Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World: The Extraordinary True Story of Shackleton and The Endurance

by Jennifer Armstrong

The extraordinary true story behind Ernest Shackleton's harrowing expedition to Antarctica on the Endurance—the ill-fated ship that became trapped in ice and sank to the ocean floor. Defying the odds, the crew made it back alive, bringing with them the astounding collection of photographs included in this critically acclaimed, timeless book.

In August 1914, Ernest Shackleton and his crew sailed from England on the Endurance in an attempt to become the first team of explorers to cross Antarctica from one side to the other. Five months later and still 100 miles from land, their ship, Endurance, became trapped in ice. Defying the odds, the expedition survived another five months camping on ice floes, followed by a perilous journey through stormy seas to remote and unvisited Elephant Island. In a dramatic climax to this amazing survival story, Shackleton and five others navigated 800 miles of treacherous open ocean in a 20-foot boat to fetch a rescue ship.

Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World vividly re-creates one of the most fascinating adventure stories in history. Award-winning author Jennifer Armstrong recounts one of the most extraordinary adventure stories in history with vigor, an eye for detail, and an appreciation of the marvelous leadership of Shackleton, who brought home every single one of his men alive.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Adventure, Survival, Audiobook, Biography, Middle Grade

145 pages, Paperback

First published November 17, 1998

About the author

Jennifer Armstrong learned to read and write in Switzerland, in a small school for English speaking children on the shores of Lake Zurich. The school library had no librarian and no catalog – just shelves of interesting books. She selected books on her own, read what she could, and made up the rest. It was perfect. As a result, she made her career choice – to become an author – in first grade. When she and her family returned to the U.S. she discovered that not all children wrote stories and read books, and that not all teachers thought reading real books was important. Nevertheless, she was undaunted. Within a year of leaving college she was a free-lance ghost writer for a popular juvenile book series, and before long published her first trade novel, Steal Away, which won her a Golden Kite Honor for fiction.

More than fifty additional novels and picture books followed, and before long she also tried her hand at nonfiction, winning an Orbis Pictus Award and a Horn Book Honor for her first nonfiction book, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World. In late 2003 she will travel to the South Pole with the National Science Foundation to do research for a book on ice.

Reviews

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short non-fiction about the Ernest Shackleton’s voyage to Antarctica on the Endurance, the stranding of the vessel, and how he and his crew made it back to civilization. It is written in a straight-forward manner and highlights Shackleton’s leadership skills. This is a good book if you are looking for the basics of what happened. I can also recommend Endurance: Shackleton's Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing if you are looking for a more detailed version. I listened to the audiobook, competently read by Taylor Mali.

[Janssen · Rating 4 out of 5]

DANG, this book was so good. Got so choked up at the end - I can't even believe this all is a true story.

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm writing this from the second floor of a Victorian rowhouse on Palace Court, a street just around the corner from Kensington Gardens in London. This building, this very flat, was once the residence of Sir Ernest Shackleton, the hero of this remarkable story. Across Kensington Gardens sits the Royal Geographical Society, and on the east side of the building's exterior is a statue of Shackelton. How cool is that?

I've read this book many times because it's a standard in my YA literature courses. Armstrong demonstrates how modern nonfiction makes use of narrative technique to rescue it from its textbook roots. This book is a good read, not just because it's the account of a truly incredible adventure/survival story but also because it's well-written, well-constructed nonfiction complemented by good design and photographs.

[Konrad · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can’t tell if it’s this actual book or the sheer unbelievability of Shackleton’s story carrying the 5 stars, but gotdamn I can’t stop thinking about this. Wit & Wisdom continues to bring the heat.

[Elizabeth O · Rating 5 out of 5]

Though unconventional, I picked this book for my book club book and was relieved others seemed to like it about as much as I did. Had some fun discussion. I've also sent my family a copy and challenged them to see if all 8 of can't get through and sign a copy within a year. Here's that email :)--- I do love a family project:

Dear Family,
(please feel free to share with your respective partners as desired) I want to share a book with you. I read it a couple years ago and liked it enough to choose it for this month's book club. It's about Shackleton's voyage to Antarctica in 1914. I promise you'll enjoy it.

I'm wondering if the copy can't make it through all of us within a year. It starts today at Dad's.

