Race to the Bottom of the Earth
Surviving Antarctica
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
Equal parts adventure and STEM, Rebecca E. F. Barone's Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica is a thrilling nonfiction book for young readers chronicling two treacherous, groundbreaking expeditions to the South Pole—and includes eye-catching photos of the Antarctic landscape.
"Riveting! I raced to the end of this book!" —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee
In 1910, Captain Robert Scott prepared his crew for a trip that no one had ever completed: a journey to the South Pole. He vowed to get there any way he could, even if it meant looking death in the eye. Then, not long before he set out, another intrepid explorer, Roald Amundsen, set his sights on the same goal. Suddenly two teams were vying to be the first to make history—what was to be an expedition had become a perilous race.
In 2018, Captain Louis Rudd readied himself for a similarly grueling task: the first unaided, unsupported solo crossing of treacherous Antarctica. But little did he know that athlete Colin O’Brady was training for the same trek—and he was determined to beat Louis to the finish line. For fans of Michael Tougias’ The Finest Hours, this gripping account of two history-making moments of exploration and competition is perfect for budding scientists, survivalists, and thrill seekers.
"A nail-biting tale of adventure, tragedy, and superhuman determination—and also a luminous example of how our present lives are shaped by our immeasurably deep connection to our past." —Elizabeth Wein, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Code Name Verity
"A huge treat for adventure story fans—not one, but two incredible races across the fearsome and fascinating Antarctic!" —Steve Sheinkin, New York Times bestselling author of Bomb and Undefeated
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
In two parts, "The Set-Up" and "The Race," and in six pairs of parallel chapters, Barone offers a captivating juxtaposition of two momentous Antarctic races: the 1911–1912 polar quests of English Capt. Robert Falcon Scott and Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen, to be the first to reach the South Pole; and the 2018 "alone, unsupported, and unassisted" continent crossings by American professional endurance athlete Colin O'Brady and British Army Capt. Louis "Lou" Rudd. Chapters alternate between the past and present, describing each of the white men, their preparations, their motivations, and the reactions to their journeys in accessible prose ("Roald Amundsen was destined to explore the frozen, dark desert"; "Colin had found the key to success: what counts in the voice you choose to listen to, which mantras you take as your own"). Though some readers may find that the parallel structure disrupts each race's suspense, myriad multimedia additions—including maps, photos, and direct quotes from the explorers, sourced from letters, journals, and social media posts—enliven this well-researched narrative nonfiction book centering intrepid antarctic expeditions. Back matter includes a bibliography and ample endnotes. Ages 8–12.
