Synopses & Reviews
Determined to find a new and better route to Asia and the distant and profitable Spice Islands, Ferdinand Magellan set sail from Spain in 1519 on what would become the history-making first circumnavigation of the world. Magellan himself did not complete the journeyhe was killed by a poison arrow while on the Pacific island of Mactanbut the expedition he mounted forever changed the course of human exploration. Details of the journey, including Magellans tools of navigation, the political battles for control over the valuable islands of the Pacific, and Magellans final moments in battle, are all vividly portrayed
Review
This unbiased and insightful biography of the famous Portuguese explorer captures not only the times in which he lived, but also reveals his humanity, his perserverance, and his final triumphs. Lesser-known facts are illuminated and unfamiliar vocabulary is defined within this absorbing narrative.
Review
Levinson skillfully builds the setting against which Magellan's story takes place by analyzing diverse elements, including the influence of Prince Henry the Navigator, the explorations of da Gama and Columbus, and the intrigues of the European powers to gain wealth and power. The clarity with which these facts are presented is one of the book's strengths, and Magellan emerges from the shadows of history as a most remarkable man.
Review
"unbiased and insightful...absorbing narrative...A treasure for reports and general readers."
Review
[T]his thoughtful study makes it clear just how Magellan earned his place as a central figure in the European Age of Exploration.
Kirkus Reviews
null Children's Books: 100 Titles NYPL
Levinson skillfully builds the setting against which Magellan's story takes place by analyzing diverse elements, including the influence of Prince Henry the Navigator, the explorations of da Gama and Columbus, and the intrigues of the European powers to gain wealth and power. The clarity with which these facts are presented is one of the book's strengths, and Magellan emerges from the shadows of history as a most remarkable man.
Horn Book
"unbiased and insightful...absorbing narrative...A treasure for reports and general readers." School Library Journal
About the Author
Nancy Smiler Levinson is the author of many well-regarded books for children, including Christopher Columbus: Voyager to the Unknown (Lodestar) and If You Lived in the Alaska Territory (Scholastic). This is her first book for Clarion. She lives in Beverly Hills, California.