Starred Review ALA Booklist (Mon Oct 01 00:00:00 CDT 2007)

Starred Review This well-designed, clearly written book looks at various ideas about the discovery of the Americas, including the famous voyages of Columbus in 1492, the claims that fifteenth-century Chinese explorer Zheng He may have sailed to the Americas, and the now-documented settlement of Vikings in Newfoundland around the year 1000. Next, the discussion turns to Native Americans, from ancient civilizations to the diverse societies that were here shortly before European contact. Freedman describes the long-accepted theory of the earliest inhabitants of North America crossing from Siberia over an ice bridge across the Bering Strait, dismissing it as "almost certainly wrong" in the light of more recent archaeological evidence. Beyond the very readable presentation of facts and theories, the book's main accomplishment is in showing that history is not a static body of knowledge, but an evolving process of logically interpreted evidence continually questioned, disputed, and revised in the light of new discoveries and theories put forth by "obsessed amateurs" as well as professional historians. Back matter includes chapter notes identifying the sources of quotes as well as a short discussion, chapter by chapter, of books, articles, and Web sites used in researching the book. The illustrations, many in color, include many excellent maps as well as reproductions of period drawings, paintings, engravings, and photos of people, artifacts, and sites. A well-researched, intelligent account of America's "discovery."

Kirkus Reviews

The Americas have been "discovered" over and over again since the prehistoric past. <p>The Americas have been "discovered" over and over again since the prehistoric past. Not only was Columbus not the first explorer to discover America, he was one of the last, and this presentation of the Americas as lands of immigrants from Stone Age hunters to European explorers is a testament to Freedman's ability to make big subjects accessible to young readers. Drawing on research by scholars and "obsessed amateurs," he tells of Columbus, Zheng He and the giant Chinese treasure ships, Leif Eriksson and the Vikings and the Aztecs, Incas, Mayas and other civilizations of the Americas. The prose is clear and packed with interesting details, and the color photographs, full-page maps and reproductions of engravings, lithographs and drawings add to the lively presentation. The chapter notes and bibliography are solid, emphasizing how new and fresh some discoveries are. This engaging work presents history as a story still being written; maybe the reader will be the next to find an ancient stone tool that "will be a hand reaching out of the past and taking ours." (index) <i>(Nonfiction. 9-14)</p>

School Library Journal (Fri Oct 06 00:00:00 CDT 2023)

Gr 5-9-With characteristic polish, documentation, and readability, Freedman examines the evidence for determining who first discovered the Americas. Despite traditional historical emphasis on European discoveries, "tens of millions" of Native Americans were living here when these renowned explorers arrived. The author devotes separate chapters to Columbus's New World voyages, Chinese treasure-ship expeditions under Admiral Zheng He, and the "New World" wanderings of Leif Eriksson and the Vikings. But, with well-established Native American civilizations already in America, the bigger question is where they came from and when. Theories of Stone Age migration, DNA links to other cultures, and the location of carbon-dated artifacts provide clues but no definitive proof about the mysterious origins of the first Americans. This focused, investigative presentation will enhance collections that typically feature individual explorer biographies or descriptions of specific ancient Native American civilizations. Freedman conveys the allure of history and research through anecdotes, archaeological evidence, maps and illustrations, different points of view, and unanswered questions. His "Chapter Notes" and annotated "Selected Bibliography" are informative models of style and technique for young researchers. Students will discover fascinating information as well as a fine example of the research process in this thought-provoking work.-Gerry Larson, Durham School of the Arts, NC Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.

Voice of Youth Advocates

Could African seamen or giant treasure ships from China have possibly reached the American shores long before the era of Columbus? In this engrossing book, Newbery Award-winning author Freedman presents evidence that some parts of the Americas were well-populated thousands of years ago with extremely cultured groups of people such as the Mayas and the Incas, who in many ways were more scientifically and technologically advanced than the Europeans who came later. There are signs that Vikings landed in New England shortly after they settled in Greenland around 985. Even more intriguing, recent DNA and linguistics studies conclude that there were most likely several migrations from Siberia and northeast Asia to the Americas twenty to thirty thousand years ago. Some sites in South Carolina and Brazil suggest that migrants might have settled in these areas as many as fifty thousand years ago. Freedman provides an intriguing, fresh, and compelling view of traditional American history, taking readers beyond the familiar story of Columbus as the "discoverer of America" and presenting new theories and possibilities about who might have come to the Americas first and why. In addition, he examines Columbus's explorations in more depth, revealing some of the interesting political forces behind those voyages. Freedman's research is very thorough and his writing style is clear, concise, and easy to follow. Almost every page includes an interesting photograph or map to complement the text. He also provides a helpful bibliography for each chapter.-Dotsy Harland.