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Culca longs to dive, but girls on her native island are supposed to take care of the men. The divers are essential to the survival of the village as the pearls and shells they gather are used for trading. All is not well, however. When a Spanish ship full of gold sinks in a storm, the island divers, including Culca’s brother, are taken to recover the treasure. |
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Reviews
School Library JournalGrades 4 – 7
Culca longs to dive like her brother Tulone, but girls on her native island take care of the men. The divers are essential to the survival of the village as the pearls and shells they gather are used for trading. All is not well, however, as Spanish conquistadors want only gold from the New World. When ships full of it sink in a storm, the divers are taken to recover the treasure, and Culca uses her nimble wits and unflagging bravery to save her brother’s life. Female roles and Spanish colonial exploitation of land and people are the themes of this brief account. The dual role of the church is shown through the contrast of a humble, sincere friar and the ostentatious church of the bishop.. Chief recommendations for the book are a simple vocabulary and sentence structure, single plot line, and nondidactic tone. Culca comes through as a strong female voice; issues are presented but are not belabored. An opening for discussion of the Spanish in the New World. Realistic black-and-white drawings appear in every chapter.
Gail Richmond, Point Loma High School, San Diego