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The Seven Serpents Trilogy #1
The Captive
As part of a Spanish expedition to the New World, a Jesuit seminarian witnesses the enslavement and exploitation of the Mayas and is seduced by greed and ambition.
210 pages, Hardcover
First published October 24, 1979
6 people are currently reading
259 people want to read
About the author
Scott O'Dell
82 books812 followersScott O'Dell was an American author celebrated for his historical fiction, especially novels for young readers. He is best known for Island of the Blue Dolphins, a classic that earned the Newbery Medal and has been translated into many languages and adapted for film. Over his career he wrote more than two dozen novels for young people, as well as works of nonfiction and adult fiction, often drawing on the history and landscapes of California and Mexico. His books, including The King’s Fifth, The Black Pearl, and Sing Down the Moon, earned him multiple Newbery Honors and a wide readership. O'Dell received numerous awards for his contribution to children’s literature, among them the Hans Christian Andersen Award and the Regina Medal. In 1984, he established the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction to encourage outstanding works in the genre.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 29, 2011
“The Captive,”is the first of three books called the “Seven Serpents Trilogy” by Scott O'dell. This is an interesting book because even though it is fiction, it gives the reader insight into the lives, history, and geography of the Mayans and of Spaniards in the late 1400’s to early 1500’s.
The main character is Julian Escobar and he is a 16 year old seminary student who wants to become a minister. He lives in a small village in Spain and is asked by his mother’s employer, Don Luis Arroyo to go on a journey to an island. Don Luis is a businessman who inherited an island in the Caribbean and wants to go there because he heard there was a lot of gold to be mined. He persuades Julian to go by telling him that he could preach and hopefully spread Christianity to the Indians.
The journey begins on the coast of Spain and took many months. The ship never reached its destination but instead went too far and reached an island along the southeastern coast of Mexico. While on this island, the crew of the ship met with a tribe of Mayan Indians. Julian immediately began trying to teach the Indians about Christianity. However, Don Luis and the rest of the crew were only interested in the gold the Indians were wearing. After the chief told them about the plentiful supply of gold on the island, the crew enslaved the Indians and forced them to mine the gold.
After the last of the gold was mined and loaded aboard the ship, the crew set sail. Soon after their voyage continued, a hurricane began to brew and the ship was torn apart. Everyone died except for Julian and Don Luis . Julian managed to swim to a small, nearby island while Don Luis swam to a larger island that was further away. Julian had seen Don Luis in the water but didn’t know for sure that he had survived until many months later.
The ship sank off the shore close to the island where Julian swam. However, the ship had sunk very deep and only a few things had floated to the top of the water. These included bits of wood and two kegs of gun powder.
After spending many weeks on the island, Julian discovered that he was not alone. A thirteen year old Mayan girl befriended him and showed him ways to get food, make clothes, build shelter and speak Mayan. He also discovered the Mayans worshipped many strange gods. Julian decided to use gun powder to destroy a statue of one of these gods. Unfortunately, the loud explosion alerted the natives on the island next door of his presence.
The people of the neighboring island were not friendly and routinely sacrificed people by ripping out their heart.
Julian learned all this from a small boat of men from the neighboring island who arrived shortly after the gunpowder explosion. Their boat’s commander was a dwarf who, as it turned out, was also a Spaniard who had been shipwrecked. The dwarf’s name was Cantu and he explained to Julian how he was spared because the Mayan consider dwarfs sacred. After taking a long look at Julian, the dwarf devised a scheme to save Julian while helping himself to gain wealth. He persuaded Julian into pretending to be the reincarnated Mayan god Kukulcan. The Mayan believed Kukulcan, who died 452 years before, would one day return in the form of a tall, fair skinned, blond haired man. Julian fit this description and Cantu convinced Julian that if he didn’t go along with impersonating this god, he would be captured and sacrificed.
Julian’s first job as the god Kukulcan was to help defend the island from an attack by a neighboring Island. Cantu informed Julian that the leader of the attacking island was Don Luis Arroyo. Now Julian knew for sure that his old acquaintance from Spain had survived the hurricane. Don Luis was the man who had convinced Julian to leave his home and his family to go on a journey that became a nightmare.
