Blood on the River

We are about half way finished with our historical fiction read aloud.  Please leave a comment with your thoughts about the book so far.

35 thoughts on “Blood on the River

  1. NG

    My thought about the book is that it is a good book and that it tells you some stuff about more than 400 years ago.

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  2. EN

    I think the book is very interesting because bad things keep happening and people are dying. There was a huge change in the way samuel acts. His philosophy used to be trust know on but know he is friend with Richard.

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  3. AM

    I really like the book so far. It has been exiting and I am always exited for read aloud. Some events in the books are really unexpected and I really like that. I think it is a good book and I really enjoy it.

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  4. NB

    I like the book so far and samuel and some others are sad about James death. I don’y like how the gentlemen blamed John smith for those two guys death. I feel like the gentlemen are not going to bother to build the house because they are lazy and only care about themselves.

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  5. SS

    I think that the book has been interesting. I think that if the colony is going to be successful the gentlemen will need to work harder.

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  6. NG

    I think this book is good because it tells you about what it was like more than 400 years ago like what food they had to eat and that they had to build their own houses and that they didn’t have as new stuff as they had today like cars, newer foods, computers, and much more. They had to ride on old dirty ship, unlike today me have nicer ships and nicer houses. It aso tells us about the wars back then with the english and the indians. I think this book is good so far, it’s talking about about 400 years ago, and that’s a long time!

    There’s a lot of Nonfiction in it and there’s like one Fiction thing. If you’ve read some of the book then you’ll know but in the beginning there’s a fiction thing. I wonder if there’s more Fiction things in it, i’m sure there is but we’re halfway through “Blood On The River” or i think almost done with it!

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    1. A.T.

      I like you’re comment and i like how you compare old things and new things and that I see that you like the book quite a lot.

      Reply
  7. AM

    I think blood on the River is a really good book. I think this because it is interesting and you never know what is going to happen next. I also think this because it teaches us a lot about James Town in an exciting way. Like the time the fire started nobody expected it so it was a big surprise. I also like how it keeps everybody on the edge of their seat waiting for Mrs Rickard to read more. It is a book that keeps us guessing what is going to happen next.
    On the ship I liked how they used a lot of detail to make us feel like we are really on the boat. I also liked how they used when the whale was running away from the two smaller fish but together the smaller fish beat the whale as a symbol that even though the gentlemen have more power than the normal men the normal men can still take them down.
    I think the author chose a interesting time period that has a lot going on in it and that the author did a really good job explaining it. Overall I really liked this book and thought it is really fun.

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    1. BK

      I liked that you said that! This book is all about surprises and things that you don’t expect.
      This book is very interesting book to read indeed.

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  8. NF

    I thought that the book, Blood on the River is very interesting. I think a lot of parts in the book are important such as relationships and the character traits. I really like this book because I think the events are very fun to listen to like when there is a battle between the Indians and the English. I also thought the book was good because lots of people were getting killed and I thought that made the story more interesting. I thought the book was cool because we were reading about people and events from a long time ago. It makes me very excited when I read this book because so many things are happening at the same time.
    My favorite character in the book is Rev Hunt because I think he is very nice but he can be tough at times. There is one character that I don’t like and that is Henry. He is very mean to Samuel, for example, one time Samuel overheard Henry talking about how he stole all the food and Henry said if Samuel told anyone, Henry would kill Samuel.
    I think that Samuel has changed from the beginning to the middle of the story because in the beginning he had no friends and he did not trust anybody, but now he has tons of friends to stick up for him and he knows who to trust. For an example, whenever there is a problem he will always go to someone he trusts like, Rev Hunt to solve the problem and Rev Hunt will always help Samuel. That makes me think that this book can be happy at times but the book can be very upsetting to.
    This was one of my favorite read aloud books. I especially liked it because it was Historical Fiction and I can’t wait to read the rest of the book and find out what happens at the end. I really want to find out if anybody important in the book dies because I think that makes the book more fun to read. I also want to find out if Mary Ann ever gets married.

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    1. ak

      I think you did an amazing job. You added a ton of detail and that was one of the biggest things that I liked. I think that you did overall a great job.

