To the Top of Mount Everest

November 1, 2011

Gr 5-8-Lewis and Clark, Apollo 11, and other journeys are covered in detail, placing the excursions in their appropriate historical context, highlighting individuals involved in the expeditions, and providing firsthand accounts from historical documentation. The images are eye-catching, and the tone is conversational enough to keep readers engaged. The two weakest entries are those that deal with the Western exploration of regions already inhabited by non-Western people: American West and Heart of Africa. Because Bodden focuses narrowly, as is appropriate, on the expeditions, the books give a very Western point of view; thus, the cultures indigenous to the region being explored are minimized. Mount Everest is more successful in providing a culturally aware perspective, as it details both Nepalese Sherpas' traditions and their contributions to European expeditions up the world's highest mountain.

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