This book ends with Cantu and Julian planning to return to the ship’s wreckage in order to bring up its cannons to aid in their defense and attack on the other island.
I hope the adventures I’ve briefly described in this book review inspire you to read “The Captive,” by Scott O’dell.
Will Julian survive to get back to Spain, his family, and his dream of becoming a priest? You’ll have to read the next books in the trilogy: “Feathered Serpent” and “The Amethyst Ring” to find out. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with a lot of action and adventure.
The main character is Julian Escobar and he is a 16 year old seminary student who wants to become a minister. He lives in a small village in Spain and is asked by his mother’s employer, Don Luis Arroyo to go on a journey to an island. Don Luis is a businessman who inherited an island in the Caribbean and wants to go there because he heard there was a lot of gold to be mined. He persuades Julian to go by telling him that he could preach and hopefully spread Christianity to the Indians.
The journey begins on the coast of Spain and took many months. The ship never reached its destination but instead went too far and reached an island along the southeastern coast of Mexico. While on this island, the crew of the ship met with a tribe of Mayan Indians. Julian immediately began trying to teach the Indians about Christianity. However, Don Luis and the rest of the crew were only interested in the gold the Indians were wearing. After the chief told them about the plentiful supply of gold on the island, the crew enslaved the Indians and forced them to mine the gold.
After the last of the gold was mined and loaded aboard the ship, the crew set sail. Soon after their voyage continued, a hurricane began to brew and the ship was torn apart. Everyone died except for Julian and Don Luis . Julian managed to swim to a small, nearby island while Don Luis swam to a larger island that was further away. Julian had seen Don Luis in the water but didn’t know for sure that he had survived until many months later.
The ship sank off the shore close to the island where Julian swam. However, the ship had sunk very deep and only a few things had floated to the top of the water. These included bits of wood and two kegs of gun powder.
After spending many weeks on the island, Julian discovered that he was not alone. A thirteen year old Mayan girl befriended him and showed him ways to get food, make clothes, build shelter and speak Mayan. He also discovered the Mayans worshipped many strange gods. Julian decided to use gun powder to destroy a statue of one of these gods. Unfortunately, the loud explosion alerted the natives on the island next door of his presence.
The people of the neighboring island were not friendly and routinely sacrificed people by ripping out their heart.
Julian learned all this from a small boat of men from the neighboring island who arrived shortly after the gunpowder explosion. Their boat’s commander was a dwarf who, as it turned out, was also a Spaniard who had been shipwrecked. The dwarf’s name was Cantu and he explained to Julian how he was spared because the Mayan consider dwarfs sacred. After taking a long look at Julian, the dwarf devised a scheme to save Julian while helping himself to gain wealth. He persuaded Julian into pretending to be the reincarnated Mayan god Kukulcan. The Mayan believed Kukulcan, who died 452 years before, would one day return in the form of a tall, fair skinned, blond haired man. Julian fit this description and Cantu convinced Julian that if he didn’t go along with impersonating this god, he would be captured and sacrificed.
Julian’s first job as the god Kukulcan was to help defend the island from an attack by a neighboring Island. Cantu informed Julian that the leader of the attacking island was Don Luis Arroyo. Now Julian knew for sure that his old acquaintance from Spain had survived the hurricane. Don Luis was the man who had convinced Julian to leave his home and his family to go on a journey that became a nightmare.
This book ends with Cantu and Julian planning to return to the ship’s wreckage in order to bring up its cannons to aid in their defense and attack on the other island.
I hope the adventures I’ve briefly described in this book review inspire you to read “The Captive,” by Scott O’dell.
Will Julian survive to get back to Spain, his family, and his dream of becoming a priest? You’ll have to read the next books in the trilogy: “Feathered Serpent” and “The Amethyst Ring” to find out. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys books with a lot of action and adventure.