It's short-- can easily be read within a day or two and has something for everyone: Educational, but not cumbersome, Action and adventure, cute photos of puppies and baby penguins, and fun quotes like one from Hussy, the ship's meteorologist who described the crew playing banjo music for penguins in this way-- "They liked Negro spirituals and Irish jigs. A strong favorite of which they never tired was 'It's a Long Long Way to Tipperary'. But when I turned to playing Scottish music-- well, they just fled in horror, making off as fast as their short legs would carry them." Plus, the reading level is only Young Adult, so Colin can be involved with the rest of us.
What do you think? Can we do this?
xoxo,
Liz


From 2014:
"For scientific discovery, give me Scott; for speed and efficiency of travel, give me Amundsen; but when disaster strikes and all hope is gone, get down on your knees and pray for Shackleton."
- Apsley Cherry-Garrard, polar explorer, 1922

4.5 This is a young adult book about Sir Ernest Shackleton's Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition, an attempt to make the first land-crossing of Antarctica. Much like Apollo 13, the expedition is remembered as a "successful failure".
They launched from Plymouth in August 1914, and the Endurance was halted by a sea of ice (freezing at a rate of 2 square miles/minute). Their ship drifted North with the ice pack and eventually sank, leaving the men to battle the open air as they camped on ice floes during an Antarctic winter. The members of the expedition were finally rescued in August of 1916, after Shackleton and 3 other crew member made a miraculous 800 mile open boat journey for help.
What was lacking in the simple writing of this book (it is lacking) is made up two-fold by the included photographs. (Shackleton had funded his adventure with the donations to wealthy patrons to whom he promised rights to photography and crew journals---one member of the crew was a professional photographer) My favorites were of a great blue whale laid out at a whaling station and of one gruff sailor carrying two baby penguins. (It is not lost on me that they were probably eaten. The crew lived off of penguin and seal meat as the animals have no natural land predators and could be caught by simply walking up to them.)
Not a single life was lost throughout the ordeal and this amazing story is such an interesting piece of history. Highly recommend.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

This feels like one of those stories everyone already knows, and I was glad to get a gripping fast-paced crash course in this classic survival tale. Even this shortened, YA version of the story has plenty of cringe-worthy details about smoky blubber stoves and saltwater sores. If it weren’t true, you wouldn’t believe it!

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible! To be honest the writing was just ok, but the story!! Everyone must read this just to come to know the story! To think that these men endured all these hardships and that they all came back alive and some even returned to try yet again! I just can't believe it. Shackleton is a true hero. He kept those men alive. These men were perfect example of grit. The book is not long and fairly easy to read. Everyone should read to become acquainted with this story because now I find myself saying to myself when things get hard "At least I am not shipwrecked at the bottom of the world!" Or "At least I don't have to eat seal every day!" Or "At least I m not permanently wet and cold!" It's just incredible!

[Leigh-Ann Borella · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this book was very drawn out. How many times can you say they were cold and frozen and miserable. We got it. While the story itself was interesting I feel this book could have been over after 50 pages.

[Jacque · Rating 5 out of 5]

We listened to the audiobook version while we studied the continent of Antarctica. MD gave this 5 stars, she thought the men were brave. CN gave it 5 stars, he liked that Shackleton never gave up. MK liked that she learned from the book. She gave it 4 stars. I also gave it 5 stars. Shackleton was a genius in his ability to improvise to keep his men alive. I especially appreciated his recognizing the help they received from “Providence” and his service (as well as most of the crew’s) in the military.

[Whitney Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 WOW!!! What a story! A TRUE story! This was a super short book and I finished it in a day. I laughed, I cried, I was on the proverbial edge of my seat. What a crazy world event I’ve never heard of! Ernest Shackleton is now of my hero’s with his unwavering optimism and trusted leadership. The only reason I didn’t give it 5 stars is because the writing of book itself isn’t 5 stars, but the story told definitely is!!! With how short it is, I definitely recommend anyone to read it!

[Christiana Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

The strength of this non-fiction survival story is in its relative brevity. The author walks through the extraordinary account of Sir Ernest Shackleton and the crew of Endurance, providing detail and excerpts from survivor accounts without getting bogged down in the minutiae in a way that makes many other maritime/exploration histories drag. It’s a truly impressive tale of survival… hard to believe the entire crew (excluding the sled dogs) made it home alive.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my favorite books of all time! Once I got into the part where they are on the voyage I couldn’t put it down! It’s an incredible true story and Jennifer Armstrong does such a great job telling it! The pics are amazing too!!

