly states that Sacagawea was, like York, enslaved, and forced to bear children for her captor despite being a child herself. Nonetheless, York and Sacagawea were integrated into the group as a result of the extremely intense nature of the expedition. "York was the first black person to have any kind of recorded vote in North America," Blumberg writes after explaining every single member of the expedition voted on how and where to build the expedition's Pacific coast fort. "Sacagawea voted too -- more than a century before women or Indians were given voting rights by the United States government."

Yet when they returned to civilization, Clark expected York to switch gears and return to the submissive, enslaved servant he had been prior to the expedition. This was psychologically impossible, and York and Clark appear to have each been emotionally ripped apart by post-expedition life. (Of course, Lewis fared the worst, apparently committing suicide in 1809.)

There is ample reason to believe, Blumberg demonstrates, that the expedition would have failed but for York, yet he has remained an obscure footnote in most tellings of this iconic American story. I believe this book can be an excellent and critical component of any unit taught on Lewis and Clark. ( )

This is a great book for introducing issues of slavery into classroom studies. It is also a very complete history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. I would certainly share this book in a class, given the opportunity.

This book shares the little known or forgotten account of York's participation in the expedition of Lewis and Clark. Little record of York's involvement exists, besides what Clark wrote in his journal. Blumberg shares the contribution that York made by astonishing Indians with his black skin, he was seen as "big medicine" or a great warrior. His presence opened the door for the explorer's trade with native tribes. This story claims that the success of the expedition goes undoubtedly to York.

I liked everything in this information book except the ending. I felt so upset that York was not recognized as he should have. However, this doesn't surprise me since many key people go unnoticed, though they contributed to a major historical event. The illustrations are a bonus to the story. I also enjoyed reading some of the endnotes near the end. ( )