I am Sacagawea (Ordinary People Change the World)

I bought this book for my 5 year old son as part of a homeschool unit study on Native Americans. We both loved it!!! I actually cried while reading it to him because I'm so moved by Sacagawea's story and by the powerful words written about how strong she was. I'm so glad I bought this amazing book and I can't wait for my 1 year old daughter to be old enough to read it to her as well. We will definitely be ordering more books in this series. Where can I request that this author please write a book about Pocahantas? And Walt Disney? And maybe Steve Jobs?

I was so looking forward to this but felt like some of the text was underpinned by a message that was too complex for my young kids and for me, it just took away from the story. While it’s fine to point out that she was a girl, Native American, living in a different era, etc - this book beats readers over the head with it in a way that is just so clumsy and disappointing. The feeling is “poor me” “I was a victim” and as an adult, I’m wondering how modern-day identity politics and feminism and all of our “stuff” influenced the writing of this story.

Give the story to little people straight. They are smart. They will understand her heroism. They will see how cruel the world could be back then without the sledgehammer approach.

Show, don’t tell - right? That’s the way a good story should be written.

If you must see this for yourself, go to a library or buy it used at a reduced price. It is not worth the full price tag.

I returned it - first time in my memory returning a book. Turned out my son didn’t like it because the art made her look super duper young and he wanted her to look her real age.

"I am Sacagawea" is another fantastic book in the "Ordinary People Change the World" series. Many other subjects achieved greatness as adults but I loved the way this book highlights Sacagawea's amazing accomplishments as a teenage girl, and a Native American at that.

Despite finding herself in a forced marriage (which was acknowledged but could have been more clearly emphasized), Sacagawea endured the extreme hardship and physical danger of exploration, all while contributing lifesaving wisdom to an expedition in which the leaders were far less experienced than her.

At the end of her (forced) servitude, it was her husband, and not she, who was presented with compensation. Stories like this--which exalt personal excellence and the strength of the human spirit--are vitally important, as is choosing subjects who achieved greatness in spite of our country's darkest injustices. Five stars.

There is something wonderful about the way Brad writes the "I Am..." books. The research he does is amazing. I've learned so much from every one of them. The best part, though, is that Brad Meltzer is a gifted storyteller. His books are enjoyable for every age. My son and his 5 year old son love to sit together and read them - Brad makes the stories alive. The illustrations, too, are wonderful, and keep the interest of even the littlest reader or soon-to-be reader. I've gotten in the habit of buying one for my family, and then one for my grandchildren's classroom, and the teachers love them. (They should be in every classroom.) And to learn so powerfully that one person can make a difference, well, what a great life lesson!

I thought that it was appropriate for my little ones, but it wasn't. Although I appreciate the honesty of the story, I think that the facts were a bit much for little kids. It's more appropriate for middle-schoolers I think.

A very powerful and empowering message!!!! As an adult, I learn so much from these books as do my children. I had no idea that Sacagawea was 17 years old, with a baby in tow, when she lead Lewis and Clark on their expedition. This book brings to life Sacagawea's life in an exciting and empowering manner. The message at the end is FANTASTIC... if you have a little girl, this is a must buy!!! (Boys will love the book too). I am constantly looking for books of historical women for my daughters to show them that women are smart and powerful too. This book does not disappoint.

I can't praise this series enough!!!! Buy one book and you too will be hooked!!! I am currently collecting the entire series for my daughters.

BUY THIS BOOK 😊

This is a wonderfully empowering series for my 6-year-old son who is obsessed with history. It's honest about the tragedies and hard aspects of our past while teaching him important lessons about life and personal strength. Sacagawea is now one of his role models, which I think is awesome.

Such a great series. Wonderfully researched and presented in an entertaining manner that is sure to get kids and adults even more interested!

Looks like a child’s book but the content is too much for a 7 yr old IMHO...

I bought this for my students so they could read about the lives of famous people from the time they were children. My third grade students love, love, love the I am series. To see third graders loving biographies as much as Dog-Man is most inspiring and has us on our way to wide reading for the year!