Into the White

November 1, 2017

Gr 7 Up-A nonfiction account of Captain Robert Falcon Scott's expedition to the South Pole. The use of a narrative format paired with black-and-white photographs and pencil illustrations creates a journallike reading experience. Each of the characters is well crafted and their stories flow seamlessly together. From encounters with killer whales to penguin expeditions, the adventures of Scott and his crew don't disappoint. Although the tragic outcome is known, it will not keep readers from hoping against all hope that the voyage will be successful. This account would pair well with Elizabeth Cody Kimmel's Ice Story: Shackleton's Lost Expedition. (Scott and Shackleton were real-life colleagues.) In addition, fiction readers might also want to check out Andrea White's Surviving Antarctica: Reality TV 2083, which echoes much of what Scott and his men experienced. VERDICT For thrill-seeking middle school students who love nonfiction adventure stories, Grochowicz's book is just the high-interest story for them.-Jeni Tahaney, Duncanville High School Library, TX

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 1, 2017
Grades 5-8 While this telling of Robert F. Scott and his ultimately unsuccessful Terra Nova expedition, a British attempt to be the first to conquer the South Pole, may prove slow going for some, readers who cherish good adventure yarns will be enthralled. The story is told in present tense to heighten immediacy, and, while warnings about an unhappy ending appear in the very first sentence, suspense and interest are maintained to the very end. The text continuously drives the action, with background information woven into ongoing story lines, so no long historical or biographical passages break up the forward flow. Based on Scott's diaries and other contemporary accounts, pages are filled with details about the unbelievably harsh conditions the determined men faced every moment of the trip (but no source notes are provided, alas). Rough, hand-drawn pencil drawings and maps attract interest and spark imagination, while archival black-and-white photos support authenticity. This powerful reimagining brings history alive.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)