August 16, 2020
Perhaps 2.5 stars, rounded down. I am not happy with the cynicism in this book, unusual for a children’s book. Today I am pretty sure it would go YA, not juvenile. The main character condemns those who don’t sufficiently follow the Catholic religion, yet gets browbeaten into doing something entirely condemned by his faith. I was dismayed by the Robinson Crusoe meets Girl Friday theme for the middle of the book. The natives are presented as somewhat simple and easy to fool but part of what saves this book is that the Spaniards are presented as ruthless, greedy untrustworthy invaders of the Americas. The other part that keeps me reading is the stature of the author. I’ll see what I think of the next book which might change my opinion of this title. Addendum: I’ve come to realize that this is a searing indictment of the Spanish invasion of the American Natives rather than a more traditional book where you’re expected to identify with the main character. Recommended as fiction titles after college courses on the subject.
September 2, 2022
eponymous sentence:
p21: "Captives," he said.
I'm not sure if it was the intention but I'm scared out of my wits (having seen Mel Gibson's Apocalypto) for Julián. That was textbook out-of-the-frying-pan-and-into-the-fire moment.
p21: "Captives," he said.
I'm not sure if it was the intention but I'm scared out of my wits (having seen Mel Gibson's Apocalypto) for Julián. That was textbook out-of-the-frying-pan-and-into-the-fire moment.
March 6, 2022
Scott O'Dell is a master of historical fiction for young readers, and deservedly so. He puts readers right in the heart of whatever he's writing about.
In the case of his Seven Serpents trilogy, this is the exploits of Julian Escobar, a 16-year-old seminary student from Spain who sails off to the New World with a nobleman from his local village. He's initially talked into going because he is told he will be winning souls for the Christian faith.
What he discovers is something altogether different. Until sailing, Julian had led an extremely sheltered life. He loved books, singing and playing music, and had no ambition beyond becoming the priest for his small village after graduating from seminary. He was greateful to the nobleman because it is through the gentleman's patronage that Julian is able to study.
Once abord the ship, Julian comes face to face with all the greed, cruelty, manipulation and deceit that humans are capable of. When his ship is wrecked in a storm and he finds himself on an island, he also discovers other gods, other religions, and other ways of worshipping that appall him.
This is nothing compared to what's in store, though. Julian is soon ensnared in a web of deceit of his own, and as the pages turn, he is drawn further and further away from the ideals that accompanied him when he left Spain.
Just how far will Julian go in order to survive? And if he is able to survive, what kind of man will he become?
This is not the neat, packaged history that aims to keep readers comfortable, as if viewing events and circumstances with a nice glass barrier between "us" and "them," "now" and "then". This is history with all the blood, waste, destruction, and inconvenient details left in.
Still, it showcases an important period in the story of the Americas, and I would recommend it to anyone brave enough to tackle the book and honest enough to keep reading, even when it's not pleasant.
In the case of his Seven Serpents trilogy, this is the exploits of Julian Escobar, a 16-year-old seminary student from Spain who sails off to the New World with a nobleman from his local village. He's initially talked into going because he is told he will be winning souls for the Christian faith.
What he discovers is something altogether different. Until sailing, Julian had led an extremely sheltered life. He loved books, singing and playing music, and had no ambition beyond becoming the priest for his small village after graduating from seminary. He was greateful to the nobleman because it is through the gentleman's patronage that Julian is able to study.
Once abord the ship, Julian comes face to face with all the greed, cruelty, manipulation and deceit that humans are capable of. When his ship is wrecked in a storm and he finds himself on an island, he also discovers other gods, other religions, and other ways of worshipping that appall him.
This is nothing compared to what's in store, though. Julian is soon ensnared in a web of deceit of his own, and as the pages turn, he is drawn further and further away from the ideals that accompanied him when he left Spain.
Just how far will Julian go in order to survive? And if he is able to survive, what kind of man will he become?
This is not the neat, packaged history that aims to keep readers comfortable, as if viewing events and circumstances with a nice glass barrier between "us" and "them," "now" and "then". This is history with all the blood, waste, destruction, and inconvenient details left in.
Still, it showcases an important period in the story of the Americas, and I would recommend it to anyone brave enough to tackle the book and honest enough to keep reading, even when it's not pleasant.
January 18, 2021
I actually liked this more than I thought I would. I figured it would paint indigenous people as pure savages, which it does to an extent. The main character is a Catholic seminarian, so having him look down on the practices of the people he encounters is pretty accurate. That being said, it also paints the conquistadors as violent savages, just based on their greed and violence rather than their religious practices. Overall it was quite an exciting story with narration that was fitting for the characters' times.
April 30, 2019
I read this aloud to my 9 yr old after we really enjoyed Island of the Blue Dolphins. The timing was perfect; we were just about to take a family trip to Spain. I think this book, though not for all audiences, was a real eye opener. Excellent for a child who won't get too freaked out over human sacrifices and cannibalism.
April 29, 2025
3rd time and I still love it.
December 24, 2016
This review also appears on my blog, Read-at-Home Mom.
Julian Escobar, a young Spanish seminarian, believes he is following Don Luis Arroyo to the New World in order to help convert "savages" to the Christian religion. Once their ship lands on a Mayan island, however, it becomes clear that Don Luis plans to enslave the Indians, and that Julian has been selected for his naivete in the hopes that he will stand by silently and allow the enslavement to take place without interference. As months pass, Julian witnesses mutiny, survives a shipwreck, and then ultimately succumbs to the glamorous prospect of fame.
This book is heavy reading, and very academic in tone. The story starts out fairly harmless and hopeful, but devolves slowly, showing first the moral decline of those around Julian, and then Julian's own descent into egotism. While the story is engrossing, the emotional darkness, including Julian's struggle to maintain his relationship to God, makes it difficult to enjoy. Certainly there is much to learn from this book - about Mayan culture, about conquistadors, about the dangers of sailing, even about wilderness survival - but of all the books I've read for this project thusfar, it would be the hardest one to effectively sell to kids. The main character's experiences are very far removed from the concerns of most middle grade readers, and the lack of illustration and dialogue make the book look more intimidating than it actually is. My recommendation would be to read at least some of the book aloud before asking a child to read it independently. There is so much danger and excitement in the story that once kids have a taste, they will be curious to find out what happens and they will forget that the book seems old-fashioned, boring, or difficult to read.
The Captive is the first book of The Seven Serpents Trilogy, meaning that there is no definitive ending at the conclusion of this story. Julian's adventures continue in Feathered Serpent (1981) and The Amethyst Ring (1983). I did not realize this was not a stand-alone title when I chose it for my list, or I might have skipped it. I didn't enjoy the story enough to want to read the sequels, but at the same time, I'm bothered by not knowing Julian's ultimate fate. Young readers might want to be made aware that this is a story spanning three books before they start this first one.
Ultimately, this book will be but a footnote for me in the overall scheme of things. I still want to read Island of the Blue Dolphins someday, because I never have, but I have a feeling it will be a while before I'm ready to try Scott O'Dell again. Depending on how much you and your kids love long, suspenseful, and detailed history books, your mileage may vary.
Julian Escobar, a young Spanish seminarian, believes he is following Don Luis Arroyo to the New World in order to help convert "savages" to the Christian religion. Once their ship lands on a Mayan island, however, it becomes clear that Don Luis plans to enslave the Indians, and that Julian has been selected for his naivete in the hopes that he will stand by silently and allow the enslavement to take place without interference. As months pass, Julian witnesses mutiny, survives a shipwreck, and then ultimately succumbs to the glamorous prospect of fame.
This book is heavy reading, and very academic in tone. The story starts out fairly harmless and hopeful, but devolves slowly, showing first the moral decline of those around Julian, and then Julian's own descent into egotism. While the story is engrossing, the emotional darkness, including Julian's struggle to maintain his relationship to God, makes it difficult to enjoy. Certainly there is much to learn from this book - about Mayan culture, about conquistadors, about the dangers of sailing, even about wilderness survival - but of all the books I've read for this project thusfar, it would be the hardest one to effectively sell to kids. The main character's experiences are very far removed from the concerns of most middle grade readers, and the lack of illustration and dialogue make the book look more intimidating than it actually is. My recommendation would be to read at least some of the book aloud before asking a child to read it independently. There is so much danger and excitement in the story that once kids have a taste, they will be curious to find out what happens and they will forget that the book seems old-fashioned, boring, or difficult to read.
The Captive is the first book of The Seven Serpents Trilogy, meaning that there is no definitive ending at the conclusion of this story. Julian's adventures continue in Feathered Serpent (1981) and The Amethyst Ring (1983). I did not realize this was not a stand-alone title when I chose it for my list, or I might have skipped it. I didn't enjoy the story enough to want to read the sequels, but at the same time, I'm bothered by not knowing Julian's ultimate fate. Young readers might want to be made aware that this is a story spanning three books before they start this first one.
Ultimately, this book will be but a footnote for me in the overall scheme of things. I still want to read Island of the Blue Dolphins someday, because I never have, but I have a feeling it will be a while before I'm ready to try Scott O'Dell again. Depending on how much you and your kids love long, suspenseful, and detailed history books, your mileage may vary.
January 31, 2024
Don Luis coerces Julian Escobar, a seminarian studying for the priesthood, into sailing to the New World. He persuades Julian to come as "priest" for the voyage by promising him many converts among the natives. Julian, soon, realizes that Don Luis' ambitions are centered on the acquisition of wealth, not on the conversion of heathens to Christianity. When their ship is driven off course during a hurricane, it crashes and sinks with all hands on deck. Julian manages to swim to shore. News of his presence quickly spreads throughout the island. Cantu, a fellow Sevillean, plays upon Julian's blond hair and blue eyes to portray him as Kukulcan, a man-god who left the island some four hundred years before. Kukulcan said he would return as a young man with blond hair and blue eyes. His strong sense of abhorrence for idolatry makes Julian resist at first. Julian allows the masquerade to continue when he is told that he will be sacrificed to the very gods he hates. Julian is transported to City of the Seven Serpents where he rides a black stallion into a thronging mass of cheering worshippers. As he enters the city, Julian knows that he is entering a hell on earth.
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
©2024 Kathy Maxwell at https://bookskidslike.com
April 25, 2014
I thought that The Captive by Scot O'Dell was a very interesting book. It's set in the 6th century when people were first exploring the new world. The Captive is about a Spanish missionary that goes on a ship to the Caribbean, He intends to teach the people there about goodness. I did not like part of the book because part of the of the book they tried to enslave a tribe of Indians. I thought the author wrote like you were part of the book and you almost were there. I would recommend this book to anyone because it is a book that was hard to put down and most people would be interested. This book is part of a three book series.
April 1, 2015
Kind of a downer, but one of those "important" books you can't feel too bad about reading. Found it in the YA section of the library. Short, easy to read, interesting, but tragic and no happy ending. If you are interested in Mayan history, it's a good read.
July 20, 2011
Interesting historical fiction. It is a trilogy so I don't know how it ends yet. It is about the Maya which I've never read a historical fiction on. So far it is not as good as Island of The Blue Dolphins.
November 17, 2007
This is the first in a trilogy, and I will need to read the other two before I can decide if they are a good fit for the private children's library that I operate.
December 18, 2007
The fist book in a trilogy that sparked my love of reading. For that I have to give it 5 stars and recommend it to any teacher/parent considering it for their kids.
July 31, 2009
Enjoyed it up until the end. Graphic, violent ending.
December 17, 2010
Julian a young Spaniard who had been studying to become a priest, is shipwrecked on a South American island and become the Mayan god Kukulcan.
June 12, 2011
BORINGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
May 25, 2012
YEAH! I'm rocking the 16th century in Spain going to the New World! I'm talking colossal ships, mutiny.... and its only page 24.
February 13, 2023
A childhood favorite when I read it in the early 1980s.
May 6, 2015
It was pretty good, the beginning was a bit slow but it picks up half way through. The ending really sets the stage for the next book that I hope will be even better .
July 26, 2015
This book was really hard to get into, but once I finally did, I wanted to know and read more. It is an interesting perspective on the people of the time and the role of religion in colonization.
April 25, 2016
I didn't like the ending
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews