Get Your Free Audiobook

Non-member price: $35.11

After 30 days, Audible is $16.45/mo. Cancel anytime.

Publisher's Summary

Twelve-year-old Samuel Collier is a lowly commoner on the streets of London. So when he becomes the page of Captain John Smith and boards the Susan Constant, bound for the New World, he can’t believe his good fortune. He’s heard that gold washes ashore with every tide. But beginning with the stormy journey and his first contact with the native people, he realizes that the New World is nothing like he imagined. The lush Virginia shore where they establish the colony of James Town is both beautiful and forbidding, and it’s hard to know who’s a friend or foe. As he learns the language of the Algonquian Indians and observes Captain Smith’s wise diplomacy, Samuel begins to see that he can be whomever he wants to be in this new land.
©2006 Elisa Carbone (P)2018 Listening Library

Critic Reviews

"Lively historical fiction at its best." (Kirkus Reviews)

"Samuel’s account of the voyage to Virginia, political intrigues among the settlers, and the harrowing first winter of the James Town settlement brings to life figures like Smith, Powhatan, and Pocahontas. Details about food and daily life add realism to the story, and quotes from historical sources begin each chapter." (School Library Journal)

What listeners say about Blood on the River

Average Customer Ratings

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Audible.com.au reviews

Audible.com reviews

Amazon Reviews
No Reviews are Available
Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 03-05-2019

thanks, I learned a lot about Jamestown

I didn't know much about Jamestown. this was very helpful. the settlers went through a lot. this writer brought out the good and the bad. Captain John Smith was one tough dude.

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Jozette Smalarz
  • Jozette Smalarz
  • 19-12-2018

okay ¿

pretty good story! 💕💕 loved the storyline. it was very real and how it'd be in real life! if you like books like these then. you'd like it!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Seth shaw
  • Seth shaw
  • 06-01-2021

A great listen

The book was well written a voiced My 10-year-old son is reading this in school and I decided to read it as well. Gives a good account of how the settlers lived and. survived

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Amazon Customer
  • Amazon Customer
  • 27-12-2020

Beautifully created.

The story was detailed and exciting. the narrator made it feel alive. it really feels like you're there.

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Slangley
  • Slangley
  • 18-09-2020

Well worth the listen!

We listened to this on our way to Jamestown. We highly recommend it! narrarator is great!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Williams
  • Williams
  • 13-08-2020

Pretty good

At first I did not think I would like this book. I was required to blood on the river for summer reading. The first 3 chapters I wasn’t enjoying the book but once I kept reading I loved it. It was so real and I could imagine living in that period of time while listening to the book. It felt so real and it showed how different life was in that tile vs now. I would definitely read this book again!

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for MamaMort
  • MamaMort
  • 19-11-2019

Really good!

Love the book it is a fun way of learning history I also like that it is a kids point of view. A few scary elements but for me a perfect amount of scary.

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for Tara Messenger
  • Tara Messenger
  • 20-05-2019

Historical fiction at its best.

This book was much better than I expected. It took a while to become invested in the story, but once the main character made it to Jamestown, I wanted to know what would become of him and the other settlers. I also thought it gave the reader a lot of historical background. This was a truly great historical fiction piece- interesting and educational.

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
Profile Image for victoria e crane
  • victoria e crane
  • 15-08-2018

Kill yourself if you want to read this book

It's so bad. I hate. I want to die. Kill me now for the greater good.

1 person found this helpful

In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.