He longs to be a great explorer. When he’s handed his opportunity, will he find adventure or death in a dangerous new land?

England, 1606. Thomas Savage yearns to find his worth and feel appreciated. Heartbroken when his father refuses to take him to the New World, the second son of a poor family fears he’ll be forced to accept a dull destiny as a vicar. But when his dying mother has a vision of him speaking to a Native girl, the eager lad is overjoyed to finally set sail.

Following an arduous journey across the Atlantic, Thomas lands in Jamestown only to learn his father has been killed and that he’s being traded as an interpreter to the very chieftain responsible. Now the quest for the excitement he craved may bring about his demise.

Totally unaware of what lies in store, he embarks on a new life entangled with the Virginia Natives and is on a collision course with history… and the legendary Pocahontas.

Will this naïve young settler survive the perils awaiting him and forge peace between two peoples?

Epic in its storytelling, Trading Thomas is book one in this series of an immersive YA biographical novel. If you like strong-minded heroes, a captivating account of a boy’s resilience, and meticulously researched stories based on true events, then you’ll love Ora Smith’s coming-of-age tale.

Series Description: Thomas Savage’s story in this YA biographical series is based on true events. Traded as an interpreter to the Powhatan Natives by his commanders at Jamestown, Thomas is wedged between the two volatile worlds of the Englishmen and Natives. Unsure who to trust, he teams up with Pocahontas to help the two groups find peace in the midst of their prejudices and fears.

Join Thomas and Pocahontas as they forge a deep friendship, learn to love each other’s countrymen, and transform history with their own lifechanging promises.

Written by genealogist and history lover Ora Smith, the Jamestown’s Boy Interpreter series is based on her ancestor and fits into what she calls Heritage Fiction. Thomas Savage is her twelfth great-grandfather, and she likely descends from the Accomack Virginia Indian Tribe.