Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World by Jennifer Armstrong

Genre IV

1. BIBLIOGRAPHY
Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. New York. Crown Publishing. ISBN 0517800136

2. PLOT SUMMARY
This is a story of bravery and ENDURANCE without comparison. Armstrong begins by introducing the captain, the crew members, the mission and the politics that all played vital roles in the formation and completion of this incredible journey. The author retells the facts surrounding the exploration, Ernest Shackleton and his 27 man crew with great storytelling ability. We learn that each crew member was truly a survivor in every way conceivable. Any one of the numerous devastating obstructions they faced would have been reason enough to abandon the quest. However, these men not only miraculously completed the monumental task of crossing Antarctica; they survived severe elements and sustained themselves through impossible circumstances. These courageous men, hauled wooden boats across frozen, jagged mountains of water, battled vicious leopard seals and sacrificed their dog teams all while suffering physical and mental breakdowns. Two years after the exploration began, the crew split up and Shackleton and two other men finally made it to small island port in the Atlantic Ocean. Four months later he led a rescue team back to the rest of his team and brought them all home alive.

3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Jennifer Armstrong narrates this story that took place between December 1914 and August 1916 via personalities and perspectives and shows how deeply connected these men were to the animals, landscape, equipment and other men on the team. She divides the information into twenty chapters which allows the reader to follow the intense action easily. The author includes forty four photographs, courtesy of Scott Polar Research Institute in her book. These photos were taken by Hurley, the exploration’s official photographer and add depth to the tale that words cannot. Three maps drawn by Kayley LeFairer, as well as plans of the ship, Endurance (courtesy of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich) are also included and aid the reader in visualizing the mission’s location and longevity. The author includes acknowledgements, a three part bibliography, an index and a table of contents to assist readers in pursuing any interests that will undoubtedly be sparked by her work. Armstrong researched Shackleton and the Antarctic separately when preparing to write this book. She was assisted in her research by the Scott Polar Institute in Cambridge, England and personally surveyed Worsley’s logbook, Hurley’s original photographs and Shackleton’s own writings. Armstrong has done an incredible job of capturing the intensity of this historical event while providing specific information pertinent to this part of the world.

4. REVIEW EXCERPT(S)
"A book that will capture the attention and imagination of any reader."
--School Library Journal, Starred

"This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers."
--Kirkus Reviews, Pointer

"Armstrong's absorbing storytelling, illustrated with dramatic black-and-white photographs, makes this an enthralling adventure."
--Publishers Weekly, Starred -- Review

5. CONNECTIONS
*Add this book to a realistic fiction unit on survival
*Other books about exploration of the Antarctic:
Steger, Will and Jon Bowermaster. 1992. CROSSING ANTARCTICA. New York. Alfred A. Knopf.
Fotherhill, Alastair. 1993. A NATURAL HISTORY OF THE ANTARCTIC: LIFE IN THE FREEZER. New York. Sterling Publishing Co.