Trapped by the Ice!: Shackleton's Amazing Antarctic Adventure

by Michael McCurdy

Describes the events of the 1914 Shackleton Antarctic expedition when, after being trapped in a frozen sea for nine months, the expedition ship, the Endurance, was finally crushed and Shackleton and his men made the very long and perilous journey across ice and stormy seas to reach inhabited land.

Genres: History, Science, Picture Books, Childrens, Nonfiction

40 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1997

About the author

Michael McCurdy was an American illustrator, author, and publisher. He illustrated over 200 books in his career, including ten that he authored. Most were illustrated with his trademark black and white wood engravings, with occasional color illustrations. His illustrations often have historical or natural themes.

Reviews

[JayD · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Trapped” is beautiful visually. I found myself just going back and staring at the pictures in white, blue, green, mauve and turquoise. Just looking at those frozen wastes makes you feel cold.

It’s 34 pages long with about one paragraph every other page. Given that the entire journey from the time the Endurance gets trapped in the pack-ice around Antarctica to the day the last man is successfully rescued was the best part of a year, the brief text on each double-page illustration is a clever way of not making the whole thing a bore with not much happening.

Since several reviewers mentioned the difficulty of the vocabulary, I scanned the book for a sample of the hardest words for a child to read: terrain, impassable, rancid, exhausting, accomplished, preparations, miraculously, dehydration. A typical sentence would be: “Graybeards are monstrous waves that come quietly and quickly, threatening everything in their path.”

[Lauri · Rating 4 out of 5]

The miraculous and true adventure of Ernest Shackleton, Antarctic explorer, and his third voyage to the Antarctic. Full of danger, adventure, grit and perseverance - this picture book kept my third graders on the edge of their seats.

[Willow · Rating 5 out of 5]

We read this after watching the documentary film "Shackleton's Voyage of Endurance" and have been fascinated by this expedition. This was a good retelling with beautiful illustrations. Very exciting!

[Alison (readinginazaleawoods) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of our most favorite picture books are ones that tell or are inspired by true events. And in “Trapped by the Ice!”, author and illustrator, Michael McCurdy tells the miraculous and true story of Sir Ernest Shackleton and his crew who found themselves stranded for two years in one of the harshest regions on the planet, the Antarctic.
 
With captivating illustrations that detail the frigid ice, treacherous seas, dangerous climbs, and lurking threats, “Trapped by the Ice!” is a tale that is sure to engage the hearts of young readers and adventurists while teaching them valuable lessons of hope and perseverance.
 
❄️ WHO IS IT FOR: Though recommended for ages 7-10, slightly younger children will be able to understand and appreciate this riveting tale.
 

[Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really long and rather intense (he basically walks around Antarctica for months trying to find people who can take a ship to rescue the rest of his crew...) That said, P asked me to read it a billion times in its entirety so... five stars it is!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Introduced a fascinating feat of human survival in the harshest environment on the planet. Diary entry style was a little dry with difficult vocabulary.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Oct. 27, 1915, Sir Ernest Shackleton had to abandon his ship, the Endurance, and his plan to sled all the way across Antarctica because the ship was destroyed after having become trapped in ice. The complete story of how Shackleton and his entire crew survived and were rescued is told for older readers in Endurance: Shackleton’s Incredible Voyage by Alfred Lansing. The early days of the voyage and confinement on ship are recounted for a slightly younger set from the perspective of the ship’s cat in Mrs. Chippy’s Last Expedition: The Remarkable Journal of Shackleton’s Polar-Bound Cat by Caroline Alexander.

Alexander’s account ends on Oct. 29, when Mrs. Chippy perished, and Trapped by the Ice! basically picks up the tale for beginning readers at that point and carries it on through their survival on the ice, the crew’s voyage on the three small boats to uninhabited Elephant Island, Shackleton’s further voyage to the whaling station on South Georgia Island arriving on May 20, 1916, and their ultimate rescue without the loss of any human life. The narration is illustrated with realistic paintings of landscapes, ice, and ocean, based on stills taken by Shackleton’s photographer. It is a good introduction for kids to Shackleton’s expedition, skipping some of the details that might not be of interest to them.

[Brian H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

A thrilling account of Shackleton's expedition to the South Pole that includes some really nice illustrations. Kids should enjoy it! I just wonder about the audience. By appearances, the book looks like it's for second and third graders; yet, the subject matter and prose are more suited to fourth and fifth graders. This would probably be a great book for ELL students and struggling readers in middle school.

[Deanna Sutter · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating story.

[Tam Newell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Previewing for my 5th grade boys. Seven month Antarctic adventure. Quick, picture book, but harder vocabulary

[Sure]

HI

[Bret Parker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well told tale!