The King's Fifth

by Scott O'Dell
The King's Fifth
book data
69 ratings, 3.62 average rating, 9 reviews (more data...)
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published
September 4th 2006 (first published 1966) by Houghton Mifflin

binding
Paperback, 272 pages

isbn
0618747834    (isbn13: 9780618747832)

description
In this deeply affecting novel Scott O'Dell envelops the reader in the heroic world of the conquistadors—a world that is at once somber and many-color...more




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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 100)

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Corinneecomly
05/28/09
Corinneecomly rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in May, 2009
recommends it for: middle school and up
Interesting book about a young mapper maker who travels to Central America with a group of gold seekers. The boy tells his story from jail where he writes down what he remembers of his journey and what happened. Tension is heightened as the story alternates between the boy's trial and the reason he's in jail. Get a sense of the power of gold and the destruction it brought to the Americas.
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The other John
09/24/08
The other John rated it: 2 of 5 stars

Read in December, 2006
This book is a tale about "gold fever", the malady where one becomes so obsessed with obtaining gold that one loses all sense of morality and common sense. The year is 1541 and a cartographer named Estéban de Sandoval is sitting in prison awaiting trial. He is accused of not paying the king a fifth of the treasure he discovered, as required by law. In flashback, Sandoval recounts how he came to travel through the lands of Nuevo España (modern day Mexico and Arizona) searching for gol...more
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Oscar
03/16/09
Oscar rated it: 2 of 5 stars

bookshelves: currently-reading
UMM THIS BOOK IS LIKE AN OK BOOK. ILL ADD ANOTHER REVIEW LATER WHEN IM HALF WAY DONE OR WHEN IM FINISHED WITH IT. I DONT KNOW SO UNTIL LATER
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Megan
01/28/09
Megan rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in January, 2008
This book was historical fiction and based on a mans search for true wealth in dealing with his greed.
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Vicki
07/30/08
Vicki added it

This is another book from my son's reading list for history. Set in Mexico when the Spaniards were conquering Mexico. It is about a young boy who is a cartographer who gets caught up in searching for gold with some unscrupulous people. It is really a good historical novel and also very suspenseful and interesting to see what will happen next. We really enjoyed it.
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Ronya
05/11/08
Ronya rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in January, 1993
I found a reference for this book in the credits for the 80s animated series "Mysterious Cities of Gold." The series is loosely (very!) based on this book and on another trilogy which he set in the Mayan region. It's a Scott O'Dell book, and I have always loved Scott O'Dell, so it's hard for me to give it anything less than 4 stars.
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Jo
03/01/08
Jo rated it: 4 of 5 stars

bookshelves: newbery-project
Read in March, 2008
I liked it more than I thought I would. The author did a good job of balancing the physical action and the inner conflict in the book. I also liked the alternating POV, from the main character in prison to his adventures elsewhere.
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Elizabeth
07/16/08
Elizabeth rated it: 4 of 5 stars

Read in August, 2008
I really liked how this book is a history book but they make it so interesting. I think that there is alot you can learn about people in this book too.
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Sarah (Say)
04/29/08
Sarah (Say) added it

bookshelves: all-time-favs
I read this in fifth grade. My dad read it with me. I'm not sure either of us totally understood it, but it changed my life!
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Willow
06/23/09
Willow rated it: 5 of 5 stars


Stitchnsnitch
06/09/09
Stitchnsnitch rated it: 3 of 5 stars

Read in June, 2009

David Jacobson
06/08/09
David Jacobson rated it: 3 of 5 stars


Rheba
05/29/09
Rheba rated it: 4 of 5 stars


Madeleine
05/25/09
Madeleine added it

bookshelves: historical

Tammy
05/24/09
Tammy marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Clara
05/23/09
Clara marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read

Rinna-girl ♥
05/18/09
Rinna-girl ♥ added it

bookshelves: -maybe--to-read

Nancy
05/13/09
Nancy marked it as to-read

bookshelves: newbery-medal, to-read

Kim Hyatt
05/11/09
Kim Hyatt rated it: 5 of 5 stars


Bekah
05/08/09
Bekah marked it as to-read

bookshelves: to-read


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