To the Edge of the World

To the Edge of the World is a great read that really satysfied me. It is based on real life events, even though some of the characters fictional. It is a tale of courage, comradery, and adventure. I reccomend it to anyone who likes books about the sea and/or adventure.

Mateo Macias de Avila must learn to survive on his own after his parents die of the plague in 1519. Fourteen year old Mateo can draw, read, sing and play a guitar. These talents help him once he is recruited as cabin boy, musician, and eventually ship artist on a voyage led by Magellan. I found this book suitable for older children and young adults. Though the reading level is 5th-8th grade, the material is often at an older level. I would lean towards grades 7-9 as the youngest readers for this book.

A terrific read!!! From the first sentence I was captivated by this ingenious story. The dialogue is natural, the descriptions are picturesque, and the whole book is a delight to read, even the glossary which is also helpful. I highly recommend this book to elementary teachers of English, history, science and the arts.

To the Edge of the World is an exciting book, full of adventure and surprises. The book made me feel like I was right there with Mateo, the cabin boy on Magellan's journey to the Spice Islands. I never imagined there were so many dangers on a trip around the world! I recommend the book to anybody who likes the sea, history, and real-life adventures.

This book was absolutely impossible to put down. It created such an atmosphere that I really felt like I "lived" the voyage myself. It was written with such depth and detail that the history of the book came alive. This is a book that anyone would enjoy--young or old, male or female.