The Road to There: Mapmakers and Their Stories

by Val Ross

Winner of the 2004 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian children’s non-fiction

Honor Book for the Society of School Librarians International’s Best Book Award – Social Studies, Grades 7-12

Shortlisted for the Children's Literature Roundtable Information Book of the Year

2003 winner of the Mr. Christie’s Book Award Seal

Shortlisted for the 2004 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children’s Non-fiction

Included on VOYA ’s ninth annual Nonfiction Honor List

Selected for inclusion in CCBC Choices 2004: the best-of-the-year list published by the Cooperative Children’s Book center of the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Named Notable Book by the International Reading Association’s Children’s Book Award in the intermediate nonfiction category


Road maps; sailor’s charts; quilts; songlines; gilded parchment covered with jewel-like colors; computer printouts – to guide us through the strange, vast, beautiful, and mysterious frontiers of the world of maps, Val Ross presents the men and women who made them.

Here are some of the unexpected stories of history’s great the fraud artists who deliberately distorted maps for political gain, Captain Cook, the slaves on the run who found their way thanks to specially-pieced quilts, the woman who mapped London’s streets, princes, doctors, and warriors. These are the people who helped us chart our way in the world, under the sea, and on to the stars.

With reproductions of some of the most important maps in history, this extraordinary book, packed with information, is as fascinating and suspenseful as a novel.

Genres: History, Geography, Nonfiction, Middle Grade, Childrens

152 pages, Hardcover

First published September 30, 2003

Reviews

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like middle grade and YA history, because the focus is often tight. This one in particular covers just a few mapmakers, and how they made the maps that made them famous. The stories are really very interesting. I think my favorite was about the man who posed as a Buddhist pilgrim and used his (modified) rosary beads as surveying equipment. Unfortunately, one throwaway comment left me concerned about the veracity of the book as a whole. Ross mentioned an ancient Chinese ship that had watertight compartments as insurance against sinking, then added that the Titanic would have been better off to have the same. But anybody who watched at least the first half hour of Titanic (that is, everybody in the English speaking world over the age of ten) knows that the Titanic did have watertight compartments. It doesn't discount the book as a whole, of course, but it's such a simple error that it does cause concern.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's middle grade history that's not boring. I enjoyed it.

[Sepideh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book for middle school children about the history of map making, and it turns into a world history. It starts off with a fake map and goes on to Tabula Rogeriana. Then it moves on to the 15th Century Chinese explorer Cheng Ho. It covers Mercator, Cassini, and James Cook. It goes into the Louis and Clark expedition and mapping the forbidden city. Overall, it was much more interesting than I expected it to be.

[siri · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book! I really enjoyed it! It's a SUPER fun book that teaches you history! You don't get that a lot!
In this book, you can read all about Mapmakers and their stories, no kidding! It's fun and educational, and you won't forget ANY information after! It stays with you! This is a great book!
Adults can enjoy this Middle School/YA book as well!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Focused stories of people that also explained a lot about the process and purpose of mapmaking. I appreciated the variety of mapmakers who were included. Interesting, engaging, and educational.

[Drinnon D · Rating 3 out of 5]

so far it's ok. it doesn't have me excited to read it, but I can read it. like I said its ok.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to smile when, in one of the authors notes, they spoke of creating their own, imaginary maps. I have done the same thing, sometimes designing imaginary cities. More historical, with lots of dates and names swimming around, but it was quite interesting for me. Gives a nice summary of the story of the maps development, as well as some background in the life of the mapmaker(s).

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this. Interesting stories of the explorers. A little bit of map/life philosophy to wrap up each chapter. Sidebars to explain technology & sideways bits of relevance. Mapping earth, sea, air, space in varied spots in history. My only complaint was that the illustrations couldn't be bigger.

[Laura Bang · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many fascinating stories about the history of cartography! Really well done.

[Lily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book!!!! It taught me a lot about how our world was mapped!!!!5 stars!!!!!!!