We're back in the nonfiction realm with today's read and taking a peek at the age of exploration. Today's read visits the historic voyage of Captain Ferdinand Magellan. If I understand everything correctly, while it takes a close look into the exciting and dangerous journey of Magellan and his crew, it will also include a deeper dive into the expedition's guide, a Mayan man forced to join the crew named Enrique de Malacca.
And that's about all I know so far. So, let's open this book up and see what historical goodness it holds.
THE VOYAGE THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
by Thekla Priebst
Wide Eyed Editions
Middle Grade Nonfiction
80 pages
ages 7 to 11
COMING OCTOBER 7th!!!
Welcome to a bold new telling of Captain Ferdinand Magellan’s famed but ill-fated voyage, including the incredible tale of Enrique de Malacca, probably the first of the crew – and maybe the first person ever – to complete the circumnavigation of the globe.
Written and lavishly illustrated by Thekla Priebst, The Voyage That Changed the World will sweep you along on a globe-spanning adventure exploring the triumphs, dangers, betrayals and tragedies that marked this epic voyage.
This is a story of an expedition across oceans in search of precious treasure –not gold or other gems, but rare and sought-after spices! Spices that flourished far away from Europe. Spices that rival European countries wanted to trade. The race was on to find them. But this expedition, led by Ferdinand Magellan, would change the course of history. Through engaging storytelling and fabulous illustrations, you can discover what happened at each stage of the where the crew stopped, what happened, who they met . . . and who continued on!
You'll also meet the Indigenous leaders who encountered the crew, and discover the story of Enrique de Malacca, the Malay guide and translator who was forced to join the expedition, and who shaped the voyage in many ways.
Of the five ships that first set sail from Spain, only one completed the voyage. The few men left onboard had survived the humid jungles of Central America, the hostile arctic landscapes of South America, the misleading “peace” of Moananui-a-kiwi (later named the Pacific Ocean), as well as danger and mutinies both on and off their ships.
These men returned to Europe with more than the spices they’d first gone in search of. They carried home tales of faraway lands and people, and a powerful piece of their voyage confirmed that the Earth is round.
It was a voyage that changed their lives – and it also changed the world.
Written and lavishly illustrated by Thekla Priebst, The Voyage That Changed the World will sweep you along on a globe-spanning adventure exploring the triumphs, dangers, betrayals and tragedies that marked this epic voyage.
This is a story of an expedition across oceans in search of precious treasure –not gold or other gems, but rare and sought-after spices! Spices that flourished far away from Europe. Spices that rival European countries wanted to trade. The race was on to find them. But this expedition, led by Ferdinand Magellan, would change the course of history. Through engaging storytelling and fabulous illustrations, you can discover what happened at each stage of the where the crew stopped, what happened, who they met . . . and who continued on!
You'll also meet the Indigenous leaders who encountered the crew, and discover the story of Enrique de Malacca, the Malay guide and translator who was forced to join the expedition, and who shaped the voyage in many ways.
Of the five ships that first set sail from Spain, only one completed the voyage. The few men left onboard had survived the humid jungles of Central America, the hostile arctic landscapes of South America, the misleading “peace” of Moananui-a-kiwi (later named the Pacific Ocean), as well as danger and mutinies both on and off their ships.
These men returned to Europe with more than the spices they’d first gone in search of. They carried home tales of faraway lands and people, and a powerful piece of their voyage confirmed that the Earth is round.
It was a voyage that changed their lives – and it also changed the world.
MY TIDBITS
Tension flows with facts to bring across Magellan's expedition in an exciting way.
The first pages lay out the importance of the spice trade and interests of the time period before heading into Ferdinand Magellan's background, information surrounding the crew members, and details about the ships. This also includes cultural attitudes as well as political differences, which highlight basic problems Magellan faces before the journey even begins. After the ships set sail, the tension builds and the first mutiny hits. With that, the pacing remains high. The crews face one danger after the other as they discover they've truly journeyed into the unknown.
The author makes sure to keep the text grabbing and concise as possible, while still letting the importance of various aspects of the journey come across clearly and understandably. This makes it an interesting read and showcases how much these men were up against. And how many died. While the readers will root for the crews and feel each moment, the mistakes and questionable actions of these men aren't forgotten, either. This adds extra food for thought and opens up the door to ethical discussions...and that without overshadowing the amazing sacrifices and hardships the men faced. The main point never shifts from Magellan's original hopes to find a new trade route to the Spice Islands by sailing in the opposite direction on the hope that the earth is truly round. The huge importance of his journey is made clear at the end in a respectful and inspiring way.
The facts swirl around the adventure with finesse. The main text is placed in short paragraphs, which are spread throughout the colorful illustrations. Colored boxes hold side information and facts about various aspects of the journey, including political aspects, vegetation, culture, geography, and so much more. The colorful illustrations add to the understanding by not only bringing everything across visually, but often highlighting certain plants, cultures, climates, ship details and more. These carry tags and descriptions as required. At the end of the book, there's a glossary for important terms.
It's a well-written dive into Magellan's journey and delivers the importance of the journey and the challenges faced in an exciting way. The text is kept concise and fits snuggly in the middle of the middle grade realm. Not only history buffs will enjoy this one, but readers who enjoy tense adventure...and wouldn't expect it from a nonfiction read...will want to give this one a go.
And here she is...
Thekla Priebst, born in Weimar in 1990, studied visual communication at Bauhaus University Weimar and Berlin Weissensee School of Art. Since 2017, she has been living with her small family on the west coast of Portugal, where she works as a freelance art director and illustrator. With her flair for composition and color, as well as a typographic sensibility, Thekla designs books from the first to the last page. The glorious The Voyage That Changed the World is her debut as author-illustrator. She has the ability to hold her breath for a long time because she likes to surf big waves.
1 comment:
such a good way to learn!
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