Review: Sailing to the New World with Columbus.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 8, 2013
Originally touted as a young adult book, this story was very satisfying to me, and I am of an age. Diego Mendoza is a young sailor who must hide being Jewish because it could be a death sentence in 15th C. Spain. He has an enormous respect for Master Columbus as they sail into what is now known as the Caribbean. Diego loves his master, but he is very disturbed by the behavior he allows in his sailors. I was as well. There are many reasons for Columbus' image to be tarnished. As they find gold and they take it from the Taino- a native tribe-and mistreat the the women and others. Ms. Zelvin does not shy from showing how awful this is. Diego sails back to Spain, and he wants to go back again, but he is very concerned. His very spirited sister wants to sail with him when they return to the Americas, and he is frightened that she will give away her religion. He is witness to an auto-da-fé, and watches some fellows Jews being burned by the Inquisition. Although there are some dangerous moments, eventually Diego makes it back with Columbus. Frankly, this story kept me reading, and breathless. There is no lag in the action, and Zelvin paints a wonderful picture of the different setting and the actions of Columbus' men, both bad and also good. Frankly, I was sorry when the book was over, and I was left wondering if there would be a sequel. I would like that.