A powerful story. Let this be just an introduction, though. Davis does an hour long reenactment :
https://bigsandy.kctcs.edu/news/2022-News/york.aspx ( )

This is the story of York, the only African American and non-volunteer, on the Lewis and Clark expedition. York was forced to make the treacherous journey to the Pacific as the slave of Captain Clark. By some York was treated as just another slave. Others, namely the Native Americans, treated York as a great leader because his skin color was not white and was more similar to their own. York was also honored along the way when a set of islands were named after him. Although the rest of the men on the expedition were eventually rewarded with land and money, York was sent back to life as a slave. A wonderful account of what this expedition was like from a slaves perspective.

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery Expedition (more popularly known as “The Lewis and Clark Expedition”) shortly after the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. He wanted to know just what the U.S. had purchased, and if the land contained a water route to the Pacific.

As the author explains in an introduction to this book, Captains Lewis and Clark recruited twenty-seven volunteers to join them on the mission. In addition, Captain Clark ordered York, his slave, to prepare for the trip. Hasan Davis observed:

“As property, York did not have a choice in whether he would volunteer for Jefferson’s dangerous mission. Slaves did not have choices.”

Thus, Davis writes, in May, 1804, Captains Lewis and Clark and twenty-eight men left from St. Louis, Missouri in three boats with the goal of reaching the Pacific Ocean.

There are many stories written about Lewis and Clark. Davis wanted to tell the story of the slave York. The author was assisted by the Louisville, Kentucky Filson Historical Society.

The author chose to tell the story in York’s voice, using modern language. He does not clarify the source of the text, but since it is presented as if it were excerpted from diary entries, it may have come from the accounts the other men kept during the trip.

Apparently, the Native Americans thought York was a leader or at least someone important, because of his skin color. Captain Clark began having York strip off his shirt and show off his muscular ability or do acrobatics for the Natives. The author writes, in York’s voice:

“My strength and the color of my skin - my ‘big medicine’ - were used by Captain Clark to persuade the Indians of America’s might.”

In July, 1805, Captain Clark named a group of islands after York - York’s Eight Islands:

“That name meant a great deal to me and made me believe that the captains valued my efforts. It let me dare hope that my future might be different.”

And yet, as the Author indicates in a note at the end, York was not freed by Clark after the mission, nor was he allowed to stay with his family when Clark moved to St. Louis. Davis notes:

“Ten years after the expedition returned, York was still enslaved by William Clark. Clark had ordered him beaten, jailed, and forced into hard labor in attempts to break York’s continued desire to be free.”

In an 1832 interview with Washington Irving, Clark claimed he had freed York and set him up in a business at which he failed. Then, according to Clark, York died of cholera while trying to return to Clark. There is no evidence for any of it.

What is clear is that York made a substantial and positive contribution to the Expedition, but like many men and women in history “behind the scenes” - especially black slaves, he received no credit for it. Hasan Davis says:

“This book is dedicated to all the unsung men and women whose stories have yet to be told but whose contributions to the building of America are indisputable.”

Illustrator Alleanna Harris brings her background in animation to bear in the use of a primitive style of art reminiscent of the period during which the story takes place. She is particularly expert at depicting facial expressions in a way that portrays mood and emotion, and at changing her palette to reflect transitions in the look of the country as the group heads West.

Evaluation: This is a great way to introduce kids to the story of Lewis and Clark and the exploration of the country from a different perspective than they are apt to get in history books. It’s a bit of a depressing story, but so is much of history. Readers will definitely have a lot to think about and discuss. ( )

Told from York's point of view. ( )

Children studying Lewis and Clark probably learn about Sacawajea, but is York ever mentioned? I had certainly never heard of him. When President Jefferson called for an expedition and Captains Lewis and Clark recruited able-bodied men as volunteers, one man went along without volunteering; York. Captain Clark's slave. York was never given a choice.

Told in first person, Davis imagines what life would be like as a slave on the expedition. York meets Sacawajea, is honored and respected by the Native Americans, and suffers the loss of a man he considers a friend, Sergeant Floyd, who was anti-slavery. When they finally reach the ocean, for the first time York has a voice and is asked to vote with the other men. But when Captain Lewis honors the men who took part in the expedition, York's name is never mentioned.

In the author's note, he points out that York's name was not included in the official record of the expedition. He received no honors, payment, or even acknowledgment of his participation. He remained a slave and was separated from his family by Clark two years later. There are differing accounts of York's eventual fate. Clark claimed he set him free and he died of cholera while trying to return to Clark's employment. This seems unlikely, especially considering no evidence of manumission was ever found. There is anecdotal evidence from trappers and Native Americans that York was either freed or escaped and joined the Crow tribe.

A brief page of back matter lists some books and websites with information about York and includes a note that the author took creative license in lieu of any historical record of York's personal experiences. This raises an important point for discussion - how do authors tell the stories of marginalized people who were left out of the historical record? You can dig all you want to and still sometimes the information just isn't there. Do we continue to overlook these people because we can't "prove" or verify all the facts? Or do we bring them into the narrative anyways?

Verdict: Although in picture book format, I'd give this to older elementary students, especially those studying Lewis and Clark, to give them a different and wider perspective on the event. It's too long for a casual read-aloud, but a teacher could read sections aloud in their classroom with, I think, great results. It's well-written and the author thoughtfully discusses the lack of sources. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781543512823; Published January 2019 by Capstone; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library