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228 pp.
| Houghton
| June, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-547-76327-9$15.99
(4)
4-6
Tom finds himself on an unexpected adventure when a visit with his estranged uncle turns into a full-blown treasure hunt across Peru. A drug lord, car chase, buried treasure, and ancient mystery all collide in this novel, as Tom and his eccentric uncle search for the whereabouts of Francis Drake's fortune. A disappointingly flat ending puts the brakes on page-turning action.
48 pp.
| New Forest
| September, 2010
|
LibraryISBN 978-1-84898-304-5$32.80
(4)
YA
History of Exploration series.
In these information-rich volumes, each double-page spread contains one short paragraph of text on the title subject and several illustrations with extensive captions. Pictures range from historical paintings to maps and geographical sites to photographs of artifacts. The format is eye-catching, but the small font and crowded pages are challenging to navigate. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these History of Exploration titles: Captain Cook & His Exploration of the Pacific, Columbus & the Renaissance Explorers, Drake & the Elizabethan Explorers, Exploration of Africa, Exploration of North America, and Magellan & the Americas.
(3)
4-6
Lady Grace Mysteries series.
Although highly improbable in plot and characters, these two books introduce the feisty and clever Lady Grace, "maid of honour" to Queen Elizabeth I. She not only uncovers a murder at court, she goes on to rescue a kidnapped damsel in distress on the high seas. The historical background is colorful and enlivening, Grace is delightfully rebellious and spunky, and the diary format is appealing. Review covers these Lady Grace Mysteries titles: Assassin and Betrayal.
197 pp.
| Viking
| September, 2003
|
TradeISBN 0-670-89907-0$$16.99
(3)
YA
A physician and his teenage apprentice are hired to work aboard Sir Francis Drake's flagship. Shortly after setting sail, the doctor dies and young Thomas must take over his position. The narrative presents a wonderfully detailed portrait of life aboard a sixteenth-century war vessel, and readers can hope that the unfinished conclusion points to a sequel.
64 pp.
| Chelsea
| November, 2000
|
LibraryISBN 0-7910-5950-2$$17.95
|
PaperISBN 0-7910-6160-4$$8.95
(4)
4-6
Explorers of New Worlds series.
The various conquests of the Vikings and the explorations of four Europeans who voyaged to the Americas are recorded in well-designed volumes illustrated with historical reproductions and photos. While the accessible books make good basic introductions, they're probably not the best choice for research reports, as excerpts and quotations are undocumented. Time lines are included. There are five other books in this series. Bib., glos., ind.