The Capture of Rafael Ortega

Sixteen year old Rafael Ortega lives at a time when Spanish galleons set sail for the New World. At a time when press gangs nab young teens to work the galleons. At a time when Inquisitors will have you burned at the stake if you dare to break their rules.From his bedroom window in Cadiz, Rafael can see Spanish galleons with their billowing sails and their scrappy crews. He hears exciting tales of pirates and treasure and battles at sea. And he wishes he could go along. But an old sailor cautions him … ‘Be careful what you wish for.'When Rafael is nabbed by a press gang and thrown in the hold of a galleon, the old sailor’s words ring true. There are storms and pirates and battles to come. And now he must find a way back home. Meanwhile, Inquisitors have taken Rafael’s mother, father, and sister away. And if the family secret is discovered, their very lives are at stake. What could possibly happen next?