Book excerpt: When Lewis and Clark set out in the spring of 1804, they had chosen to go on an extremely dangerous journey. Unlike others in the group, two key members did not choose to join the hazardous expedition: York, a black man who was Clark¿s slave, and Sacajawea, a native woman considered to be the property of a French Canadian trader named Charbonneau, who was the expedition¿s translator. The unique knowledge and skills Sacajawea and York had were essential to the success of the trip. The dual stories of these two outsiders, who earned their way into the inner core of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, shed new light on one of the most exciting and important undertakings in American history. Ages 7-12. Full-color illus. Reinforced bind.