In the 16th century, a 15-year-old boy finds himself abandoned after the death

of his mother, who was persecuted on false charges of witchcraft. He is fated

to join the Portuguese overseas fleet, setting off on a risky voyage to the New

World. His ship is wrecked, however, and the boy faces months of solitary

survival in the unknown and exotic lands of Brazil in its early historical period.

Encountering settlers, he witnesses the curious relationship between catechized

natives and the Portuguese. Amidst passions, encounters, dangers and

discoveries, the youngster is exposed to the conflict between established truths

and the unrest of a vibrant and questioning life.