Enrique El Negro by Carla M. Pacis


Enrique El Negro
Title : Enrique El Negro
Author :
Rating :
ISBN : -
Language : English
Format Type : Kindle , Hardcover , Paperback , Audiobook & More
Number of Pages : 125
Publication : First published January 1, 2003

When the Portuguese explorer, Ferdinand Magellan "discovered" the Philippines for the Spanish crown in the 16th century, he was accompanied by a slave named Enrique, who could communicate with the inhabitants of the islands that Magellan visited. Little is known of this slave except that he existed. However, a local historian has come up with a still-controversial theory that the slave Enrique was from what is now known as the Philippines, and therefore, was the man who first circled the globe (and not the Spaniard Sebastian Elcano).

This historical fiction, as told by Enrique, is not only a chronicle of the famous voyage but also a peep into the life and times of 16th-century Europe and the Philippines. More importantly, it is a look into the mind of a young man who is given the rare opportunity of seeing civilizations unravel before him under the opposing influences of greed and friendship.

Enrique El Negro Reviews

  • Sandi

    We just finished reading this book together as a family read aloud for homeschool. At the end of the book I discussed the book with my boys and asked what they thought. They gave the book 1-2 stars. I give the book 3 stars (because I think I am probably overly generous with my star ratings). They felt the book was lacking. They wanted more story and adventure. Enrique has a lonesome life and doesn't really interact or have any meaningful relationships with another human the whole book.

    My boys really liked how the book opened, and they liked the backstory the author painted of Enrique's life on the islands before he became a slave. The part of Enrique living in Portugal for 6 years they thought was weird because it was 6 years of his life but was just one chapter and not much happened during the time in Portugal. They wished he would have had more adventures in Portugal. They also liked the interaction with pirates and they think that should have gone into more details. They enjoyed when Magellan landed again on the islands and they thought more detail and story should have been told to highlight each island. And they said the battle scene of Magellan dying was super quick and uninteresting, when it could have been very exciting.

    They made sure I promised to come back here to goodreads and change my rating from 3 stars to 2 stars.

    ********
    (Review of first read by myself) I read this book in preparation to read it together with my sons for homeschooling next year for Philippines History. My plan is to use this book as a read aloud for my 10 and 8 year old sons (I think this book might be too much for my 6 year old son to follow along with.)

    Although this book is historical fiction, and the ethnicity (and even existence) of a slave named "Enrique El Negro" is controversial, I do think this is an interesting story that helps gives a picture of what, how and why Magellan landed in the Philippines. So as far as using this book to help illustrate and bring understanding to my boys about Magellan and Lapu Lapu - I think this book is good and meets that purpose.

    But as far as a work of literature, I think this book is a bit lacking. The language seemed overly simplified and straightforward. The level of language used in writing this book made it seemed as though it would be geared towards middle elementary school aged children. And yet, the back of the book itself claims it is for junior high and high schoolers.

    As far as the content of the book itself, it is pretty mild and appropriate for the upper grade school child throughout most of the book. There is one scene that I think was unnecessary, which is found in one of the last chapters of the book, where they describe topless Philippine tribal woman dancing seductively around the Spanish crew, along with descriptions of the eager and excited response of the Spanish men. I think that scene was unnecessary for the book being aimed toward children. Additionally, there is death mentioned in the last couple chapters of the book, but it is to be expected in order to tell the story of Magellan and Lapu Lapu. But I do think the author did a good job at keeping the descriptions of the death appropriate the for the book.

    All in all, the story that the book tells wins out over the lack of literature beauty, and we will be using it next year for homeschooling.

  • John Warren

    Ay kasakiman paano nito nagagawang maging halimaw ang mga tao! At saan man sila naroon dito sa malawak na mundo, anumang pagyayabang ang ipakita nila, pare-pareho lang sila!
    Dinala ako ng librong ito sa isang paglalakbay, ang pinakaunang paglibot ng tao sa mundo ni Enrique El Negro at lubos akong nasiyahan. Natutuwa ako dahil parang nasaksihan ko na rin ang isang punto sa kasaysayan ng mundo. Sana mas maayos lang ang pagkakasulat pero kahit ganun di ko masasabing hindi ko nagustuhan ang librong ito.

  • Brigette Lee

    It was very interesting to see the telling of Enrique's journey from his own land to around the world. However, it really wasn't as great as the synopsis sounds, we really just experience Enrique's adventure in a handful of places so the status of first to travel around the world wasn't actually that adventurous. It was more of a ride through history through the eyes of a Filipino from that time. The main character was just okay, he seemed more like a vessel for us to experience Magellan's journey to spice island

  • Niel

    beutiful