Bound by Ice: A True North Pole Survival Story

by Sandra Neil Wallace, Rich Wallace

Overview

A Kirkus Reviews Best Children's Book

This thrilling and terrifying true story of the 1879 search for the North Pole follows the frightening fates of the USS Jeannette crew as disaster strikes -- and the men battle to survive two years bound by ice.

In the years following the Civil War, "Arctic fever" gripped the American public, fueled by myths of a fertile, tropical sea at the top of the world. Bound by Ice follows the journey of George Washington De Long and the crew of the USS Jeannette, who departed San Francisco in the summer of 1879 hoping to find a route to the North Pole. However, in mid-September the ship became locked in ice north of Siberia and drifted for nearly two years before it was crushed by ice and sank. De Long and his men escaped the ship and began a treacherous journey in extreme polar conditions in an attempt to reach civilization. Many—including De Long—did not survive.

This true story for middle graders keeps readers on the edge of their seats to the very end. Includes excerpts from De Long’s extensive journals, which were recovered with his body; newspapers from the time; and photos and sketches by the men on the expedition. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781629799155
Publisher:	Astra Publishing House
Publication date:	09/19/2017
Sold by:	Penguin Random House Publisher Services
Format:	eBook
Pages:	192
Lexile:	1050L (what's this?)
File size:	8 MB
Age Range:	9 - 15 Years

About the Author

Sandra Neil Wallace had a lengthy career as a news anchor and ESPN sportscaster before writing realistic fiction and nonfiction for young readers. A pioneer in the journalism field, she was the first woman to cover the National Hockey League on network TV. Selected as a promising new voice in children’s literature by the Horn Book, Wallace’s titles have been named to state and national awards lists. She lives in Keene, New Hampshire. Visit sandraneilwallace.com.

Rich Wallace has written more than three dozen novels for children and teens. His first novel, Wrestling Sturbridge, was selected by the American Library Association as one of the top 100 YA books of the twentieth century. His recent children’s nonfiction includes the acclaimed Blood Brother, co-written with his wife, Sandra Neil Wallace. He lives in Keene, New Hampshire. Visit richwallacebooks.com.

Table of Contents

North of the Arctic Circle 10

Chapter 1 The Great Unknown 14

Chapter 2 Longing for the Sea 21

Chapter 3 The Northern Mystery 30

Chapter 4 Locked In 40

Chapter 5 Constant Cravings 47

Chapter 6 Holiday Spirits 54

Chapter 7 "Man the Pumps!" 57

Chapter 8 "Letters to Nowhere" 63

Chapter 9 First Mates 67

Chapter 10 A Menacing Encounter 73

Chapter 11 "Awful Beauty" 79

Chapter 12 Grinding, Crashing, and Rolling 86

Chapter 13 Poisoned! 91

Chapter 14 Catastrophe 96

Chapter 15 "Superhuman Exertions" 101

Chapter 16 Off Course 108

Chapter 17 Lost at Sea 120

Chapter 18 Cursing Petermann 125

Chapter 19 A Death March 130

Chapter 20 Dwindling Company 141

Chapter 21 "False Hopes" 145

Chapter 22 "The Siberian Winds" 152

Chapter 23 Homecoming 159

Epilogue 165

A Note from the Authors 170

Bibliography 173

Source Notes 177

Index 187

Picture Credits 191

Editorial Reviews

07/17/2017
Drawing heavily on the journals of the crew of the U.S.S. Jeannette, the Wallaces (Blood Brother) recount in riveting prose the ship’s ill-fated two-year voyage (1879–1881) in search of warm waters then thought to surround the North Pole. Lt. Cmdr. George W. De Long sailed under the authority of the U.S. Navy, hoping to advance human knowledge and perhaps reach the pole. The financial backing of James Gordon Bennett Jr., owner of the sensationalistic New York Herald, ensured that the expedition was well provisioned, and it boasted an excellent crew, but these advantages were offset by ignorance of the polar climate, broken telegraph equipment, and misleading maps. Two months after sailing from San Francisco, the ship was trapped in ice off the Siberian coast, where it remained for almost two years until it sank. Chief engineer George Melville emerges as the surviving hero, exemplifying the courage, skill, determination, and honor of all 33 men, who maintained a “never-turn-back attitude” through intense cold, storms, illness, and the ultimate loss of the Jeannette and two-thirds of its crew. Abundant archival illustrations, bibliography, and source notes bolster this gripping, accessible account. Ages 9–up. (Sept.)

