Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World

u201cThenharrowing survival story of English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and thenill-fated Endurance has intrigued people since the 1914 expeditionu2026[Armstrong]nbrings the unbelievable journey to life with delicious details: how a handsomenyoung stowaway was discovered too late to cast him off; how the ship itselfnwould become frost-white, looking like u2018another species of sparkling whiteniceberg as it nosed its way through the pack;u2019 and how the ice-pack-dwellingnEmperor penguins seemed to enjoy the banjo music of crew member Leonard Hussey.nThe true-to-life story is as thrilling as they come, and Armstrongu2019s lively,ncrystal-clear writing style is just as compellingu2026.[An] inspiring nonfictionnadventure story that young readers will devour from cover to cover.u201d

u201cArmstrongu2026bringsnher considerable story-crafting talents to this real-life tale. The inside ofnthe ship becomes so alive that we can smell its fetid air, we can hear thencoins clank as the men play cards at night, and we can taste the spirits theyndrink after they shout their usual toast, u2018To our sweethearts and wivesu2014maynthey never meet!u2019 How do they get off the ice? The story will leave younbreathlessu2026In this age of fantastical music videos, extraterrestrial fantasies,nsuperheroes with bionic powers, and intricate computer games, itu2019s refreshingnto hear the story of a real-life adventure and to meet twenty-eight extremelynbrave people. This team of men, without computers or radios or any sophisticatednequipment, survived u2018the most hostile environment this side of the moon.u2019 Shipwreck at the Bottom of the Worldnwill both humble and inspire teens who thirst for excitement. JennifernArmstrong makes history come alive more vibrantly than any virtual-realityngame.u201d

u201cArmstrong keepsnher narrative moving at a brisk pace. A generous supply of colorful anecdotes andnexcerpts from journals shed light on the menu2019s personalities and revealnShackletonu2019s remarkable skill for keeping his crew agreeable and hopeful,ndespite life-threatening conditions. Other passagesu2026possess heart-poundingnimmediacy. Armstrongu2019s absorbing storytellingu2026 make this an enthrallingnadventure.u201d

u201cErnestnShackletonu2019s 1914u20131916 Antarctic expedition was, in Armstrongu2019s words, u2018one ofnthe most incredible feats of survival ever recorded.u2019 Her captivating, completenaccount, which identifies and tracks practically every crew member andnliberally employs quotes from crew diaries, will find an audience with the detail-oriented,nwant-to-know-it-all kind of reader.u201d

u201cFillednwith intriguing details and written with dramatic style, this riveting accountnof the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition reads like an adventurennovelu2026Armstrong brings all of these experiences vividly to life, frequentlynusing quotes from members of the expeditionu2026Armstrong crafts [the facts] intonan unforgettable story of true heroism and the triumph of the human spirit. Anbook that will capture the attention and imagination of any reader.u201d

u201cShipwreck at the Bottom of the World isna book to finish in one breathless sitting, then dream about all night long.u201d

u201cArmstrongntakes this material and makes an equally spectacular read. The u2018Bossu2019 and hisncrew come alive in one amazing event after anotheru2026This is an adventure to keepnany kid or grownup awake late into the night, shivering from the cold andnturning pages.u201d

u201cThisnadventure story of survival against all odds in one of the harshest environmentsnon the planet is told in swift, stirring prose by Armstrong, a childrenu2019s booknauthor; itu2019s an ALA Best Book for YAs, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, andnthe recipient of many other honors. An exceptional work of nonfiction for allnlibraries serving YAs.u201d

u201cThisnunbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivatingnintroduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story thatnwill rivet readers.u201d

u201cArmstrongnpaints a vivid picture of the ordeal.u201d

u201cTaylornMaliu2019s narration of the book by Jennifer Armstrong is riveting, and his shiftsnfrom one accent to the next are effective and not at all distracting. The textnmoves from diary entries to explanations of how to read the sun, and thendescriptions of the terrain and weather are superb. This is a very effectivenpresentation of not only how the disaster occurred but of the toll it took onnthe crew and how they rose to the challenge.u201d

u201cArmstongu2019snvivid biography of Shackleton and his crew is brought to life by Taylor Mali.nExcerpts from diaries and newspaper accounts, which flesh out this incrediblenadventure of survival in the harshest environment on the planet, are read inndistinct accents by Maliu2026Maliu2019s intense narration drives listeners of all agesnto experience the severe weather, lack of food, and incredible demands ofnexploration and survival.u201d