The Captive

Reach for this book when your middle schooler begins to question the complexities of history, the corruption of power, or the tension between religious ideals and human greed. It is an excellent choice for young readers who are outgrowing simple tales of adventure and are ready to grapple with the moral gray areas of the real world. The story follows Julian, a young Jesuit seminarian on a Spanish expedition to the New World, who finds himself torn between his mission to serve God and the seductive lure of gold and influence among the Maya. Through Julian's eyes, children explore the heavy themes of exploitation and personal integrity. It is a sophisticated historical novel that asks if a person can remain good while participating in an unjust system. Parents will appreciate the way Scott O'Dell uses the setting of 16th-century Mexico to prompt deep thinking about accountability and the slow erosion of one's conscience.