Lawrence J. Cunningham has thoroughly updated and expanded an earlier version of this book originally written by Janice J. Beaty as a fourth-grade-level Guam history book. He felt that the writing contributions by Remedios L.G. Perez on Chamorro culture, especially in Chapter 13, warranted that her name be included as co-author.

The sixteen chapters trace the history of Guam beginning with settlement by oceanic migrations, early Chamorro culture, discovery by Western voyagers and subsequent missionization and colonization by Spain. The three-hundred-year era of Spanish colonial rule includes chapters about the Spanish-Chamorro wars, the Spanish governors and influences by other visitors such as pirates, scientific explorers, whalers and prisoners sent from the Philippines to serve their sentences on Guam. Life on Guam during the last 100 years of American administration is covered in the last four chapters, ending with significant events of the 1990s.

The first people reached the Pacific Islands through a series of movements from Southeast Asia, the Malay Peninsula and the south coast of China, settling the islands of Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia over a span of 5000 years or more. The Chamorros of the Mariana Islands were a Malayo-Polynesian people who migrated from Indonesia or the Philippines almost 4000 years ago. Chapter One gives a brief, easily-understood outline of these migrations. Moreover, the discussion of the way scientists learn about pre-historic migrations and cultures provides opportunities for students to learn about the work of anthropologists, archaeologists, ethnologists and even zoologists. Equally interesting is the treatment of scientific theories, which discusses various arguments proposed by scientists for and against ideas about ancient migration patterns. More specific discussion about research in the Marianas serves as a review of the literature in a style that will be understood by fourth-grade students. The names of these historians and other scientists discussed here provide opportunities for research exercises to broaden students' experiences. Early chroniclers such as Alessandro Malaspina, Louis de Freycinet and Jules Sebastien Cesar Dumont d'Urville are noted, as are twentieth-century scientists and historians Hans G. Hornbostel, Laura Thompson, Alexander Spoehr, Paul Carano and Pedro Sanchez, Robert Rogers and Antonio Palomo. Discussion of the work of contemporary scientists such as archaeologists Fred Reinman, Hiro Kurashina, Darlene Moore, Rosalind Hunter-Anderson and Judith Amesbury, as well as Parks Historian Al Lizama and Museum Curator Anthony Ramirez can lead to field trips and interviews.

Ancient Chamorro culture is discussed in terms of the physical characteristics of the people, what they wore and the daily occupations of men, women and children. The material culture, such as pottery making and ancient stone and shell implements and weapons are described as well as illustrated with photographs from museum collections. Photographs of contemporary woven baskets show that some of these ancient practices still exist today. The building of houses on the stone latte column foundations and the various types of canoes are described. The ancient navigation tradition is briefly noted. Of special interest to students on Guam is the discussion of the formation of villages. The names of some of these ancient villages and their location on the island, such as Mochom (Machom), Pigpug (Pekpok), Agana (Hagatna), Agat (Hagat) and others will engender interest to explore these sites as well as to imagine how they used to be. Ancient counting systems, measuring methods, and months of the year are detailed, followed by a description of the social and religious systems. This chapter is followed by a chapter on legends and stories of the creation of the island, the belief in duhendes (little people) and the taotaomo'na (ghosts of the ancient people) and tales of how certain animals and landmarks came to be as they are today. Legends of people of super strength characterize ancient Chamorro heroes. Two legends from the Spanish period round out the chapter.

The "discovery" of Guam by Ferdinand Magellan in 1521 began the era of Western influence in the Marianas. The encounter between Magellan's men and the Chamorros is described according to historical accounts, with an attempt to balance this western perspective with possible Chamorro points of view. Other expeditions followed Laoysa in 1526, Legazpi in 1565 when he proclaimed the Mariana Islands for Spain, and other European visitors over the next 150 years.

An account of the arrival of Father Diego Luis de San Vitores and the Jesuit mission he established on Guam in 1668 begins the next chapter. Details of how Pale San Vitores attracted the people, especially children, to religious instruction will hold the interest of fourth-grade as well as older students. The initial Chamorro welcome of the missionaries and later resistance continues an interesting historical account. The Spanish Chamorro wars which are covered in Chapter 6 give details which include the names of prominent Chamorros who helped the Spanish as well as those who led the Chamorro resistance. Details of the death of San Vitores in 1672 at the hands of Mata'pang, Hurao's leadership which amassed an army of 2000 Chamorros, and Chief Aguarin's rallying speech to Chamorro warriors brings this historical era to life. An important summary of this twenty-five-year war points out reasons why the Chamorros could not defeat the Spanish despite their obvious bravery.

There were over fifty Spanish governors of Guam from 1676 to 1898. Chapter 7 tells about the more prominent ones, such as the tyrant Don Jose de Quiroga, the fair-dealing peacemaker Captain Esplana, Don Francisco Cardenas Pacheco who started building the Governor's Palace in 1736, and the "good governor" Don Mariano Tobias, who divided up land for each family and encouraged agriculture and the raising of animals. Several governors used their positions to become rich by controlling imports and sales to the island residents. Others imposed high taxes and required those who could not pay to work for forty days each year for the governor. Forts, bridges, and roads were built during this period. Photographs in this chapter show some of these constructions, along with Spanish-introduced clothing, food, animals and crafts.

Spanish galleons used Guam as a stopping place on their Acapulco to Manila trading route for 250 years. These ships were laden with Mexican silver which was traded for silks, spices and jewels brought by Chinese traders to Manila. Pirates followed these galleons, and several of them came to Guam. This pirate threat caused several forts to be built in Guam, as described in Chapter 8. Shipwrecks of some of these galleons on Guam reefs have generated stories of sunken treasure.

