Customer Reviews

The Captive

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I am a fifth grade teacher from Arlington, Virginia who could not put it down. My class loved it and we found the two sequels, The Feathered Serpent and The Amethyst Ring. They have the hero encountering the Aztecs and the Incas. It is an amazing introduction to the early Central American civilizations. Read all three.

Scott O'Dell is one of the very best writers of historical novels for ages 10-15. This one is an engrossing adventure in the world of the Mayans and Aztecs at the time of the conquistadores. Most readers will want to continue with the sequel, The Feathered Serpent. This saga is not for children under 11; expect to encounter human sacrifices and slavery, shipwrecks and gold-lust, but readers will come away with a real sense of the people and their times.

This book is a rare find that can be useful for a teaching tool. I teach fifth grade and during the year we study about the Mayas. When I found this book I was reluctant to read it. Once I started I could not stop. Scott O'Dell has uniquely woven a great story around a fascinating character. The story includes topics of survival, friendship, slavery and religion. I have also read the sequel to this book, The Feathered Serpent , this was as well an exceptional piece of children's literature.

Okay so this was like a really good book. Well actually it was awesome! Its full of lies, shipwrecks, slavery, action, and sacrifice! It even has a hint of romance between the main character and this native girl who teaches him that everyone doesn't have to have the same religion to get along. AAAWWW! How cute!
!!**^-^**!!
anyway...this book is really great so read it and be prepared not to be able to put it down. (ahem-watch out the end is kinda gruesome)

Yeah, so like read the sequels other wise you'll be left on a cliffhanger! They are The feathered serpent and the amethyst ring! You'll never forget this book!!! (haha maybe you will...)

That was like the worst book I ever read. Just kiddin'. You probably could tell by the five stars. The captive is an exciting story. The end is the best part. I don't want to give it away though. I read this book in class and it is the best book I have ever read in a class. Lies, shipwrecks, and more lies. This book has everything. Spaniards are traveling on a ship to teach natives Christian. A certain priest is a little corrupt though. Will some natives die before even knowing who Jesus is? You'll have to read yourself. DMS(James L. Day Middle School) rocks! Way better than Muirland Middle School!!!!

I have a deep fascination in conquest-era America fiction and non-fiction, and through the years I've tried to find the right books and stories to ignite this interest in my own children. Outside of hard-core educational offerings, there's very little "interesting" literature that I've found that's appropriate for 4th grade through High School. Scott O'Dell's "The Captive" is the first in a trilogy that's been recently marketed as "The Seven Serpent Trilogy", and I think it's the perfect book to hook my 10-year-old on this amazing time in world history.

Written from the perspective of a young Spanish seminarian, Julian Escobar, "The Captive" takes readers on an adventure that spans the Atlantic, explores two vastly different religions, and ultimately connects two cultures that aren't all that different. Escobar is asked to join an Atlantic-crossing expedition to explore the New World. He's not yet a priest and very anxious about leading the ships' religious efforts, but what finally convinces him to leave his small town is the opportunity to introduce an island full of 'savages' to Christianity. He ultimately finds himself in the guise of of the Mayan god Kukulkan, which sets up the second story of O'Dell's trilogy, "The Feathered Serpent".

Along Escobar's journey to New Spain, he encounters ghost ships, amazing new animals, strange cultures, and a gold-laden island; he survives a shipwreck, mutiny, and the dark evil that men can hide within themselves. Escobar's adventures will appeal to a young audience raised on "Pirates of the Caribbean". Escobar's self-discovery will expose readers to terrific literature and some of the key themes of the Spanish Conquest: the conflict and contradiction between religious and the search for treasure, differences in religion and culture, and human rights.

"The Captive" is a well written and well told story of discovery. It's a wonderful introduction to the Spanish Conquest that combines adventure with literature. I highly recommend this book.

The captain of the "Santa Margarita", Don Luis and his most trustworthy ship mate, Julius Escobar, make a long and dangerous journey from Spain to the New World. When they get to the New World they first stop on an island to get gold and slaves. The second island is not too far away, but a hurricane comes and sinks their ship. Julius Escobar is stranded on the Mayan island. He spends a few months alone on the island and then goes to the Mayan city. All the people think that he is the god Kuculcan because he has blond hair, pale skin, and blue eyes just like the god. This is the first book in the series. The 2nd book is "The Feathered Serpent" and the 3rd book is "The Amethyst Ring".

I think that anyone can read this book and this is a good way to learn about the conquistadors. I do not like all the killing in it even though Scott O' Dell was explaining what the Spaniards did to the Indians. What I do like about it was that the author gave just enough description. It is like you are with all the people on the voyage, and with the Mayans.

I am a 16 year-old girl writing this on my mother's Amazon account.

I had to read this book for school. It was one of the few books where I was actually interested in. I thought that it was an interesting book. The only thing is that there is too much detail. The author didn't need to explain everything in such depth. I would recomend this book for kids in either 7,8, or 9 grade(I am in 7th grade at Muirland Middle School 0

HOW CAN YOU PEOPLE LIKE THIS GARBAGE! FIRST OF ALL IT HAS NO CHAPTER TITLES SO YOU HAVE NO CLUE WHAT YOU ARE READING ABOUT. THE PLOT IS HORRIBLE. SAME AS ALL OF THIS HORRIBLE AUTHOR'S OTHER BOOKS. A TRAGEDY HAPPENS AND THE MAIN CHARACTER GETS STRANDED ON AN ISLAND. HOW CREATIVE. THIS BOOK IS AWFUL. CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT IS GOD AWFUL. I THINK THAT THIS BOOK IS THE WORST BOOK EVER WRITTEN.ANYONE WHO LIKES THIS IS MENTALLY INSANE.