Sacagawea's Son: The Life of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

By Marion Tinling

Book Overview

When the explorers Lewis and Clark asked the Shoshone woman Sacagawea and her husband, French trapper Toussaint Charbonneau, to act as interpreters for their expedition, the couple brought along their two-month-old son, Jean Baptiste. Over the course of the two-year journey, baby Baptiste won the hearts of the rough men of the corps. Captain Clark called him "my little dancing boy." But the rest of the story of this intriguing young figure has been largely untold--until now.
Sacagawea's Son: The Life of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau tells the action-packed, sometimes poignant story of a boy born to adventure. Baptiste's experiences with the Corps of Discovery were only the beginning. Educated in St. Louis by Captain Clark, he went on to live in a royal palace in Europe and to speak many languages. But, truly his parents' son, he returned to the American West, living out his life as a trapper, scout, and explorer alongside the likes of Kit Carson, James Bridger, and John Fremont. Readers ages ten and up will thrill to this lively and fascinating account of the life of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau--a child chosen by history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0878424326
• ISBN13: 9780878424320
• Release Date: June 2001
• Publisher: Mountain Press
• Length: 136 Pages
• Weight: 0.52 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.0" x 9.1"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Another chapter in the fascinating Lewis & Clark story.

This is a seemingly well-researched biography of one member of the famous expedition who didn't have any stories of his own to tell about it, since he was only 18 months old when his parents parted from Lewis and Clark. Certainly many have asked, "Whatever happened to "Pomp"? He seems to have been a loner; his parents allowed Captain Clark to become his mentor in St. Louis, where he was educated with other half-Indian boys. During his entire life he saw little of Sacagawea (who died when he was 8) or Toussaint Charbonneau, his father, who was a guide and trapper. In his travels, Jean Baptiste crossed paths with many of the famous explorers and shapers of the American West. I'm no longer a "young adult," but found the book very interesting.

A very factual and realistic story about overcoming adversit

A wonderful history lesson for young adults. This factual chronicle of the life of Sacajawea's son, Charbonneau, will dispel the myth that Clark (of Lewis & Clark) made good on his promise to his Indian guide, Sacajawea. He did provide an education and board and room, but little else. In spite of the prejudice this boy faced, he was able to succeed in life. The book is well-written, factual, and written without predjudice. I would recommend this for required reading in junior high school.