The King's Fifth: A Newbery Honor Award Winner

by Scott O'Dell

Book Overview

A 1967 Newbery Honor Book

While awaiting trial for murder and withholding from the king the obligatory fifth of the gold found in Cibola, Esteban, a seventeen-year-old cartographer, recalls his adventures with a band of conquistadors.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0618747834
• ISBN13: 9780618747832
• Release Date: September 2006
• Publisher: Clarion Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.1" x 7.6"
• Age Range: 12 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 7 and higher

Customer Reviews

Good adventure

i read this book last summer and decided to re-read and i just have to say that it is still a page-turn the second time. this is a story about how the explorers come to find the gold and how they steal it. it is a great work of art. i think that all of O'dells books are great for any readers age. If you liked this book then i think you will like a book that i read in like 5th or 4 th grade : Island of the Blue Dolphins. (auther is o'dell)

Among the Best

For the last six months or so I have been reading through the Newbery Medal and Award books. The King's Fifth is one of my favorites. This book is filled with unforgettable characters, action, romance, and danger. I especially like the ending, which I won't give away! If you like historical fiction, adventure stories, or just great books, don't miss out. Read this book. May I also suggest my other all-time favorite Newbery winner: AMOS FORTUNE, FREEMAN.

Boy Hoodwinks King

Esteban de Sandoval, a map maker, is to stand before the royal audiencia. The royal audiencia is to decide if Esteban is guilty or innocent of withholding the king's fifth he has supposedly hidden. The year is 1541 and the place is the Fortress of Juan de Ulua, near Vera Cruz, New Spain (Mexico). Esteban records his adventures in the Land of Cibola on paper his jailer hs supplied. The jailer has talked Esteban into making a map of where he has hidden the treasure. The King's Fifth is exciting and very enveloping book. I like how the book is very descriptive. What I don't like is when they use Spanish words and they don't tell you what the words mean. Over all on a scale of one-five, five being the best, I would give the book a five. The plot is great. The story line makes you want to keep on reading at the end of a chapter.The scenery is well described and you feel as if you were there.

The King's Fifth is one of the best books by Scott O'Dell

The King's Fifth is a good, but challenging book. The reason this book is hard is because it keeps going back and forth in time. A person who likes to read hard books would really enjoy this book.

MY REVIEW

This is a story about a guy in the 16 or 17 century who went looking for the missing city of Gold. He found some gold and by law one fifth of it belonged to the Spanish King, he didn't give the king his share and went to jail. while in jail the man rights his story. Excelent story, exquisete detail and I loved it. Reviewer is 12 yrs. ol