This gripping informational text is an introduction to polar exploration in general, and the ship U.S.S Jeannette in particular. Captain Long’s journal helps tell the adventure of attempting to reach the North Pole and ending up locked in ice for two years. Includes Epilogue, Author’s Note, Bibliography, Source Notes, Index.

Brevity is the soul of... being able to get to the end of a lot of books.

The text of this book is only 170 pages, and the type is large and the book full of white space and illustrations. If it were set at a proper size and made continuous, I'd guess it would be only 80-100 pages long. Keep that in mind as you consider whether to read it.

But consider, too, that the Jeanette's story, while it lasted two years or so, was spent mostly just sitting around -- waiting for the expedition to the Arctic to be organized, then going to the ice, then getting stuck for endless dreary months. Then the ice destroyed the ship, and the survivors made a desperate run to Siberia to try to survive. Most of them failed to do so; they broke up into three parties, one of which disappeared (probably at sea) and another of which, including expedition commander George de Long, made it to shore but landed so far from anywhere that all but two men died of starvation.

It's tragic, and it's harsh -- and most of the time was spent just sitting on the ice waiting for something to happen. There were events in that time, but they don't really affect the story. I've read one other book on the Jeanette, Leonard F. Guttridge's Icebound, which tries to cover that time of inactivity, and it's interminable. This book, in that sense, doesn't give you a feeling what it was like to be on the expedition, but it gives you most of what you need to know.

It's not a perfect book. For instance, it says that Robert Peary made the North Pole, and as everyone who seriously studies the matter knows, he didn't -- he just lied about it. It would have been nice to know a little more about the aftermath -- we only get a sentence or two on the further career of the survivors, and nothing about de Long's beloved little daughter Sylvie. The maps really need work. But these are nitpicks. If you want a good overview of one of the (many, many) tragedies of arctic exploration, this is a great place to start. You can get on to the detailed discussions later. ( )

Literary Merit: Very good
Characterization: Very good
Recommended:Yes
Level: middle Grade

Following the Civil War, America became fascinated with the North Pole. Many explorers set out to reach this mysterious place including George W. DeLong. DeLong was the captain of the USS Jeannette and his trip to the North Pole was supposed to be different. He had polar experience and the ship was much better equipped than previous ships. Would DeLong and his 33 man crew make it to the North Pole? Would they survive?

The Jeanette encountered snow and cold and ice shortly after the journey began. As they continued the ice grew thicker and thicker, beating on the boat until they were completely stuck in the ice. Eventually, after about a year, the ice began crushing the ship to the point that it began to sink. The crew gathered what they could carry, abandoned the ship and set out on foot dragging boats and sleds over the ice, trying to head to the nearest village. The crew battled frostbite, hunger, thirst and sickness. Of the 33 men, only 12 survived this journey.

I really enjoyed this book. I like how they included actual journal entries and letters from the captain and crew. It is written in a narrative style that is easy to read. I think middle grade readers would enjoy the adventure and suspense of this true story. ( )