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Quick answer: The best books on the Mayflower and the Pilgrims tell the story of the 1620 voyage, Plymouth Colony and the Wampanoag people who met them. Start with Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick, Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford, Making Haste from Babylon by Nick Bunker, This Land Is Their Land by David J. Silverman and 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving.
In September 1620, the Mayflower left Plymouth, England, carrying 102 passengers, about half of them religious separatists later called Pilgrims. After 66 days at sea they reached Cape Cod, signed the Mayflower Compact and founded Plymouth Colony on land where a Wampanoag village had been emptied by an epidemic. Half the settlers died that first winter. They survived with the help of the Wampanoag leader Ousamequin, also known as Massasoit, and the interpreter Tisquantum, or Squanto, and the alliance led to the 1621 harvest feast now remembered as the first Thanksgiving. Fifty years later it ended in King Philip’s War. The books below tell the whole story, from both sides, for adults and children.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayflower | Nathaniel Philbrick | Narrative history | The essential first read |
| Of Plymouth Plantation | William Bradford | Primary source | The governor’s history |
| Mourt’s Relation | Edward Winslow and William Bradford | Primary source | Eyewitness accounts |
| Making Haste from Babylon | Nick Bunker | History | The English background |
| The Mayflower | Rebecca Fraser | History | One family’s story |
| This Land Is Their Land | David J. Silverman | History | The Wampanoag side |
| Our Beloved Kin | Lisa Brooks | History | King Philip’s War |
| The Times of Their Lives | James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz | Social history | Daily life in Plymouth |
| Saints and Strangers | George F. Willison | Classic history | Lively storytelling |
| The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World | Nathaniel Philbrick | Nonfiction for young readers | Ages 10 and up |
| Constance | Patricia Clapp | YA novel | Ages 11 and up |
| 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving | Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac | Kids’ nonfiction | Ages 8–12 |
| Squanto’s Journey | Joseph Bruchac | Picture book | Ages 6–10 |
| Mayflower 1620 | Peter Arenstam, John Kemp and Catherine O’Neill Grace | Kids’ nonfiction | Ages 8–12 |
| We Gather Together | Denise Kiernan | History | How Thanksgiving began |
1. Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick
Philbrick tells the story of the voyage, the colony and the relationship with the Wampanoag through King Philip’s War. It’s gripping and balanced.
2. Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Bradford, the colony’s longtime governor, wrote this history of the Pilgrims’ journey and early years. It’s the main source for the story.
3. Mourt’s Relation by Edward Winslow and William Bradford
Published in 1622, this journal of the colony’s first year includes the only contemporary description of the 1621 harvest feast.
4. Making Haste from Babylon by Nick Bunker
Bunker explains why the Pilgrims left England and how the colony was financed. It’s detailed and full of fresh research.
5. The Mayflower by Rebecca Fraser
Fraser follows the Winslow family from England to Plymouth over several generations. It’s a rich, readable family history.
6. This Land Is Their Land by David J. Silverman
Silverman tells the story from the Wampanoag point of view and challenges the Thanksgiving myth. It’s essential and eye-opening.
7. Our Beloved Kin by Lisa Brooks
Brooks, an Abenaki scholar, tells the story of King Philip’s War through Native sources and places. It won the Bancroft Prize.
8. The Times of Their Lives by James Deetz and Patricia Scott Deetz
The Deetzes use archaeology and records to show how the colonists really lived. It corrects many myths.
9. Saints and Strangers by George F. Willison
Willison’s 1945 history is witty and irreverent about the Pilgrims and the other passengers. It’s an old favorite.
10. The Mayflower and the Pilgrims’ New World by Nathaniel Philbrick
Philbrick’s own adaptation of Mayflower for young readers keeps the drama and balance of the original.
11. Constance by Patricia Clapp
Told as the diary of a teenage girl on the Mayflower and in Plymouth, this novel was a National Book Award finalist. It’s a classic for young readers.
12. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac
Produced with Plimoth Plantation and Wampanoag advisors, this photo book tells what really happened at the 1621 harvest celebration.
13. Squanto’s Journey by Joseph Bruchac
Bruchac, an Abenaki author, tells the remarkable story of Tisquantum, who was kidnapped to Europe and returned home to find his people gone.
14. Mayflower 1620 by Peter Arenstam, John Kemp and Catherine O’Neill Grace
This National Geographic book uses photos of the Mayflower II replica to show what the voyage was like.
15. We Gather Together by Denise Kiernan
Kiernan tells how Thanksgiving became a national holiday, thanks largely to the writer Sarah Josepha Hale. It’s a fun, surprising story.
Tips for Reading About the Mayflower and the Pilgrims
- Start with Philbrick. Mayflower is balanced and gripping.
- Read the Wampanoag side. Silverman and Brooks change how you see the story.
- Try Bradford. A modern-spelling edition makes it readable.
- Question the myths. The 1621 feast wasn’t the Thanksgiving of later tradition.
- Visit Plymouth. Plimoth Patuxet Museums recreate the colony and a Wampanoag homesite.
- Read with kids. 1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving is perfect for November.
Related: best books on Native American history and best books on the American Revolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best book about the Mayflower?
Mayflower by Nathaniel Philbrick is the most popular and balanced history of the voyage and Plymouth Colony.
How many people were on the Mayflower?
The Mayflower carried 102 passengers, plus a crew of about 30, when it left England in September 1620.
What is a good book about the first Thanksgiving for kids?
1621: A New Look at Thanksgiving by Catherine O’Neill Grace and Margaret M. Bruchac tells the true story with photos and Wampanoag perspectives.