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

First sentence: Just imagine yourself in the most hostile place on earth. It's not the Sahara or the Gobi Desert. It's not the Arctic. The most hostile place on earth is the Antarctic, the location of the South Pole--what's the difference? The Arctic is mostly water--with ice on top, of course--and that ice is never more than a few feet thick. But under the South Pole lies a continent that supports glaciers up to two miles in depth. Almost the entire southern continent is covered by ice. The mammoth icecap presses down so heavily that it actually distorts the shape of the earth. The ice never melts; it clings to the bottom of the world, spawning winds, storms, and weather that affect the whole planet.

I have read Jennifer Armstrong's Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World six or seven times now. (Most recently in February 2025). The narrative is so strong and compelling, and, yes, even inspiring. It is definitely one of my favorite nonfiction books. And nonfiction isn't something I usually take the time to reread. It is rare for me to keep coming back again and again to a nonfiction book.

Originally published in 1998, Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World won the Orbis Pictus Award in 1999. The book follows "the extraordinary true story of Shackleton and the Endurance." If you are unfamiliar with this story, then you really SHOULD read this one. It is a great introduction to the subject. Chapter by chapter, the book follows Shackleton and his men on their journey to Antarctica. Almost from the start, there are indicators that their goal, their quest, will not be an easy one to achieve. After a series of mishaps--thanks to nature--it becomes a long fight to survive.

The story is simple and yet dramatic. I think the story would be gripping no matter who told it. But I do think that Jennifer Armstrong did a wonderful job in painting a very human picture of Shackleton and his crew. I think the ending was beautiful--very moving! This one is a book I think everyone should read.

My most recent read--July 2025--was by audio book. The story is compelling as a traditional read, but as an audio read, I felt that it was even more compelling. It resonated more with me as an audio book. The events of the book are truly horrifying and amazing. Horrifying in the amount of hardship and struggle and uncertainty and pain and anguish. Amazing in the fact that ALL the men survived.

[Kristie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I noticed one of my friends is planning to read this same story, but by a different author. The story is amazing. I like this particular version because it is written toward young adults and the author, Jennifer Armstrong, has invested years of research to produce her account of this historical event. The first page is amazing and there is an entire chapter on ice...I never knew ice could be so compelling! When you think about it, this story is truly inspiring. 27 men attempt to explore the Antarctic. Their boat is captured by the ice around them, freezing solid at a rate of 2 square miles a minute. They have to separate in order to survive and their captain leaves them to find help. In the end, every single one of them makes it back home. The archived photographs play a large role in telling the story of these men. In a time when almost everything we see in photographs has been edited somehow, it's amazing to see these unedited photos of the boat, the ice, and the circumstances these guys found themselves in.

[Julia · Rating 5 out of 5]

For being a nonfiction account of a historical event, this book is surprisingly engaging and entertaining. Armstrong tells the remarkable story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew as they embark on a journey to explore Antarctica. However, before they even reach the continent, their ship is trapped in ice and slowly destroyed, eliminating any chance they have of completing their mission. The harrowing and exhilarating tale that follows is the crew's journey home -- and the remarkable feat of bringing every man home alive. Armstrong's skillful narrative combines fact, character, and photographs for an engaging and emotional account of Shackleton's remarkable crew. The details she includes make you feel like you know the crew members personally; every setback they encounter is devastating, and every small victory is thrilling. I would recommend this book to all kinds of readers, as it is very accessible; the prose is not too difficult, the photographs are remarkable, and the story itself is moving and inspiring. I loved being on the journey with Shackleton and his incredible crew.

[Mark Einselen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An easy 5 star rating. Jennifer Armstrong presents this true story with urgency and drama, despite the ending being well documented history. Without the convenience of a surprise ending, Armstrong skillfully tells Shackleton's unbelievable story. She weaves in tidbits of science as needed. Her explanations of geography, weather, and types of ice never seemed forced or overly detailed. They always added to the suspense of the narrative. This is a profile in courage and leadership. The character of Shackleton the man was especially inspiring. The photographs sprinkled throughout the book bring life to the hundred year old events.

[Dana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not a non-fiction reader, but with this story, I'm a fan. I would love to read it in first person narrative. Or see a movie made from it. Really, truly incredible! I'm going to have my 10 year old read it.

