![]() ![]() There is so much danger and excitement in the story that once kids have a taste, they will be curious to find out what happens and they will forget that the book seems old-fashioned, boring, or difficult to read. My recommendation would be to read at least some of the book aloud before asking a child to read it independently. The main character's experiences are very far removed from the concerns of most middle grade readers, and the lack of illustration and dialogue make the book look more intimidating than it actually is. Certainly there is much to learn from this book - about Mayan culture, about conquistadors, about the dangers of sailing, even about wilderness survival - but of all the books I've read for this project thusfar, it would be the hardest one to effectively sell to kids. While the story is engrossing, the emotional darkness, including Julian's struggle to maintain his relationship to God, makes it difficult to enjoy. ![]() The story starts out fairly harmless and hopeful, but devolves slowly, showing first the moral decline of those around Julian, and then Julian's own descent into egotism. This book is heavy reading, and very academic in tone. ![]()
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