York's Journal: A Novel tells the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from the point of view of the only slave to accompany the expedition. York, Captain William Clark's servant, has secretly learned to read and write. When Clark announces he will take him with him into the wilderness, York decides to keep a journal as President Thomas Jefferson has urged many in the expedition to do. York must hide his literacy and he can only write infrequently. But it produces in him a growing longing to be free. He has friendships and love affairs with Native Americans which lead to a surprising resolution to his life.