(Source: Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. New York: Crown. Picture Source: Barnes and Noble. http://books.barnesandnoble.com/search/results.aspx?WRD=Shipwreck+at+the+bottom+of+the+world, accessed October 16, 2008)
1. Bibliography: Armstrong, Jennifer. 1998. Shipwreck at the bottom of the world: the extraordinary true story of Shackleton and the Endurance. New York: Crown. ISBN: 0517800136
2. PLOT SUMMARY: This is the tale of Ernest Shackleton, who, along with 27 men, set sail from England in 1914 on the ship Endurance in an attempt to be the first explorers to traverse the continent of Antarctic. The group never made it to the icy shores of the Antarctic. Endurance was trapped in the frozen waters of the South Seas prior to reaching the actual landmass of Antarctica. The book describes the amazing nineteen months the crew of Endurance fought for survival against the elements.
3. CRITICAL ANALYSIS: This book is filled with fascinating accounts of the individuals who were part of Endurance’ s expedition. Although not written in the first person, Ms. Armstrong’s writing style makes you feel as though one of the sailors is telling you the story. It can be assumed that Ms. Armstrong is not knowledgeable in the field of maritime exploration; however, it is clear that she has done her homework. The book includes a section of “Acknowledgements” wherein Ms. Armstrong tells the reader what books and sources she researched while writing the book. It also specifically mentions the source for the many original photographs that adorn the pages of the book as well as the diary from which she gathered many quotes. She continues to provide evidence of the accuracy of her writing by including two pages of bibliographic information about Antarctica, Navigation, Shackleton and more.
This book is a fascinating read, from cover-to-cover. It would be my suggestion to read the book in such a manner. Its organization allows a reader to pick and choose parts of the book to read; however, the process of choosing a section to read is made difficult by the author’s clever but cryptic naming of each section. For example, “The Growlers” provides information about the sixty-nine sled dogs on board; “Pressure” recalls the pressure applied to the ship as the ice pushed against it; and “Patience, Patience, Patience” refers to the time the explorers spent at a location on the frozen ocean that they designated as “Patience Camp”. While these section names are clever and seem quite logical in hindsight, I believe they would be difficult to interpret prior to reading the book.
The book is wonderfully designed. The front cover depicts a group of men tugging at a boat to pull it forward across a totally white landscape. The title of the book, underneath these men, represents the ground they walk on; the author’s name at the top of the book represents the sky above them. The inclusion of archival photos is sure to increase a reader’s interest in the book. These photos begin on the very first page with a picture of Endurance stuck among huge blocks of ice. Before starting the text, there is a picture of the crew of Endurance, together with names of its crew members. This allows the reader to see the human element of this book and to get a feel for what these men looked like. Later in the book, pictures are shown of the men as they looked throughout the ordeal and after being rescued. Readers can compare these before, during and after photographs to see the effect this journey had upon the men. A drawing of the ship, a map of Antarctica and its surrounding area, as well as a map of the route taken by Shackleton and his crew are also included before the text begins. Throughout the remainder of the book, archival photos are inserted among the text in appropriate places. The pictures add tremendous value to this book. Without the photos, the book would be interesting but would not have the “real life” quality that it has. These photos can easily remind a reader of their own family member.
Ms. Armstrong’s writes in a manner that can be easily understood by children. She avoids the use of complicated vocabulary. When possible, she uses the words of crew members to describe events. Many quotes, no doubt, were derived directly from sources reviewed by Ms. Armstrong; other quotes are sure to have come as a result of her collective research and cannot be counted on as being an exact quote. Nevertheless, the quotes make for interesting reading and convey the underlying story of what happened on this expedition. After reading this book, the reader is sure to be interested in reading other primary sources related to Shackleton’s experience.
4. BOOK REVIEW EXCERPT(S): (Source: Book Index with Reviews, EBSCO database, accessed via TWU Library Online).
BOOKLIST, (December 1, 1998): “Although Armstrong's presentation is less visceral than [Caroline] Alexander's [adult book The Endurance] and gives less sense of personalities involved, it provides a more compact, somewhat clearer understanding of the sequence of events.”
KIRKUS REVIEWS, (December 1, 1999): “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.”
SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL, (April 1, 1999): Excellent black-and-white photographs taken during the journey document the entire adventure story. . .”
5. CONNECTIONS IN A SCHOOL LIBRARY SETTING:
• Use this book with older students, probably 8th grade and up.
• Students can read this book in conjunction with a study of global warming and the ice pack in the seas around Antarctica. Would Endurance have been able to make the trip in 2008? Looking at recent climate data, is it likely a ship making this expedition in the 21st century would end up frozen in ice?
• This story can be used for teaching data collection and map reading skills. Students can be given the task of putting themselves in Shackleton’s place. Using maps and data related to weather, ocean currents, etc., what route would they take and on what date would they begin their journey?
• Students can research other explorers who have traveled to Antarctica. Students can compare and contrast the different expeditions to Antarctica. What did others do differently that made them successful?
• Students can assume the identity of one of the crew members and write journal entries as if they were that person. Students can include letters home and thoughts and feelings that might be experienced throughout the ordeal.
Other Related Items:
• Website on history of exploration of “The Poles”, including Antarctica. South-Pole.com, http://www.south-pole.com/homepage.html, accessed October 21, 2008.
• Antarctic Connection. A website containing a wealth of information, including geology, climate change, oceanography, weather and more science related to Antarctica. http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/science/morescience.shtml, accessed October 21, 2008.
• The audio version of this book is very clear and interesting. It would be an option for struggling readers.
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