January 15, 2009
This book falls short of being a good read on several levels, not least of which is the title. With over half of the 13 stories concerning the South Poleand with humans and animals perishing left and rightit could have been called "Death in the Antarctic." Basically, editor Kuhne, whose series has already covered the "High Seas" and the "Mountains," needs more context here. Each selection opens with a brief explanation and ends with a postscript, which are both inadequate and leave the reader with questions. Take, for example, the chapter "Alone," excerpts from Richard Byrd's account of being at the South Pole's Advance Base for five winter months. Why is he there alone? Who left him there? How did the tunnel collapse referred to happen? The pieces by Helen Thayer, Robert Falcon Scott, Ernest Shackleton, and Frank Arthur Worsley are compelling, but serious polar reader will have encountered them in the full works. And, at some 450 pages, this is simply too long. General readers may soon tire of the essays' similarities (it's bitterly cold and dangerous). Not an essential purchase.Lee Arnold, Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
May 1, 2009
Adult/High School-Frostbite, hunger, infection, and death plague the explorers in this collection of 12 harrowing adventures. The stories range from the familiar epic of Shackleton's 1914 voyage to the amazing two-man trek in 1992 by Mike Stroud and Ranulph Fiennes across the Antarctic. Primarily written in the first person, some of the accounts are diary excerpts and others are selections from previously published memoirs. In some cases the writing is stark and mundane, making some of the accounts more accessible than others. However, readers who enjoy feeling like they are part of the moment will appreciate the effort and discipline it must have taken to meticulously record the expedition while enduring such harsh and threatening conditions. Whether the explorers are facing surprise storms, nursing injuries from falls into crevasses, or eating their sled dogs to stay alive, they all fight the urge to abandon their expeditions. In the end, some are rewarded with immense personal accomplishment, fame, and prestige while others are lucky to survive and get the chance to apply the lessons of failure to future attempts. Teens interested in survival stories will find several inspiring examples here. In addition, teachers may find value in using selections from this collection to illustrate and compare different types of nonfiction writing styles."Lynn Rashid, Marriotts Ridge High School, Marriottsville, MD"
Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.