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To the Edge of the World
ORPHANED BY THE plague and penniless, Mateo must find his way in the world. By chance he is made a cabin boy on the celebrated voyage of Captain-General Ferdinand Magellan. The destination is secret, but the crew whispers that Magellan will be the first to sail east to the Spice Islands by going west —and everyone shall return with untold riches.
At sea, Mateo discovers the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and hard work, as well as the delight of first love. But when the ocean rages and brother turns against brother, both Mateo and Magellan are in danger—and it’s not clear if anyone will survive. . . .
“Torrey deftly maintains the taut thread of adventure that, along with the cast of memorable characters, keep the pages turning.”— Publishers Weekly , Starred
“This deserves to be in the hands of every reader who loves history and adventure.”— Kirkus Reviews
At sea, Mateo discovers the meaning of friendship, loyalty, and hard work, as well as the delight of first love. But when the ocean rages and brother turns against brother, both Mateo and Magellan are in danger—and it’s not clear if anyone will survive. . . .
“Torrey deftly maintains the taut thread of adventure that, along with the cast of memorable characters, keep the pages turning.”— Publishers Weekly , Starred
“This deserves to be in the hands of every reader who loves history and adventure.”— Kirkus Reviews
240 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2003
9 people are currently reading
54 people want to read
About the author
Michele Torrey
14 books19 followersMichele Torrey, author of chapter books for young readers and novels for middle grade, young adult, and adult, is a two-time Thurber House Residency in Children's Literature nominee, plus a two-time winner of PNWA's Zola Award. Among other honors, her books have received starred reviews from “Publisher’s Weekly” and “Kirkus,” been chosen by the Junior Library Guild, and been nominated for numerous state medals.
Torrey holds a degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Washington (’88), and a Master of Arts in Religion from Graceland University (’06). She currently lives on Fox Island, Washington, but has lived and traveled all over the world. She has three sons and five grandchildren. In addition to her writing and traveling, she is a director and co-founder of Orphans Africa, a 501 c 3 nonprofit charity (www.orphansafrica.org). Orphans Africa works primarily in Tanzania, building boarding schools for children orphaned by AIDS.
Torrey holds a degree in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of Washington (’88), and a Master of Arts in Religion from Graceland University (’06). She currently lives on Fox Island, Washington, but has lived and traveled all over the world. She has three sons and five grandchildren. In addition to her writing and traveling, she is a director and co-founder of Orphans Africa, a 501 c 3 nonprofit charity (www.orphansafrica.org). Orphans Africa works primarily in Tanzania, building boarding schools for children orphaned by AIDS.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 3, 2015
This book is really good, it has a lot of description of how it feels like to be on a boat for a long time. This book is about a boy whose parents have died of a disease and he starts to travel to a port and once he gets there he finds an inn and tries to get some sleep there. Soon after the lady at the table says for him to leave a man comes and tells him to sit and eat with him. The man’s name is Espinosa a man who travels on ships a lot and he asks Mateo (the boy) if he would come and soon Mateo is on the San Antonio on an adventure never done before by any man as the lead captain will travel west from Spain to the spice islands ( the Philippines).
I loved this book because it was very adventures and very happy. I liked when Mateo stood up for a girl that he was in love with when they got to Brazil. I also liked how Mateo sketched and played music for the lead captain. I learned that the Philippines was called the Spice Islands back in explorer time.
I recommended this book to all readers who love explorer books.
I loved this book because it was very adventures and very happy. I liked when Mateo stood up for a girl that he was in love with when they got to Brazil. I also liked how Mateo sketched and played music for the lead captain. I learned that the Philippines was called the Spice Islands back in explorer time.
I recommended this book to all readers who love explorer books.
November 25, 2017
9th Grade World Civilization Honors students read this book at our Jr High. A few parents raised concerns about the content. The school community council members were asked to read it, so we can discuss its merit at next months meeting.
I'm going to say, there's enough helpful and informational content in the book that it's a good text for an idea about what sea travel and exploration may have been like. The two "shocking" items were that a captain was executed for having a lover, a male sailor. And, Mateo runs around with a naked native woman for about 2 pages. There is no intercourse. I think worse than those things, which are not huge events and don't really stand out unless you're looking for them, are the descriptions of their hardships like eating rats, going mad, executing fellow shipmates.
We'll see how the discussion goes :)
I'm going to say, there's enough helpful and informational content in the book that it's a good text for an idea about what sea travel and exploration may have been like. The two "shocking" items were that a captain was executed for having a lover, a male sailor. And, Mateo runs around with a naked native woman for about 2 pages. There is no intercourse. I think worse than those things, which are not huge events and don't really stand out unless you're looking for them, are the descriptions of their hardships like eating rats, going mad, executing fellow shipmates.
We'll see how the discussion goes :)
September 6, 2025
DNF. This book was recommended to me to read alongside our homeschool study of world explorers. My kids were fourth and sixth and we were not prepared for all the adult content in this book. I do not recommend this for children.
July 23, 2019
Based on the historical account of Magellan’s journey to find the Spice Islands, this MG novel is vivid in its accounts of the hardships, tragedies and horrors this type of voyage entails. Good characterization and realistic setting made this an interesting but disquieting read. For boys who love exploration and medival history, it would hit the spot. Suggested ages 11 to 18 years. Younger ones would find many scenes alarming.
October 29, 2025
Didn’t actually personally read this…skimmed through it after one of my kids pointed out that it is not appropriate. So frustrating when books are recommended on trusted booklists for kids and they end up with content that is not age appropriate.