Publishers Weekly

★ “A gripping account of a disastrous 1879 American expedition to find the North Pole. Finding the pole, "the world's greatest mystery," so captured the public's imagination that more than 1,200 men applied for the 24 positions as sailors. The authors skillfully incorporate quotes from journals, letters, and official documents. Vivid language and narrative techniques such as cliffhangers maximize the drama, while well-chosen anecdotes convey the personalities. Highly appealing narrative nonfiction for anyone who loves true adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ “Extensively researched and illustrated with engravings and paintings contemporary to the 1879 Arctic voyage of the Jeannette, (this) book presents an exemplary example of how to piece together an intriguing story from a variety of sources… Readers of historical adventure will be drawn to the story and appreciate the crew’s bravery.” —Booklist, starred review  

“The Wallaces bring to vivid life the exciting tale of Lieutenant Commander George W. De Long, expertly incorporating quotes from his and others’ journals… A fascinating authors’ note lets young readers in on ‘the thrills of research,’ and the thorough back matter includes a bibliography…source notes, an index, and picture credits.” —The Horn Book

“The Wallaces bring the adventure to life not only with their thorough research and incorporation of crewmembers’ journal entries, letters and other official documents, but also because they tell the story in crisp, vibrant language. Any fan of adventure will easily immerse him/herself in the gripping drama as each chapter, each cliffhanger unfolds.” —VOYA

“The story…is as compelling as any reader could wish, and the Wallaces retell it with clarity and economy. (A)n engrossing rapid read for survival-story fans.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books  

 “Drawing heavily on the journals of the crew of the U.S.S. Jeanette, the Wallaces recount in riveting prose the ship’s ill-fated, two-year voyage (1879-1881) in search of warm waters then thought to surround the North Pole. Abundant archival illustrations, bibliography, and source notes bolster this gripping, accessible account.” —Publishers Weekly  

“(T)his book uses personal journals, letters, illustrations, and photos to bring to life a piece of US history. Well-researched and engaging, this book would be helpful for research as well as for pleasure reading.” —School Library Connection

From the Publisher

08/01/2017
Gr 5–8—In 1879, Navy officer George Washington Delong had "Arctic Fever," and jumped at the chance to lead an expedition to the North Pole aboard the ship, Jeannette. His route was largely based on an esteemed geologist's theory that a warm Pacific Ocean current would lead them effortlessly to the pole. The lure of adventure was so great that the unproven hypothesis drew 1,200 applicants for the expedition's 24-man crew. Although it was expertly staffed, more powerful, and better equipped than previous ships bound for the North Pole, the Jeannette was no match for the merciless arctic winters; a prologue alerts readers that the harrowing story of survival begins when the ship sinks after months of being stuck in the ice. The crew was divvied into three lifeboats with provisions and sled dogs, but became separated over time. Chief Engineer George Melville and 11 other men survived to tell the tale and, while Delong perished, his meticulous logs and journals pieced together the three-year ordeal. Reproductions of these notes and letters, along with images and maps, underscore the authenticity of the narrative. Most poignant is a photo of the porcelain doll Delong meant for his daughter—recovered from his coat pocket when his body was found in Siberia. VERDICT A younger read in the vein of Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World or Nathaniel Philbrick's In the Heart of the Sea: Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex. Add this straightforward but finely researched account whereever true survival stories are popular.—Vicki Reutter, State University of New York at Cortland

School Library Journal

★ 2017-06-05
A gripping account of a disastrous 1879 American expedition to find the North Pole. In 1879, Lt. Cmdr. George De Long and his officers and crew set off from San Francisco in the USS Jeannette, funded by the New York Herald newspaper and backed by the U.S. Navy. Finding the pole, "the world's greatest mystery," so captured the public's imagination that more than 1,200 men applied for the 24 positions as sailors. Two Yup'ik crew members joined in Alaska. Unfortunately, the available maps were highly inaccurate, as was a renowned expert's assertion that a warm ocean current led to the pole. Instead, once north of Siberia, the ship found itself stranded in ice for more than a year and then crushed by it. The men, separated into three groups, tried desperately to reach Siberian settlements. De Long insisted on preserving his and others' writings, which provide the remarkable details that bring this story to life. The authors skillfully incorporate quotes from journals, letters, and official documents. Vivid language and narrative techniques such as cliffhangers maximize the drama, while well-chosen anecdotes convey the personalities. Archival, contemporaneous illustrations, maps, and mostly small photographs add an appropriately old-fashioned look. Highly appealing narrative nonfiction for anyone who loves true adventure. (authors' note, bibliography, source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 11-15)

Kirkus Reviews