I was very surprised at the author's ability to deal with some heavy historical realities gracefully and without throwing blame at just one group of people. He deftly placed Sir Walter in a historical context that did not excuse him or his peers from their incredibly violent treatment of other people, but it did allow him to be a sympathetic character with a cultural context that allowed for the decisions made to massacre the Irish or try to steal gold from the Native people of South America. Very well constructed and written. ( )

This book looks at the life and adventures of Sir Walter Ralegh, his accomplishments and overall impact he had on history. It is extremely informative, and provides ample material should a student be collecting research. ( )

This engaging ALA notable book and Sibert Medal winner in 2001 is well researched and written in an engaging storytelling format that will appeal to middle grade readers. While it is leveled at 7.8, the timelines, illustrations, organization, index, will all make this accessible to slightly younger readers for research. The author thoroughly explores the adventurous life of Walter Raleigh, both his successes and his failures to find the mythical El Dorado. Students who enjoy interesting historical characters will enjoy this book.

History books are more interesting if they tell a story. This is the story of Sir Walter Ralegh, explorer, warrior and ladies man. ( )