September 29, 2017
My kids did not enjoy this book due to the violence. They are 13 and 11.
April 2, 2023
Excellent mix of history and creative narrative that will expand a young reader's mind and view of the world. Must read for those middle and high schoolers with an adventurous spirit.
June 10, 2011
1519 AD, Magellan's cabin boy; first 1/2 a bit slow, once in the Pacific it gets gross, violent, etc; a homage to classic boys adventure novels (Robinson Crusoe, etc).
The final chapter is an explanation of what is true, and what was filled in by the author, as well as an explanation of differing values of those times. Except for the main character, his parents and the native girl he hooks up with, all the characters in the book were real, and the book is based in large part on the journal of Pigafetta, one of the seamen who had kept a detailed journal of the voyage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_...
Many of his descriptions are woven into the text, including bits of dialog between Magellan and Cartagena. Still what we know about the voyage is limited the author has filled in missing bits.
The author also explains WHY spain was forced to go west to find a different path to the spice islands. Aspects of how they navigated, etc. Bits of the story not included because they were unknown to the central fictional character, etc. It's essentially a tiny textbook explaining aspects of what happened in the book
This is followed by a full glossary and a detailed bibliography
While this book is essentially out of print, it has been saved by amazon as a digital text. The book it text to voice enabled.
The final chapter is an explanation of what is true, and what was filled in by the author, as well as an explanation of differing values of those times. Except for the main character, his parents and the native girl he hooks up with, all the characters in the book were real, and the book is based in large part on the journal of Pigafetta, one of the seamen who had kept a detailed journal of the voyage.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antonio_...
Many of his descriptions are woven into the text, including bits of dialog between Magellan and Cartagena. Still what we know about the voyage is limited the author has filled in missing bits.
The author also explains WHY spain was forced to go west to find a different path to the spice islands. Aspects of how they navigated, etc. Bits of the story not included because they were unknown to the central fictional character, etc. It's essentially a tiny textbook explaining aspects of what happened in the book
This is followed by a full glossary and a detailed bibliography
While this book is essentially out of print, it has been saved by amazon as a digital text. The book it text to voice enabled.
February 25, 2016
This book is about a boy who is 14 and all his family has died of the plague and he soon travels to another city in Spain close to the coast line and he is asked to join a ship that is going to the Spice Islands but it is going west to get there and searching for el Paso and no one knows if they will return!
This book reminds me of hunter because Mateo’s parents died just like no-name the hunter and they both had to survive in harsh places. No-name is from Hunter.
This book reminds me of those therapy offices for gay people where if someone doesn’t like that you do not agree with them, they force you to change your mind.
In this book Rodrigo reminds me of myself because he believes a lot of what people tell him like I do.
This book has given me a lot of facts about the conquistadors and their beliefs.
This book reminds me of hunter because Mateo’s parents died just like no-name the hunter and they both had to survive in harsh places. No-name is from Hunter.
This book reminds me of those therapy offices for gay people where if someone doesn’t like that you do not agree with them, they force you to change your mind.
In this book Rodrigo reminds me of myself because he believes a lot of what people tell him like I do.
This book has given me a lot of facts about the conquistadors and their beliefs.
October 6, 2016
If you're simply looking for history in a kid-friendly format, I could see recommending this book. But as a story, no, I'm sorry, it "missed the boat." With the exception of Magellan himself, the characterizations are pretty flat. The plot doesn't follow a good trajectory, with repeated climaxes after which the story continues to lumber on. The hero, Mateo, does grow throughout the story, but not in any way that shows that the author is on top of her craft. I had to make myself finish this book. It's not horrible, but it's also not worth more than a lukewarm review.
August 4, 2011
When Mateo's parents die he loses both his sheep and his knife and is forced to play his guitar for his supper. One of the patrons of the hotel offers him a job as a cabin boy on Ferdinand Magellans's ship. The story is very well researched, relaying many of the historical characters and the events of the discovery of the passage west to discover a new route to the Spice Islands in 1519-1521.
January 15, 2015
gr 5-8 219 pgs
1519, Spain / voyage of Magellan. After his parents die from plague, 14 year old orphan Mateo Marcia finds work as a cabin boy on one of the ships sailing with Magellan. Mateo soon finds himself caught in the middle as the various captains struggle to take control from Magellan.
Because of certain situations in the book, I thought it is better for readers in high school and higher.
1519, Spain / voyage of Magellan. After his parents die from plague, 14 year old orphan Mateo Marcia finds work as a cabin boy on one of the ships sailing with Magellan. Mateo soon finds himself caught in the middle as the various captains struggle to take control from Magellan.
Because of certain situations in the book, I thought it is better for readers in high school and higher.
April 24, 2016
Definitely a YA book: if I found events depicted and the fact that so few actually completed Magellan's expedition disturbing, this story will be too much for some younger readers. I do like the voice of the young narrator who tells of personal growth and demonstrates moral courage in the midst of harrowing times on Magellan's voyage around the world faced with mutinies, abuse of the natives, violence, starvation, etc.
March 29, 2008
I just read this for a project I'm doing for my one of my reading classes. I am planning to use it as a part of a hypothetical project that my students would read.
April 1, 2008
AWSOME!!!!!!!
November 9, 2008
This book is not printing anymore, i had the pleasure of reading this as an assignment for school. Very suspensful, this will get you hooked.
February 21, 2009
This book is about a young boy who signs up to go on the voyage of Magellan.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews