Full Text Review(s)
[Edmund Hillary: First to the Top; David Livingstone: Deep in the Heart of Africa; Richard Francis Burton: Explorer, Scholar, Spy]-"These appealing titles feature readable texts, solid research, and a variety of color illustrations. Elish rightfully gives equal credit to Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay for reaching the summit of Mount Everest together in 1953. Their daring ascent is covered in great detail, but less information is included about the rest of their lives. Otfinoski describes Livingstone’s three decades of African exploration and provides numerous sidebars with information on the African slave trade, the missionary movement, malaria, and other topics. He carefully places Livingstone in the context of the Victorian era, when British explorers set out to "discover" new places in Africa and the world. Young does the same for Burton, who may be the most amazing of the three men. He mastered nearly 30 languages and, unlike other British explorers of the time, had an insatiable interest in understanding the cultures and religions he encountered in South Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and South America. Young demonstrates how his subject’s curiosity led him into dangerous adventures, including a journey to Mecca disguised as a Muslim pilgrim. Solid additions.– Marcia Kochel, Olson Middle School, Bloomington, MN"

[Zebulon Pike: Lost in the Rockies, Samuel de Champlain: Explorer of Canada, Juan Ponce de Leon: Discoverer of Florida]-"These attractive introductory titles combine biographical information with details about each man’s explorations and an analysis of his impact on the settlement of North America. All three authors are objective about their subjects, and place their actions and attitudes into the context of the era. Pike, which is the most detailed, discusses the explorer’s military service, relationship with the corrupt general James Wilkinson, the historical speculation about his motives for his meandering expedition to the Spanish west, and his failure to climb the mountain named for him. Faber draws on Champlain’s own accounts to trace his exploration of and dogged determination to colonize Canada. Otfinosky emphasizes Ponce de Leon’s ambition and colonial success and debunks the myth that his main objective was finding the elusive fountain of youth. All three books are illustrated with beautiful reproductions of period illustrations, paintings, and maps. These books will serve readers who need more detail, documentation, and historical analysis than titles such as Gail Sakurai’s Juan Ponce de Leon (Scholastic, 2001) but are not ready for the reading levels in the "Explorers of New Worlds" series (Chelsea House). Well-written choices for middle-level researchers."

[Vasco da Gama: So Strong a Spirit, Francisco Pizarro: The Conquest of Peru, Vasco Nunez de Balboa: Explorer of the Pacific]-"These books achieve varying degrees of success. Each title begins with the subject’s early life and the circumstances that led to his explorations. The authors do not shy away from discussing the sometimes ruthless greed of these men and their brutality toward indigenous peoples (although Balboa was known for treating Natives with respect). Pizarro at times strays away from biography and becomes more of a political discussion, which is sometimes difficult to follow. Also, many words are undefined. Balboa and Da Gama are more straightforward. Each title has numerous color illustrations and a time line."

[ John Charles Fremont: Pathfinder to the West, Sir Francis Drake: Navigator and Pirate ]-"From the uprising Californios to swashbuckling pirates, the adventures of these two explorers highlight the danger, excitement, and risk necessary to pave the way for new frontiers. Maps and full-color and black-and-white reproductions appear throughout, and shaded information boxes provide points of reference and explain topics mentioned in the text. Chapter-by-chapter source notes are included, and students will find the time lines and further-research sections valuable. Useful purchases for libraries building biography sections or adding additional resources on these men."

[ Sir Ernest Shackleton: By Endurance We Conquer, Marco Polo: To China and Back ]-"These appealing volumes combine accessible text, copious black-and-white and full-color illustrations, and supportive sidebars to trace the lives, travels, and legacies of two prominent explorers. Calvert traces Shackleton's unsuccessful attempts to claim the South Pole for Great Britain. She then focuses on one of history's greatest survival stories: the destruction of his ship the Endurance in the ice of the Weddell Sea in 1915, and his grueling 700-mile trip in a fragile lifeboat to find help for his stranded crew. This concise and straightforward account is enhanced by archival photos, reproductions, and maps. Readers who crave more information can go to Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and the Endurance (Crown, 1998), a compelling work with a wider scope and a wealth of photographic documentation. Otfinoski opens his book with a description of the Mongol Empire and the fascination that it held for Europeans. Maps, contemporary drawings and paintings, and diary excerpts reveal not only the complexities of Polo's groundbreaking adventures but also the awe and exhilaration they brought him."

