What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

By Emma Carlson Berne, Who HQ and Stephen Marchesi

Find out what really happened when an entire colony disappeared in 1590, just five years after it was founded. What is the truth about the missing members of the lost colony of Roanoke?

In 1585, Sir Walter Raleigh attempted to found the very first permanent English settlement in the Americas. The initial settlement—called the Lane colony—failed due to extremely low supplies and a hostile relationship with the Native American people who were already living on the land. Despite this miserable first attempt, Raleigh decided to establish another settlement. Over one hundred people agreed to join this new colony on Roanoke Island, just off the coast of what is now North Carolina. The colony's governor, John White, chose to return to England to get more supplies but found himself stuck there for three years due to an unexpected war. When he arrived back at Roanoke, the entire colony had vanished. Over one hundred people, including his wife and daughter, had seemingly disappeared. They were never heard from again. The only clue left was the word "Croatoan" carved into a post. What really happened to the missing English settlers? Find out what we do know about this historic unsolved mystery in this nonfiction book for young readers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group
• Release date: Apr 1, 2025
• ISBN: 9780593752104

Emma Carlson Berne

Emma Carlson Berne has written and edited more than two dozen books for young people. She holds a master's degree in composition and rhetoric from Miami University. Emma lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, with her husband and two sons. Visit her online at emmacarlsonberne.com.

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Cover for What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?, Author, Emma Carlson Berne; illustrated by Stephen MarchesiBook Title, What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?, Author, Emma Carlson Berne; illustrated by Stephen Marchesi, Imprint, Penguin Workshop

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First published in the United States of America by Penguin Workshop, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2025

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Ebook ISBN 9780593752104

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Contents

Dedication

What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

Life in Coastal Carolina

Ships Sail

A Permanent Colony

The Struggle on Roanoke

John Finally Returns

What Happened?

Exploring the Artifacts

The Chowan River Stone

The Story Continues

Timelines

Bibliography

About the Author

_150724842_

For Dale, who loves history as much as I do—ECB

To my brothers, Louis and Dennis—not all who wander are lost—SM

What Do We Know About the Lost Colony of Roanoke?

On August 15, 1590, an English ship called the Hopewell dropped its anchor off the coast of an island in the Outer Banks, near what is today North Carolina. The Hopewell had been traveling since March 20, and had finally reached the site of the English colony of Roanoke. John White, who was the governor of the colony, was aboard the Hopewell. Three years earlier, he had sailed from Roanoke Island to bring supplies back from England. Now, after many delays, he had returned. He was eager to see his daughter, Eleanor; his baby granddaughter, Virginia; and the other English colonists again.

John could see the land from the deck of the ship and, even better, smoke from a fire. His family would be there, waiting.

Unfortunately, it turned out to be the wrong island. The next morning, John and the sailors loaded into small boats to row to the correct island. But