The Real History of Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is a holiday most American families celebrate, yet its origins are far more complicated than the standard school story. This book examines the first harvest gathering between the Pilgrims and the Wampanoag, how that encounter reshaped Native American lives, and the myths that have since been woven into the national holiday. It also explores the darker sides of the holiday's legacy, including the impact of colonization and the modern-day National Day of Mourning. Designed for middle-grade readers, the narrative pulls together primary sources and historical perspectives to reveal what's often left out of textbooks.