The late eighteenth century began an era of scientific expeditions in the Pacific. Several of these voyages came to Guam. The French explorer Crozet, the Spanish Malaspina expedition, the Russian Kotzebue expedition, the French Freycinet scientific expedition and others are discussed in Chapter 9. Their reports have become valuable records of Guam's history. Annual trading voyages of Carolinians from the Micronesian islands resumed in 1805, after more than 100 years of interruption due to their fear of the Spanish rulers. Descriptions of the Carolinians and their culture is described, along with reproductions of drawings and paintings of Guam scenes and artifacts from these reports.

Spanish galleons stopped their annual voyages across the Pacific in 1815, but a growing number of whaling ships began to come into Micronesia. They used Guam as a rest stop for their men while they replenished their supplies from Guam produce, which created trading opportunities for the islanders. Unlike other Pacific islands, the Spanish governor kept strict law and order over the whaling crews. Boarding houses sprung up in Agana to accommodate crews who had to be in their lodgings by the 8 p.m. curfew. Many young Chamorro men joined whaling crews and traveled all over the world. Stories from the whaling period contribute to Guam's colorful history during the nineteenth century.

Spain used Guam as a penal colony for criminals and political prisoners from the Philippines. They provided much of the labor used to build roads, bridges and buildings for the governor. Chapter 11 describes some of the more notorious prisoner activities and how various governors dealt with them. Under Governor Corte, for example, prisoners who did well were given a piece of land to produce crops and were allowed to stay when their sentences were up. Political prisoners under Don Francisco Moscoso's rule were sent to live with families in Agana, and many of them taught the Chamorro boys their trades. Carpenters, masons, and metal workers resulted from these encounters. Many prisoners married Chamorros and lived on the island the rest of their lives.

Spanish rule of Guam ended in 1898 with the capture of the island by Captain Henry Glass in the USS Charleston during the Spanish-American War. The story of this transition and the American naval governors is covered in Chapter 12. It was a time of many changes for the Chamorro people, including new rules and regulations on the speaking of the Chamorro language and attempts by the islanders to attain U.S. citizenship. Chamorros who held prominent business and professional positions are detailed. Chapter 13 takes a look at life of the typical Chamorro family during a year in pre-war Guam. This account provides opportunities for students to combine lessons in social studies with history. Many of the activities described, such as fiestas, weddings, working at the rural gardens (lanchos) and various folkways are probably familiar to contemporary students through stories related by their parents or actual experiences. Discussion at the end of the chapter challenges students to compare their contemporary experiences with those described.

During World War II, Guam was bombed from Japanese bases in Saipan a few hours after Pearl Harbor was attacked. The story of the islanders' response and their experiences during the Japanese occupation of Guam from 1941 to 1944 is detailed in Chapter 14. Descriptions of the huge battle to retake Guam from the Japanese includes photographs and sites which can be visited by students, providing opportunities for field trips.

Refugee camps and Japanese stragglers were some of the conditions the islanders had to deal with following the retaking of Guam by American forces. Guam became a huge military base with which to support and supply forces in the Pacific for the remainder of the war. By August 31, 1945, there were 220,000 army, navy and marine troops stationed on Guam. During this time, the military helped Chamorros rebuild their lives. Military hospitals were built, which also served the civilian population. Communication systems once again linked Guam to the rest of the world by telephone, radio, cable and mail. Except for the southern villages of Inarajan, Merizo, and Umatac, which were not destroyed by the bombing, the majority of islanders were relocated to temporary homes in newly-formed villages. The military took land from many Chamorro families, often without fair compensation. Land ownership issues are still being negotiated in the 1990's.

For the first time, jobs were available for anyone who wanted to work. Since much of the farm land had been taken, many people turned to jobs with the navy. Guam changed from an agricultural economy to a money economy. This chapter covers a broad range of issues regarding the changes to Guam following World War II. In addition to the economic changes, administration of the island changed from naval government to civil government under the Organic Act of 1950. Events and people involved in this political change are also discussed.

The final chapter outlines significant events since the signing of the 1950 Organic Act for Guam. The growth of private enterprise, increased educational opportunities, the Chamorro population explosion and changes in demographics as new ethnic groups moved to the island are all discussed. The contributions of various governors show efforts for more economic development and political autonomy. Tourism from Japan has become the island's primary economic force. The discussion on Guam's future points out that Guam will always be important as the "Crossroads of the Pacific". It has become a major communications hub and is the commercial and trading center for Micronesia. While the military presence on Guam shrank during the 1990s, private businesses continued to grow. Guam is one of the last colonies in the world, and self-government continues to be negotiated with the U.S. federal government. Cunningham points out that in 1998, the United States celebrates its 100th year in Guam and that "surely it cannot be much longer before the door to complete self-government is completely open."

This book will be a valuable contribution to the available educational literature for Guam schools. The authors approach history in a personalized, story-telling manner, while maintaining a fair balance between outsider historical sources and islander perspectives. As much as possible, the contribution of Chamorros to their own history is emphasized. The addition of over six hundred photographs, approximately two to a page, visually enriches this book. Actual classroom use by a number of teachers will determine if the writing is indeed understandable and at the appropriate interest level for fourth graders. I feel that it can be used effectively at even higher levels, both as a standard text as well as for supplemental reading.

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