“Westward With Columbus” by John Dyson is a captivating book that takes readers on a voyage of discovery. Through the eyes of Pedro, a young boy aboard the Santa Maria, we relive the fateful journey that forever changed the world.
The book alternates between fiction and fact, weaving together two compelling narratives:
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Fictional Account: We follow Pedro, a deckhand on the Santa Maria, as he experiences life at sea during Columbus’s historic voyage. The vivid portrayal of shipboard life, the anguish of the forced Indian companions, and the mystery of a secret map make this part of the book engaging and thought-provoking.
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Nonfiction Exploration: The other part of the book delves into a modern-day expedition. Spanish historian Luis Miguel Coin believes that Columbus followed a more southerly route than commonly believed. Full-color photographs show a crew of students dressed in 15th-century attire, reenacting Columbus’s arrival in the New World. Coin’s journey aims to prove his theory, and the book provides insights into the natural clues he used to support it.
