Synopses & Reviews
One of the greatest adventures in history. In 1527 the conquistador Cabeza de Vaca set sail for the Spanish territory of La Florida. His aim was to colonize land that stretched from present-day Florida to Texas, but the mission met with disaster. During an attempt to sail back to Cuba, Cabeza de Vaca and his crew crashed near Galveston Island. From there, he embarked on one of history's great adventures. His quest to return home took him ten years. He became the first European to live among the native people of Texas, the first to walk across the North American continent, the first to see the Mississippi and Pecos rivers and the Pacific Ocean from the North American continent. Following historical clues, Peter Lourie traces the conquistador's trail across Texas and into Mexico.
Review
"[Lourie's] narrative voice sets this apart from more detailed but less personal accounts of the explorer's adventures. (maps, brief quotations, timeline, resource lists, index)" --Kirkus Reviews
Review
"Beautifully placed photos, reproductions, maps, and sidebars enhance the fluid text, making this title sound fare for augmenting American history units." --School Library Journal
Synopsis
In 1527, the conquistador Cabeza de Vaca set sail for the Spanish territory of La Florida. His aim was to explore and colonize an unknown land that stretched from present-day Florida to Texas.
About the Author
Peter Lourie is the author of many books for young people, including Arctic Thaw: The People of the Whale in a Changing Climate and Hidden World of the Aztec. He lives in Weybridge, Vermont.