Entertaining and informative.... Joan Elizabeth Goodman blends a compelling, dramatic narrative with Tom McNeely's superbly drawn watercolors giving readers age 8 to 18 a memorable and enjoyable "window in time" to one of the truly outstanding feats in history.
- Midwest Book Review 2002
Nonfiction Honor Book, 2001
- VOYA 2001
Well researched and written with details that make these distant figures and achievements memorable.
- Abby McGanney Nolan Washington Post 2001 05 13
A fascinating book on the history of Portuguese exploration ... stunning artwork throughout complements the text very well.
- Connie Forst Resource Links 2001 06 01
This slender, easy-to-read volume, filled with danger, courage, and treachery, is an exciting adventure tale that teaches important historical and geographical facts.
- Delia A. Culberson VOYA [Voice of Youth Advocates] 2001 08 01
Lush watercolor illustrations and a regal design add drama ... Goodman tells the story with flair and balance.
- Horn Book Guide 2001 01 01
STARRED REVIEW: The story is a fascinating one ... McNeely's full-page illustrations vibrate with life and action ... A concluding time line and an index help make this a good resource for reports, but the book is also intelligently written and exciting.
- Susan Dove Lempke Booklist 2001 09 01
The running narrative includes sidebars taken from the journal of one of da Gama's crew members - an excellent example of primary-source material ... The balanced presentation ... is compellingly written and makes interesting reading ... it provides a solid introduction to the grand era of Portuguese navigation.
- Ann Welton School Library Journal 2001 07 01
The author's thorough research is evident throughout, both in the detail she packs into the text as well as in her ability to knit the proceedings into a broad historical context.
- Publishers Weekly 2001 06 04