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  9. AA

    I think that the book is very interesting because the virginia company has sent them to find gold but nobody has set out to find gold yet. I think when the virginia company finds out this they will get real mad. My thoughts about this is that captain smith will ask chief powhatan if there is any gold when the virginia company finds out they have found no gold yet. Also I think it is really strange that they are sending rocks to the virginia company but not gold. I really want to know how the virginia company feels about this.

    I also think that the book is very interesting because of the attack the native americans did at night. I did not understand that if the natives attacked James would run to the ships because of his plan a native american shot a bow at him and sadly he died. I thought that the natives wouldn’t attack because how kind they were being to the english but as we read more of the book I thought a attack was coming. And when samuel was outside he thought he heard something rustling behind the trees he shouted wangpo no one answered so he thought it was a deer but later in the night there was a native attack.

    I think the book is really good because of this! It is a awesome book!!!

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    1. AM

      I very much agree with you that it is a great book because it is. I also don’t know why James decided to go to the ship because it was a bad idea and cost him his life.

      Reply
  10. EH

    I love Blood on the River so far. It is really exciting when John Smith keeps getting put in jail. I love making predictions and seeing if you were right. The book is always very exciting with the indians, too! The book is incredibly funny, even though it is only telling us true facts. It is even sad, for example, when james ran out to the ship and was shot with an arrow. I wonder if Samuel will change back to being angry and hateful. John Smith, Samuel, and everyone else are going to place the english crown on Chief Powhatan’s head so that him and all his people would be english men.
    I think that Chief Powhatan will tell them to bring the presents to him. Chief Powhatan will ask John Smith what the crown is because he has never seen one before. When John Smith tells him he will send them back home. Then, the war will start and the Powhatan empire will be destroyed.
    If I was on board while they ate grains with mealworms I would probably eat nothing at all. When I began to starve I would just sit for an hour and pick each mealworm out of my cup.
    My favorite character is John Smith because he is brave and loyal to to the commoners, not to the gentlemen but he does not treat them badly. He knows what is right and what is wrong and does not keep secrets. John Smith is friendly with the indians. He does not lie to anyone, ever.
    The book is most exciting because whenever we stop it is always an amazing part. Then we have a lot to think about the rest of the day.
    I also think that Namutak is interesting because he always says that his life as an indian is better than Samuel’s, as a colonist. Samuel does not agree with him but I do. They have nothing stressful in their lives. The only bad thing that happens in their lives is the war, but the war was not really started because of themselves, but because of the colonists invading their land. A peaceful indian life as a kid most be fun, seeing how playful Pocahantus was.
    Overall, I think that Blood on the River is one of the best books that I have ever read.

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    1. NF

      Nice job. I really agree with you. I also think it is fun to make predictions. I like how you added parts in the story on your comment.

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  11. ak

    So far I really like the book blood on the river. I think it is very interesting and action packed. Their are so many different people in the book that makes it amazing.
    Like one person samuel. when samuel said “trust no one “ to now he realizes this “… I was a loner. It was me against the world. But coming to jamestown has changed me.
    Other important characters are captain John smith, Revernhunt , Namitak, and many many more. The reason the colonists came was because they were looking for gold. The money and support for the trip came from the virginia company. On the trip there we gentlemen and many commoner’s. Usually the gentlemen would sit around and have the commoner’s do all the work. Sometime’s the gentle men would come help and work but not always.
    In the months many of the men had died. From all sorts of things. Fighting, starvation, and illnesses. On the trip at time’s food was hard to manage. At one point it was so bad people could not work or even get out of bed. There also were indians who at first thought they were enemies but then they realized they are not enemies but friends. Now in the book the virginia company has orders from King James’s back in england. The order’s are to put a crown on chiefpowaton head and name him prince. And make him a english leader but the thing is chief powaton thing’s that the english men are in the powaton tribe.
    So overall this book has been great.

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  12. A.T.

    Blood on the River is a very interesting and exciting book about the colonial era who people who go to the New world in Jamestown sent by the Virginia Company to get gold for them. In this book there are many exciting things in the book going on right now in Blood on the River. Almost everywhere we stop in the book and we have to read it on the next day it leaves a cliffhanger, and it always makes me want to read it more because unexpected things keep happening. Good things happen and bad things happen there are quite some turning points in the book.
    The whole summary of what I read in this book is sort of about is the Virginia company sent them to get gold for the Virginia company. Once they get there they see the Indians they are unfriendly at first then there better. Then it starts to have some turning points of the relationship between the Indians and the English.
    At this point of the book it is really a big excitement to me because the characters of the book the Englishmen that are in Jamestown are sent by the Virginia Company to get gold for them but they don’t find a lot of gold. Now Powhaton the Indian tribe ruler thinks the English are his people and now the king of England is trying to crown Powhaton the Indian tribe ruler that he is now king James’s prince. I bet Powhaton is going to get quite mad and start secret plans to attack the English.
    I think this is a great book for read aloud because it is part of what we are learning right now in school so it helps our education and it’s very interesting and exciting. I hope we read more books like Blood on the river. I really think Blood on the river is a great book and my favorite read aloud book.

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  13. EN

    I think the book is very interesting because no parts are boring. Samuel’s philosophy have changed a lot. His philosophy was “ Trust no one” but know he is working with other people and he is friends with Richard.
    John Smith taught him how to use a sword and a musket, he gave him a full set of armour. This shows that Samuel is really growing up. Samuel is really good with his sword and practices a lot. All of the houses get set on fire and they had to protect the wall from burning by pouring water on it.
    Everyone was getting sick, they lost half the people there. Samuel did not know about where the food went until he overheard a conversation about that Master Wingfield was taking all the food. Samuel told John Smith that Master Wingfield was taking the food. Master Wingfield got arrested and everyone got back in good health. All the gentleman wanted to leave because John Smith was gone but he came back and told them to stay.
    Two woman came with Captain Newport. One of the woman was very selfish and made the other woman her maid. Most men want to marry the maid. Carpenter John Laden is making her a chest that has her initials on it.
    John smith, Samuel and Namitack are going to see chief powhatan to make him come back to Jamestown to give him a crown. But they are sitting at the fire with no food. My favorite character is John Smith.

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  14. SS

    I really like Blood on the River. I think that if the colony is going to be a successful the gentleman will need to work harder.
    Now that the two women came to Jamestown there will be a lot more arguing in the colony.
    When King James sent the crown to Jamestown to give to Chief Poeton I think the chief will be angry because he thinks that Jamestown is part of the Poeton Empire.
    I wonder what Namatack will tell the Poetons when he sees them. I wonder how Thomas Savage’s trip to see what Poetons was like.

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    1. AW

      I agree with you that the gentlemen will need to work harder. I also agree that there will be a lot more arguing because of the women.

      Reply
  15. BK

    The book Blood on the River was very exciting. Samuel, is going to the New World today known as North America just in 1607. Sam, meets four boys about his age. Two of them died. Sam’s old philosophy is to trust no one, now sam is trying to change and make new friends. His first friend was Richerd. They went to Virginia in the New World to find gold but they landed in the New World instead. They thought they landed somewhere near India so the called the Native people, American Indians. Later in the book, Captain Newport setts of to England to get supplies and food for the gentlemen. He said he would return in October and left everyone with mealworms and oatmeal. Lots of people die of hunger because they all eat one cup of the mealworms with oatmeal. The houses burn down when the indians left from the village and fire spreads from house to house and people start to pass buckets of water. They make a big line and start passing water. They build new houses. All the food Captain Newport brought back is into ashes.

    This book is very exciting I enjoyed it a lot.

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  16. AB

    I think this book is really interesting. I like that the book has details about real people from back then such as: John Smith, Master Wingfield, and Rev Hunt. I really like surprising parts of the story. Also, I like how the author explains with precise word’s how Sam feels about doing something such as trying to stop James to run to the ship during the Indian attack.Later on Sam regretted that he didn’t try harder to stop James from running to the ship during the indian attack after James died. Next, what really surprised me is that when the English settlers traded with the indians. The indians gave the English a indian boy at age fourteen named Namatack and traded him for a young English boy named Tom Savage. Next, I like how the author sometimes leaves the reader with a question. As when Sam, Namatack, and Captain Smith with three soldiers go as the Powhatan if he want’s to be prince of England. I think this book is great.

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  17. as

    I think that this book is a great book because it makes me want to know what happens next. I also think that this book is a mystery because their are a lot of predictions that can be made and things that can happen. I also think that their are a lot of scenes going on which make the book interesting. I think that samuel has changed his character because his philosophy is to trust no one. Now he realizes that he needs to trust people or he won’t live a good life because nobody else will want to help him. John Smith has helped sam change his philosophy by threatening him.

    Power is so important in this book because it helps you live. One example is when John Smith was going to get killed but the other english settlers know that John Smith is the only one who can communicate with the indians. Pocahontas is a very brave person. One example is when the indians were going to chop John smith’s head off pocahontas put her head over john smith’s to save his life because the indians wouldn’t kill the chief’s daughter.

    I think that when the englishmen brought the 2 ladies to help them it made Jamestown worse because a ton of the men are wanting to marry them and that distracts the men. My favorite character in this book is John Smith because he is smart. One example is when he went to the canon and told the men that were going to leave them and go back to england to hult or he will fire the canon. I wonder what Thomas Savage’s life was like when he went with the indians.

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  18. VS

    I really liked it because it gives some important information and is really interesting. I also just enjoy listening to people reading to me.One of my favorite parts is when it’s at the beginning of the book and he steals his mothors locket. I also like the part when he comes to the indians. He hears men screaming because the tree sap burns them when they arrive at the island.

    I think that mrs. rickard is really good at reading aloud because she really said the words like it’s happening for real. In other words, it was almost like she was bringing the story to life. I also really wonder what is going to happen to chief powhatan when he hears about the the crown and the gifts from king James.

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  19. CG

    I really like the book so far and all I want to do is read more!!! The good thing is it’s not as violent as I thought it would be but with the fire situation I really think the gentleman did this And now I don’t get why the Indian’s like the English. I tend to like books with more violent books and this book gives it to me,and this book is so interesting and it give me so much info and lots of predictions. And Mrs Rickard is such A good reader I never want her to stop. When she’s reading I feel like i’m in the story I can just picture it in my head!

    And the book just seemed so real and i’m also learning about colonial times so this book is really good! And there is so many cliffhangers but I love cliffhangers!And the Indian’s leave me with A lot of questions because they left me with some really good cliffhangers. So I just can’t wait to finish the book Blood on the River!!!

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  20. AS

    I think that this book is a great book because it makes me want to know what happens next. I also think that this book is a mystery because their are a lot of predictions that can be made and things that can happen. I also think that their are a lot of scenes going on which make the book interesting. I think that samuel has changed his character because his philosophy is to trust no one. Now he realizes that he needs to trust people or he won’t live a good life because nobody else will want to help him. John Smith has helped sam change his philosophy by threatening him.

    Power is so important in this book because it helps you live. One example is when John Smith was going to get killed but the other english settlers know that John Smith is the only one who can communicate with the indians. Pocahontas is a very brave person. One example is when the indians were going to chop John smith’s head off pocahontas put her head over john smith’s to save his life because the indians wouldn’t kill the chief’s daughter.

    I think that when the englishmen brought the 2 ladies to help them it made Jamestown worse because a ton of the men are wanting to marry them and that distracts the men. My favorite character in this book is John Smith because he is a wise man. One example is when he went to the canon and told the men that were going to leave them and go back to england to hult or he will fire the canon. I wonder what Thomas Savage’s life was like when he went with the indians. I really enjoyed the book!

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  21. NB

    I love the book Blood on the River so far. I also am sad about James death and the people in the book like Samuel and Richard are also sad. I hope that Richard, John Smith, Captain Newport, Reveren Hunt and Samuel don’t die. I think the book is very interesting. I like how they make us always have predictions for example when Sam was going to have a stronger weapon we predicted something.
    I think that lady will get married. I wonder who she will get married too if she gets married. I think the king powhatan will get really mad about the prince’s crown and attack the people in James town. I think that Reveren Hunt is a miracle because when something bad happens Reveren prays and something good happens for example when they were going to kill John Smith he prayed and captain Newport came and brought food and Captain John Smith was saved. John Smith is my favorite character. I like how the author makes it so interesting like when all the food was gone. I predict that sam will get to fight in his armor and he will be great and captain Smith will be really proud of Sammuel. I really like how they pray and then a miracle happens. I positively love the book. I want another war to happen so it will still be interesting.

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