[Lauren Stoolfire · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Ernest Shackleton and his crew is absolutely fascinating and Armstrong's account does a good job of recreating their survival story. The photos included are great.

[Elise]

Book Review for Shackleton

“I had started to walk across the floe, to warn the watchmen to look carefully for cracks when the floe lifted on the crest of a swell and cracked under my feet as I was passing the man’s tent. The men were in one of the dome - shaped tents, and it began to stretch apart as the ice opened… I rushed forward, helped some of the men to come out from under the canvas… the crack widened to about four feet, and… I saw a whitish object flowing in the water.”

Imagine extreme temperatures below zero, blizzards, icy waters, wet clothes, hours and months of darkness, unknown terrain, minimal food and water - these are just a few of the extreme elements of the journey that Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew of 22 men, experienced on their journey to try to cross Antarctica. Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World, by Jennifer Armstrong, is a non-fiction, retelling of an expedition to the South Pole. For those who love adventure, drama, thrills, history and are not squirmish, this tale will quench any intermediate or middle schooler’s reading thirst. Photos that survived the journey, enhanced the higher level vocabulary and details that flow through the book. For those who love geography, the experience of the Antarctic Ocean, Elephant Island, South Georgia Island and Antarctica itself, will keep you researching for days.
The idea of perseverance and the will to live, are predominant themes throughout the text. For every obstacle thrown at the crew, they brainstormed ways to solve their problems. When they needed new shelters, they repurposed sails, rocks, and even the boats. When they needed food, they rationed their supplies, killed penguins and seals. When they had to travel from ice floe to water, they worked together to row, bail and repair the ships. For an average person, the hardships throughout the journey would be more than they could handle. But having a leader like Shackleton, someone who kept the men calm, supported and listened to their fears and worries, guided and gave them hope, was something unique. He was a man who set goals and did whatever he needed to reach them. Be it long-term - get all men home safely, or short term - find a solid ice floe to sleep on, he never gave up. He put the men’s needs above his own and took care of them like family.
I am going to be honest, I didn’t really love the book from the start. The cover did not grab my attention, and nor did the title. I started the book, and even a few chapters in I wasn’t getting to intrigued. Then the men start off on their expedition and it almost immediately sparked my interest. Everyday I couldn’t wait to read about how the men were coping with their problems this time, or how they would risk everything just for each other. Sometimes, the men made me crack up, they sure did a lot of funny things. But on the other hand, they also sometimes made me very, very angry. Sometimes to the point of my clenching my fists, or sometimes just making me shake my head. Overall, I think that the writing was great and I definitely recommend it.

[Kenzie Pierce · Rating 4 out of 5]

CLASS READING
Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World details the miraculous journey of Sir Ernest Henry Shackleton and his crew as they struggle for survival after a disastrous shipwreck in Antarctica. As Britain prepared to enter World War I, Shackleton and his men set off to be the first ones to complete a trek across the continent of Antarctica; unfortunately, the vicious icebergs would prove them wrong. After their ship, the Endurance, became trapped in ice, the crew was initially optimistic. But after weeks of waiting for the ice to subside, the crew began to go insane from boredom. Ironically, things became lively when one day, the vise-like ice crushed the Endurance, and caused it to sink to the bottom of the frigid Antarctic sea. From that moment on, Shackleton stoically led his men is a life-and-death battle against the freezing winds and ice, and the quest was forever abandoned for the daily battle to stay alive. The men must get rid of nearly all of their possessions, food, and warm clothes, and they are truly at the mercy of the elements. Through countless close calls, Shackleton and his men eventually make it to Elephant Island, where Shackleton and 5 other men set off to find help. It nearly broke Shackleton’s heart to leave his men, yet he was finally able to reach South Georgia Island and bring back a rescue ship for the survivors. Shackleton’s leadership and courage amidst dire circumstances deserves the highest praise, as well as the miracle that brought every single crew member of the Endurance home.
Armstrong beautifully relates the treacherous experience of Shackleton and his crew, and their vicious battle for survival through the gripping language used in this book. Her imagery and vivid details keep readers on the edge of their seats as they discover how Shackleton was able to bring each man home. This riveting story is a good read for anyone ages 15 and older, and all can appreciate both Armstrong’s storytelling and Shackleton’s brave leadership.

[Becky Ginther · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical event that I didn't know much about - the story of survival is truly incredible. The fact that these men made it through the ordeal for that long is pretty unbelievable, so I was looking forward to how that was possible.

Overall it was a good book, though I think there were some aspects of it that could be improved. Even though it's somewhat short, it felt very dragged out in a lot of places. At the end of the day, yes, there was a lot of time spent miserable and cold, but it got repetitive to hear about it. And then there were bits that detailed all the different types of ice and things like that which felt unnecessary. Especially as a book that's written for middle school aged kids it just felt slow for most of the middle section.

I liked the inclusion of photos and diagrams, and would love to see more of that. Even if we don't have that many photos, anything to liven things up like drawings, maps, a copy of a letter. Perhaps more background to the men's lives would have been more interesting (like so-and-so's wife back at home, that sort of thing). I think it could be shortened with more visuals and still be very effective.

Speaking of the fact that technically this book is directed towards the pre-teen/early teen age, some of the content was a bit different in my opinion. There are descriptions of having to kill their dogs, some of the diseases they suffered from, and especially the scene where the doctor has to cut off the one man's toes due to frostbite. I feel this is the sort of thing you could pull out or just mention in a more vague way for the children's edition but include in a version of the book for adults.

So overall I'm glad I got to learn about something I really knew nothing about, but the writing itself didn't really do much to hook me into the story - that's just thanks to actual events.

[Jackie Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story is almost unbelievable! Shackleton was so smart, so driven, and so resourceful. His leadership abilities and qualities were incredible.
I loved how he always thought of his men first and was so motivated to save them in horrific conditions and circumstances, one right after another.
I was touched by the feeling of ‘a fourth’ that the three expressed after their extreme test of endurance once they reached land- that Providence was with them.
And if that wasn’t enough, he and several of his Antarctic crew fought in WWI!
Fantastic story - I would listen/read it again!

[Jho · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing story of survival against incredible odds - Shackleton’s ship trapped in ice, ship crushed, camping on ice floes through winter and spring, taking small boats to the rough southern ocean in the middle of winter, taking one boat to South Georgia Island with 6 men to cross 800 miles in the most extreme weather, spending a winter in an island in the Antarctic - and everyone made it back after almost 2 years!

The descriptive text and photos brought the unbelievable story home to me. A great experience to read this book.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is a great book for a middle school student or struggling high school student. It was informative and the story of Shackleton and his men is quite compelling. If I have a student that could not read the longer Unbroken, this might appeal to them.

I listened to the audio book by Taylor Mali, and he does a great job with the voices (quite a silly Scottish accent), and making the story come alive. It was a great little listen and I was done in 1 day.

[Hannah Grinestaff · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is just nuts. I read the story of Shackleton at some point during my school years and got to revisit it while studying it with my 2nd grader. We’re using the excellent picture book “Shackelton’s Journey” by William Grill, and this to put some more meat (blubber?) on the bones of the story, as it were. It kept up a well-paced plot while also drawing a vivid picture of the weather and geography of the Arctic.

[Rita Flaherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was playing a board game a while ago that was based on Shackleton's expedition. I was curious about how well the info in the game lined up with more information that was grounded in some facts. I appreciate the game even more now because it seems like they did a nice job on the events, people, and tone.

This may be a topic that curiosity draws me into more and this was a good introductory summary of events.

[Katie Killingsworth · Rating 5 out of 5]

True to what the extended title of this book says, this was truly an EXTRAORDINARY story. If I were just reading it as a fiction book, I would have found it incredibly hard to believe. That makes the fact that this is a true story that much more impressive! It blows my mind what these men had to endure!

I think this would make a great read-aloud for middle grades!

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great introduction into Shackleton's incredible story. I knew bits and pieces but not most of it. An ultimate story of survival & overcoming at it's finest. I never want to visit Antarctica.

Content: I feel like this is written for younger readers but some of the descriptions of what they went through can be pretty intense. I'd recommend for 12+

[Tallis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a book club and was happy to have done so because I certainly wouldn’t have chosen it for myself! I enjoyed the story and especially the quotes and photos, but the writing did frustrate me sometimes. There were some sentences I felt were grammatically incorrect or areas where things felt very repetitive, but overall definitely worth the (quick) read.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read several books about Shackleton and have also seen the movie many times (as it is one of Ryan's favorites!) but this book had pictures and a few details that I haven't heard before. Always an amazing, inspiring story.