Poison in the Colony: Jamestown 1622 by Elisa Carbone - OPTIONAL

Poison in the Colony: Jamestown 1622 by Elisa Carbone, 297 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2019.  $18.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (deaths mentioned, dogs hanged)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Virginia was the first baby born in the Jamestown colony.  She was three when Pocahontas was taken prisoner by the settlers and six when the renamed Rebecca died on her only visit to England.  While there has usually been peace with the natives and the settlers, but the policies of the ever-changing colonial governor and the arrogance of the noblemen towards their plantation slaves (criminals from England, indentured servants, and blacks purchased from slavers) are always creating tension. Virginia has always been able to keep her visions secret from everyone but her family, but what if she sees something that could affect the entire colony?  Is that worth being hanged?

I think it always worth working hard with the Language Arts department or Social Studies department to make sure the historical fiction books in the library get used.  The addition of Virginia’s gift make this a little more mystical than historical, but there is plenty of great history included. I liked learning more of the details of the colonists’ lives.   

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS