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As part of a Spanish expedition to the New World, a Jesuit seminarian witnesses the enslavement and exploitation of the Mayas and is seduced by greed and ambition.
As part of a Spanish expedition to the New World, a Jesuit seminarian witnesses the enslavement and exploitation of the Mayas and his own seduction by greed and ambition.
I have a deep fascination in conquest-era America fiction and non-fiction, and through the years I've tried to find the right books and stories to ignite this interest in my own children. Outside of hard-core educational offerings, there's very little "interesting" literature that I've found that's appropriate for 4th grade through High School. Scott O'Dell's "The Captive" is the first in a trilogy that's been recently marketed as "The Seven Serpent Trilogy", and I think it's the perfect book to hook my 10-year-old on this amazing time in world history.
Written from the perspective of a young Spanish seminarian, Julian Escobar, "The Captive" takes readers on an adventure that spans the Atlantic, explores two vastly different religions, and ultimately connects two cultures that aren't all that different. Escobar is asked to join an Atlantic-crossing expedition to explore the New World. He's not yet a priest and very anxious about leading the ships' religious efforts, but what finally convinces him to leave his small town is the opportunity to introduce an island full of 'savages' to Christianity. He ultimately finds himself in the guise of of the Mayan god Kukulkan, which sets up the second story of O'Dell's trilogy, "The Feathered Serpent".
Along Escobar's journey to New Spain, he encounters ghost ships, amazing new animals, strange cultures, and a gold-laden island; he survives a shipwreck, mutiny, and the dark evil that men can hide within themselves. Escobar's adventures will appeal to a young audience raised on "Pirates of the Caribbean". Escobar's self-discovery will expose readers to terrific literature and some of the key themes of the Spanish Conquest: the conflict and contradiction between religious and the search for treasure, differences in religion and culture, and human rights.
"The Captive" is a well written and well told story of discovery. It's a wonderful introduction to the Spanish Conquest that combines adventure with literature. I highly recommend this book.
Overview
As part of a Spanish expedition to the New World, a Jesuit seminarian witnesses the enslavement and exploitation of the Mayas and is seduced by greed and ambition.
As part of a Spanish expedition to the New World, a Jesuit seminarian witnesses the enslavement and exploitation of the Mayas and his own seduction by greed and ambition.