Torrey, Michele. To the Edge of the World.

TORREY, Michelle. To the edge of the world. Random House, Dell Laurel-Leaf. 233p. map. Bibliog. c2003. 0-440-23793-9. $5.99. JS *

To quote from the review of the hardcover in KLIATT, January 2003: After losing his parents to the pestilence of 1519 and burning their family farm, 14-year-old Mateo Macias de Avila travels through Spain for two months before he has a chance meeting with Espinosa, a man recruiting sailors for a voyage. On the verge of starving, and with no other relatives, Mateo agrees to a two-year commitment as cabin boy and musician aboard the San Antonio, one of Magellan's fleet in his secret expedition to circumnavigate the globe and reap the wealth of the Eastern Spice Islands.

In a story based on historical journal entries of sailor Antonio Pigafetta, readers experience the voyage through Mateo, surviving hunger and peril, meeting natives both friendly and hostile, and witnessing the outcome of planned mutiny. Mateo's narration of his travels shifts with his growing maturity and his deepening understanding of the men he serves. Torrey accurately portrays the hardship and danger of Magellan's voyage, including the desperate search for the paso, or passage, that became known as the Strait of Magellan. Torrey also shows the complexity of Magellan himself, a man as dedicated to converting savages to Christianity as he is to the expedition. A glossary of terms and a bibliography for further research and reading are included. Michele Winship, Asst. Prof., Capital Univ., Columbus, OH

J--Recommended for junior high school students. The contents are of particular interest to young adolescent and their teachers.

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

*--The asterisk highlights exceptional books.