An up close account of the ill-fated Franklin expedition. In 1845, Sir John Franklin set sail from England with two ships in search of the Northwest Passage. Not only did they not succeed, the ships and their crew members vanished, their fate an unsolved mystery for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the captivating story of that doomed polar mission is revealed from the viewpoints of the commander, those back home and the search parties. It's a riveting tale, that in bone-chilling detail answers the question: What really happened in Terror Bay? At last, a story long hidden in the icy Arctic, finally gets to be told.
This enthralling and up close tale of the ill-fated Franklin expedition reveals bone-chilling details of what really happened in Terror Bay! In 1845, Sir John Franklin's expedition set sail for the Arctic from England in search of the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Not only did they not succeed, his two ships --- HMS Erebus and HMS Terror --- and their entire party of 129 men vanished, their fate a mystery that remained unsolved for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the thrilling tale of that doomed polar mission is told from the points of view of the commander of the Terror and of those back home and the search parties who attempted to find them. Each episode also describes some of the modern-day searches, including the discovery of the lost ships, allowing readers to examine the evidence and consider the theories about what happened. It's a thorough and thoroughly captivating read about an intriguing story from the past. Award-winning author Sigmund Brouwer packs loads of information, including the most up-to-date findings, into this original and engaging narrative. The highly graphic design includes historic photos, maps, a timeline and illustrations plus modern photos. The book highlights the importance of Inuit oral history and knowledge in solving the mystery. It was reviewed by an Inuit interpreter and elder. Sidebars throughout contain fascinating information about how technology and inventions at the time of the expedition brought about social changes, and mini-mysteries from history that ask readers to solve them using forensic science. There are strong curriculum links here to history, geography, Inuit studies, engineering, technology and applied science.
Author’s note. Resources. Index. Black-and-white and full-color maps, illustrations, and photographs.
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School Library Journal
Gr 6 Up-In the spring of 1845, famed Arctic explorer Sir John Franklin commanded the British navy's most ambitious expedition to date to discover the elusive and highly coveted Northwest Passage. Consisting of two heavily reinforced ships with a complement of over 120 men, the expedition was given the latest technologies that all but guaranteed its success. These included: coal-fired steam engines, iron-plated hulls, and enough canned food to ensure the men wouldn't starve even if they were forced to winter for multiple years. However, in the end, all were lost; none of these advancements helped the ill-fated expedition and some would significantly contribute to its demise. Brouwer outlines what happened to the expedition using historical and modern contexts. Each of the 10 chapters, which he calls episodes, consists of three parts: the first is a historical summary told from the point of view of the second-in-command Francis Crozier. The second section is information from friends, family, and colleagues of the expedition and their attempts to find out what happened. The final part of each chapter is contemporary forensics and oral histories from local Inuit people regarding the expedition. The information presented is fascinating and the struggles of the crew are harrowing to read. However, the constant switching of points of view and frequent introduction of new individuals will test even patient readers. VERDICT An engaging story would have benefited from a simpler format but nonetheless serves as a helpful purchase for those looking to fill gaps in their collection.-Karen T. Bilton?(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.