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Ice Trap!: Shackleton's Incredible Expedition
In August 1914, during the height of the heroic age of Antarctic exploration, Sir Ernest Shackleton set off from England with a team of explorers to walk across the Antarctic and study the icy depths of this new and forbidding continent. Sailing through some of the most perilous seas, the Endurance becomes trapped in the deadly pack ice of the Weddell sea. When the Endurance is eventually crushed between the vast bulk of two floating icebergs, the men are forced to abandon ship and make the dangerous journey across the crushing sea in lifeboats. They reach relative safety on the uninhabited Elephant Island, but an even greater peril faces Shackleton and five other members of the crew. An amazing tale of heroism and ingenuity told by Antarctic expert, Meredith Hooper and accompanied by M.P.Robertson's dramatic and graphic illustrations.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2000
3 people are currently reading
91 people want to read
About the author
Meredith Hooper
104 books6 followersMeredith Hooper uses the storybook form in Who Built the Pyramid? to make the latest research accessible for a young audience. Meredith Hooper is an historian by training and the author of many books, ranging in subject from Antarctica to aviation, from the history of water to the history of inventions.
Hooper, born in 1939, graduated in history from the University of Adelaide, then studied imperial history at Oxford.
Hooper, born in 1939, graduated in history from the University of Adelaide, then studied imperial history at Oxford.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
August 19, 2022
I read this in preparation for my first class text in September. A great child friendly version of events outlining the struggles that Shakleton and his team faced when trapped by pack ice. Fantastic illustrations which I'm sure will engage children and help bring the story to life. The maps are a great visual too!
October 5, 2018
I read this book following on from Shackleton’s Journey and didn’t find it as inviting. It explained the story, however I felt like it was a long way of explaining the story. There were lots of words and long paragraphs, which I don’t feel would suit a child as well as the other. This book did however have lovely pictures, which without the words could be a good point for descriptive work.
June 18, 2018
Likes:
This book is a great resource to use in schools (especially in KS2) to help children understand the great expedition of Shackleton and the other crew members. I love how this book engages young readers by presenting information and facts in a picture book format, that allows children to easily read along without becoming bombarded with too much information. This non-fiction text subtly allows the reader to take on board the expedition Shackleton and his crew members went on.
Dislikes:
Although this non-fiction text is an easy yet informative read, it has therefore lost the extra detail, as it is a simplistic story of events which could mean children are not given enough information.
Uses in classrooms:
I used this on SBT2, as it gives a basic yet descriptive view of the events that occurred. I used this to help children in guided reading sessions, create diaries and newspaper articles. The children loved the book, and also enjoyed the illustrations that you don't often get in upper KS2 books. A great book to use as a class! Children even commented that although they don't usually like non-fiction texts, this book was 'fun' and they loved reading along. This also allowed children who found the story of Shackleton confusing to take time to read a simplified version of events.
This book is a great resource to use in schools (especially in KS2) to help children understand the great expedition of Shackleton and the other crew members. I love how this book engages young readers by presenting information and facts in a picture book format, that allows children to easily read along without becoming bombarded with too much information. This non-fiction text subtly allows the reader to take on board the expedition Shackleton and his crew members went on.
Dislikes:
Although this non-fiction text is an easy yet informative read, it has therefore lost the extra detail, as it is a simplistic story of events which could mean children are not given enough information.
Uses in classrooms:
I used this on SBT2, as it gives a basic yet descriptive view of the events that occurred. I used this to help children in guided reading sessions, create diaries and newspaper articles. The children loved the book, and also enjoyed the illustrations that you don't often get in upper KS2 books. A great book to use as a class! Children even commented that although they don't usually like non-fiction texts, this book was 'fun' and they loved reading along. This also allowed children who found the story of Shackleton confusing to take time to read a simplified version of events.
October 22, 2012
I thought that what is a truly amazing story was not portrayed as such in this book. Perhaps it was an oversimplification of the expedition as this book is aimed at kids. I will perhaps withhold judgement until I've introduced it to the kids at school.
