Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story

Description

Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Henson would become navigator, craftsman, translator, and right-hand man on a treacherous journey to the North Pole. Defying the odds and the many prejudices that faced him to become a true pioneer. This is his incredible and often untold story.

Catherine Johnson is a screenwriter and best-selling author of several books for children and young adults. Her acclaimed novel Sawbones won the Young Quills Award for Historical Fiction, and her most recent book The Curious Tale of the Lady Caraboo, was nominated for the CILIP Carnegie Medal and the YA Book Prize. Catherine has been a Writer in Residence at Holloway Prison, a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow at the London institute and has mentored writers in Africa for the British Council.

"Catherine Johnson is the master of historical fiction for children; her prose is warm and wise and utterly gripping" -- Katherine Rundell "If it doesn't make you angry you haven't read it properly" -- Fleur Hitchcock "Matthew Henson's life plays out like a story ... This book really highlights our ignorance in not recognising sooner his incredible plight in defying the odds, breaking boundaries, fighting prejudice and becoming a true black pioneer" -- Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher "Wonderful ... Uncovering the forgotten and hidden histories of those who have been marginalised is a serious and necessary undertaking and this book is a great addition to that genre" -- The Letterpress Project