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Book Review

Publisher's Note:

Ernest Shackleton was one of the last great Antarctic explorers, and he led one of the most ambitious Antarctic expeditions ever undertaken. This is his story, and the story of the dozens of men who threw in their lot with him - many of whom nearly died in the unimaginably harsh conditions of the journey. It's an astonishing feat - and was unprecedented at the time - that all the men in the expedition survived. Shackleton's expedition marked the end of a period of romantic exploration of the Arctic and the Antarctic, and this is as much a book about the encroaching modern world as it is about travel. But Nick Bertozzi has documented this remarkable journey with such wit and fiendish attention to detail that it's impossible not to get caught up in the drama of the voyage. Shackleton is a phenomenal accompaniment to Bertozzi's earlier graphic novel about great explorers, Lewis & Clark.…

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Shackleton: Antarctic Odyssey

by Nick Bertozzi

Reviewer: Leslie
Genre: Graphic Novel
Recommended Age: 12+

Overall Book Review:

Shackleton is a fascinating story about a courageous team of men. Nick Bertozzi’s artwork is the perfect form for this story–his pen and ink drawings lend themselves wonderfully to the historical retelling as he depicts the stark landscape with simple lines and no color.

Bertozzi’s extensive research and sensitivity to the story shine through in both the graphics and text. What repeatedly looks like a hopeless situation is counterbalanced by the positive nature of Bertozzi’s dialogue. He has captured these men’s resilience and bravery in a wonderful way. It’s a beautiful tribute.

I really appreciated Bertozzi’s ability to take a complicated story and make it accessible. He inserts a little map every few pages so the reader can keep their bearings, and informs us of the team’s progress without adding so much detail that it gets confusing. I only wish he’d been able to go into a little more detail. I’m so glad to know more about Ernest Shackleton, and I’d love to experience more of Bertozzi’s work. 

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by First Second Books


Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  5 mild obscenities.

Violence/Gore:  A character’s frostbitten toes are amputated with no detail; blood is found on the ice where an orca has killed a seal; characters hunt for food with no blood shown.

Sex/Nudity:  None

Mature Subject Matter:

Extreme hardship from exposure to elements.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

Characters smoke tobacco and drink socially.

Overall Book Rating
Profanity/Language
Rating:
2
10
Violence/Gore
Rating:
2
10
Sex/Nudity
Rating:
0
10

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About the Reviewer

Leslie
I’ve been an avid reader for as long as I can remember. My mother would often find me curled up in a corner, avoiding chores with a book–or two. When I was growing up, there wasn’t a large selection of YA books. I had children’s books and adult literature to choose from. I’ve come to love YA fiction as an adult and read almost nothing else when I read for pleasure–any genre will do.

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