May 12, 2020
Genre: History/Non-Fiction
I encountered this non-fiction narrative of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated voyage to Antarctica in 1915/16 whilst on placement with Year 4. Written by Australian scientist and historian Meredith Hooper, this account of Shackleton's place in the history of polar exploration commences the tale on board Endurance well after we have departed Plymouth en-route to South Georgia. Focussing on poetic description of the harsh surroundings and weather conditions, we follow the ship's demise and subsequent repeated attempts by the crew to escape, up until their final rescue from Elephant Island. Extensive, dramatic illustrations by MP Robertson are complemented with photographs of the genuine voyage towards the rear, and detailed maps of the continent showing a timeline of the expedition. These provide convenient links with geography and history National Curriculum requirements: children could draft their own maps or timelines, as well as discussing the wildlife, weather and science of the region. Although a colourful and accessible account, it is hard not to draw comparisons with William Grill's Kate Greenaway-winning later version: yet Hooper visited Antarctica in researching this book and contacted Shackleton's own relatives (including quotations from them), so this account could complement Grill in the classroom, rather than be eclipsed by him. In its focus on the crew's struggle for survival and refusal to give up hope despite their extreme isolation and lost transport, there are PSHE links on resilience from which pupils could benefit. Mirroring a classroom growth mindset, Hooper focusses on the crew's courage and stamina, almost disregarding the fact that Amundsen and Scott had essentially already achieved the most significant Antarctic voyages reaching the South Pole, and Shackleton's trip, irrespective of its valiance, was carried out at a time of national emergency (during the first 3 years of WW1). However, for pupils at LKS2 discovering the world's geography, history of exploration and importance of stamina and courage, perhaps these considerations would overcomplicate the intended message: the story is certainly an exciting one to be told, discussed, jotted in imagined diary entries or re-enacted in classroom drama, and the pupils I worked with certainly enjoyed doing so.
I encountered this non-fiction narrative of Ernest Shackleton's ill-fated voyage to Antarctica in 1915/16 whilst on placement with Year 4. Written by Australian scientist and historian Meredith Hooper, this account of Shackleton's place in the history of polar exploration commences the tale on board Endurance well after we have departed Plymouth en-route to South Georgia. Focussing on poetic description of the harsh surroundings and weather conditions, we follow the ship's demise and subsequent repeated attempts by the crew to escape, up until their final rescue from Elephant Island. Extensive, dramatic illustrations by MP Robertson are complemented with photographs of the genuine voyage towards the rear, and detailed maps of the continent showing a timeline of the expedition. These provide convenient links with geography and history National Curriculum requirements: children could draft their own maps or timelines, as well as discussing the wildlife, weather and science of the region. Although a colourful and accessible account, it is hard not to draw comparisons with William Grill's Kate Greenaway-winning later version: yet Hooper visited Antarctica in researching this book and contacted Shackleton's own relatives (including quotations from them), so this account could complement Grill in the classroom, rather than be eclipsed by him. In its focus on the crew's struggle for survival and refusal to give up hope despite their extreme isolation and lost transport, there are PSHE links on resilience from which pupils could benefit. Mirroring a classroom growth mindset, Hooper focusses on the crew's courage and stamina, almost disregarding the fact that Amundsen and Scott had essentially already achieved the most significant Antarctic voyages reaching the South Pole, and Shackleton's trip, irrespective of its valiance, was carried out at a time of national emergency (during the first 3 years of WW1). However, for pupils at LKS2 discovering the world's geography, history of exploration and importance of stamina and courage, perhaps these considerations would overcomplicate the intended message: the story is certainly an exciting one to be told, discussed, jotted in imagined diary entries or re-enacted in classroom drama, and the pupils I worked with certainly enjoyed doing so.
September 16, 2019
Amazing book about an incredible explorer who would not give up on his men.
January 10, 2021
Year 4 class guided reading book (term 3)
January 16, 2022
This is a great book. My grade three students really get invested in the adventure. I love this book because it really sparks their interest in action/adventure books and in arctic exploration.
March 10, 2025
Great book for kids. We saw a small documentary about it and it was very interesting!
January 3, 2023
interesting story
February 5, 2017
Interesting and beautifully illustrated.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews