Product Description

This dramatic, suspenseful narrative reads like an adventure story-but it is true. In 1914, Sir Ernest Shackleton and a twenty-seven-man crew set off on an expedition to reach and cross Antarctica. Just a month and a half into the voyage, their ship, the Endurance, was caught fast in heavy pack ice. The men had no radio contact, and no one knew where they were or even that they were in trouble. None of them should have survived the ordeal that followed-unstable ice floes, treacherous waters, freezing temperatures, and starvation. Only the extraordinary leadership, courage, and strength of Shackleton brought the whole team safely through. Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's clear, compelling text is illustrated with photographs, taken and carefully preserved by the ship's photographer, that record the stark condition and the day-to-day activities of the men. Hand-drawn maps that show the extraordinary route of the Endurance and her crew. Bibliography, index.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #385814 in Books
• Published on: 1999-02-16
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 128 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Kimmel's compelling account presents the arresting tale of Sir Ernest Shackleton's doomed 1914 expedition to traverse the continent of Antarctica, for a slightly younger audience than Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World (Children's Forecasts, Jan. 25). Kimmel's chronicle contains considerably fewer anecdotes and journal excerpts than Armstrong's denser volume, yet the events of the shipwreck of the Endurance, the men's encampment on an ice pack and Shackleton's trek across South Georgia on foot, resulting in the survival of all 27 of his crew, are just as gripping here. Kimmel delves somewhat more deeply into Shackleton's personal life, fashioning a credible and affectionate portrait of this indefatigable explorer. The volume's relatively short chapters and strategic arrangement of photographs to break up blocks of text will make for smooth reading for kids on the younger edge of the intended audience. A deftly distilled recounting of an extraordinary story. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal
Grade 4-8-Having been beaten in his quest to be the first man to stand on the South Pole, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off in 1914 to cross the continent of Antarctica. He ultimately failed, but the saga of his attempt, in which his ship was frozen in ice and sunk, and yet no human lives were lost, makes a thrilling and terrifying tale. Utilizing Shackleton's memoirs and original expedition photographs, Kimmel re-creates events in exciting detail. She puts the story in historical perspective by comparing the exploration of Antarctica to the exploration of space, which plays a part in making this an accessible but not oversimplified account. After presenting a brief background about Antarctic explorers and introducing several of the primary members of the crew, the author then describes how the 28 men survived months of frostbite, penguin stew, and boredom, while hoping for rescue. Shackleton is depicted as a brave and responsible leader whose first concern was always the welfare of his men, yet who still had his own weaknesses. There has been a surge of information about this expedition lately, and this is a worthy addition to the group. Readers will cheer the endurance and ultimate survival of these adventurers while learning about history.
Andrew Medlar, Chicago Public Library, IL
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
Gr. 4^-7. Unlike Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World (1998), which contains many diary quotes, this relies almost solely on straight narrative to tell the story of Shackleton's Imperial Transatlantic Expedition, the famed explorer's final visit to Antarctica. But even though this lacks some of the visceral drama of Shipwreck, Kimmel does a fine job of compensating by presenting an exceptionally clear explanation of the scientific underpinnings and the sequence of events that made up one of history's great survival stories. Most of the important background is here, along with maps and some of Frank Hurley's extraordinary expedition photos. The lucid overview is likely to encourage readers to pursue other books on the subject--perhaps some of the adult ones Kimmel includes in her bibliography. Stephanie Zvirin

Customer Reviews

Ice Story: Shakleton's Lost Expedition
The true story with lots of original photographs of Sir Ernest Shakleton's unsuccessful Antarctic Expedition. The hardships they faced were incredible, yet Shackleton was a true commander. He kept his men together in mind and body. Excellent adventure book and recommend it for grades 3 through 11th. Also recommended reading for teachers and parents.

Incredible Study of Polar Hardships
My homeschooled kids LOVED this book. It doesn't have the bright pictures or tongue-in-check narration sported by other juvenile books but the story captured the attention of my 9-, 7-, and 5- year olds. We used this as a springboard into our study of Arctic habitats and polar explorers. I read it aloud over the course of two weeks, chapter by chapter to my younger ones. My oldest couldn't wait and snuck off to devour it during quiet time. He was so inspired by the details of their adventure and the amazing black and white photographs, he decided to go on his own "virtual" expedition which has spun off into a huge research project. It starts a tad dry but it doesn't take long before the intrigue of a real life stowaway, midnight dog races, and an incredible story of survival captures everyone's interest. A great tool to emphasize power of leadership, ingenuity, perseverance, and hope. I would HIGHLY recommend this as the main stay of a polar unit, which can then be supplemented with the more accessible juvenile books.

Ice Story Reveiw
This was a very interesting book and i would recamend it to anyone who like adventure.