Long ago, two boys grew up together and played together in Virginia. Today, one is famous: William Clark of the 1804-1806 Lewis and Clark expedition. The other, simply named York, is little known. But he also helped make the expedition a great success. York was William Clark's personal slave.

Award-winning author Laurence Pringle gives an accurate account of York's life—before, during, and after the expedition. Using quotations from the expedition's journals, he tells how York's skills, strength, and intelligence helped in the day-to-day challenges of getting food, struggling against wild river currents, and enduring heat, cold, illness, and injuries. York earned the respect of everyone and cast a vote on an important decision of the explorers. Pringle reveals how even the color of York's skin became a surprising asset to the expedition.

Artists Cornelius Van Wright and Ying-Hwa Hu consulted with Lewis and Clark expert Jay Rasmussen to create accurate and stunning watercolor paintings of York's life. Together, the text and illustrations make clear that this American slave was also an American hero.

From the dust jacket