Feathered Serpent [Hardcover]

Scott O'Dell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 26, 1981

A young Spanish seminarian who the Mayas believe is their powerful god, Kukulcan, witnesses the coming of Cortes and the capture of the magnificent Aztec city, Tenochtitlan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 211 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin; 1st edition (October 26, 1981)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395308518
• ISBN-13: 978-0395308516
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,363,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Scott O'Dell (1898-1989), one of the most respected authors of historical fiction, received the Newbery Medal, three Newbery Honor Medals, and the Hans Christian Andersen Author Medal, the highest international recognition for a body of work by an author of books for young readers. Some of his many books include The Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Road to Damietta, Sing Down the Moon, and The Black Pearl.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Fictional Intro to Cortes v. Moctezuma, July 6, 2010

By 

Jason Golomb (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Feathered Serpent (Hardcover)

Scott O'Dell's "The Feathered Serpent" is the second book of his "Seven Serpent's Trilogy", which also includes "The Captive" and "The Amethyst Ring". In "The Captive" we meet the young Julian Escobar who travels to the New World in the hopes of introducing Christianity to this land full of pagan "savages". He finds instead that the darkest hearts reside in his god-fearing, and gold-lusting fellow Spaniards.

In "Feathered Serpent", we find that Escobar is not the typical hero, which makes for an interesting and unusual angle for young adult readers. Escobar has faults...and a very large one in particular when he assumes the role of Mayan god Kukulkan. At first it's a simple ploy to stay alive, but over time, we see this simulated godhood become him...and he it. Originally an unordained seminarian, Escobar rationalizes that it's acceptable to act as Kukulkan as perhaps the only way he can bring Christ to the native 'savages'.

While witnessing this sometimes severe transformation of Escobar, the real beauty in O'Dell's story is his incorporation of the real-life conquest of Hernan Cortes over Moctezuma's Aztec nation. "Feathered Serpent" places Escobar (as God Kukulkan under-cover) right in the path of Cortes' march from the east coast of Mexico into Tenochtitlan, the capital of the Aztecs. He intercedes on behalf of the natives, but Cortes is too focused and the Spanish are too strong for Escobar to have any real impact.

O'Dell does a fine job of blending his fictional characters with these real life events, and makes his story a great way to introduce the classic tale of Cortes' clash with Moctezuma. He weaves a complicated set of events into a simple, well-flowing adventure. If it's any indication of their quality and impact, I've found myself thinking about the first two stories days after I've finished them, and looking forward to jumping in and finishing the third.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book, May 22, 2000

By 

"melchicky" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Feathered Serpent (Hardcover)

This book has suspence. It askes questions about a humna's basic morals.

1 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great For Edventurerous People, May 22, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Feathered Serpent (Hardcover)

It was kick Booty! I loved it, thumbs up!