[ La Salle: Down the Mississippi, Ferdinand Magellan: First to Sail Around the World ]-"These lively, objective series titles place the lives and exploits of two great explorers into historical perspective and develop an appreciation for the difficulty of their undertakings. Both books have helpful time lines and informative full-color and black-and-white captioned artwork. For both men, the personal risks were enormous; however, they were motivated not by altruism but by national, economic, and personal gain. La Salle was looking for adventure and to add to France's land in America. Readers come away amazed at his perseverance in obtaining financial backing for his journeys. This is a fine selection to place alongside Joan Elizabeth Goodman's Despite All Obstacles (Mikaya, 2001). Meltzer gives a full picture of his subject's accomplishments, the hardships suffered by him and his men, and their inhumane treatment of natives. This book is more thorough than Jim Gallager's Ferdinand Magellan and the First Voyage around the World (Chelsea, 2000)."

[ Daniel Boone: Beyond the Mountains, Robert E. Peary: To the Top of the World, Lewis and Clark: From Ocean to Ocean ] - "These accessible titles will find use as adjuncts to social-studies curricula. Written in Calvert's characteristically engaging style, the first two books include a good deal of personal detail about both Boone and Peary, a reflection of both the sources available and the author's approach to their life stories. Lewis and Clark is a cut above other series titles on the topic; Faber does not sensationalize or overdramatize the encounters with, and central role of, various Native American tribes in the journey of the Corps of Discovery. A brief chapter is devoted to Sacagawea's role, but with the caution of how little documented information there is about her life. The general outline of this amazing expedition is clearly given, but in this brief text many of the wonderful details and key elements that make this seminal event in U.S. history so compelling are not included. However, this book would be a great starting point for more extensive study, or as a historical survey. In all the books primary sources are quoted extensively, but well integrated into the fluid texts while colorful boxed notes amplify and provide contextual information. A variety of illustration enhance the content, including color reprints of paintings, maps, black-and-white lithographs, and, in the Peary title, photograph. While most of the artwork is of high quality, there are a few grainy reproductions and photos. Bibliographies and notes list primary sources. Appealing and user-friendly titles."

[ Lewis and Clark: From Ocean to Ocean, Ferdinand Magellan: First to Sail Around the World ]-"The new Great Explorations series surveys the lives and achievements of famous explorers in slightly oversize volumes that are notable for their simple, pleasing design and clearly written texts.
Lewis and Clark discusses the 1804 expedition that set out to explore the American continent. Apart from chapters introducing Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and Sacagawea, the straightforward narrative follows the explorers down rivers, across the plains, and over the mountains to the Pacific. Supplementing Faber's account are journal quotations that offer firsthand reportage of events, conditions, and reflections about the journey. The last chapter tells what happened to significant members of the expedition and includes information on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Source notes are appended.
Ferdinand Magellan demonstrates the enormity of the explorer's achievement in providing 'the first hard evidence that the world is round' and covers the extreme hardships of the voyage and the cultural conflict that led to Magellan's death. Meltzer's wry comments make history anything but dry. Recounting Magellan's order to have nothing to do with native women 'unless they were baptized as Christians,' he notes, 'Of course that made every sailor an ardent missionary.'
The colorful and sometimes quite beautiful illustrations include paintings, drawings, and prints, as well as a few photographs of sites and artifacts. Each volume ends with a time line, a source bibliography, and lists of suggested books and Web sites for further research."