Cortez' conquest of the Aztecs is seen through the eyes of a 12-year-old boy, Chimal, as he lives through the year of fear, fighting and famine that saw the fall of the great Aztec empire. A great many facts about the Aztec life and customs are imparted through this fictional account. Mrs. Lampman appends a short bibliography and a glossary of Aztec terms. Illustrations of various areas in Tenochtitlan, today the site of Mexico City, help the reader to relate the terms of the story to the ancient situation. Libraries needing more easily digested information about Mexican and Indian history will find this to be a well-written account for the young reader.