Surviving Erebus: An Antarctic Adventure Onboard Her Majesty's Ships Erebus and Terror

by John Barell

This new novel, Surviving Erebus, is based on an amazingly courageous and pioneering Antarctic voyage of exploration that began in 1839 and lasted for several years. Told through the eyes and experience of a young stowaway, whose chances for survival were low when he is discovered and who has to prove himself again and again to the ship's usually hostile and aggressive crew, this is a tale of confronting the most adverse conditions on the planet.

His adventures of exploration and discovery in Antarctica are described graphically and accurately and the reader can almost hear the cracking of the ice and the creaking of the ship's timbers as winter closes in; feel the discomfort of the cramped and basic living quarters and share the fear of young David as he wonders how he got himself into this most challenging environment.

That he comes through, survives to become a valued crewmember and grows up, is due not only to his resilience, deep curiosity and basic good nature, but also to the support of an important mentor, the ship’s scientist who enrolls him as his assistant.

A wonderful tale that will enthrall and involve any young person.

346 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

John Barell is a national and international consultant to schools interested in teaching inquiry, critical thought and reflection.

A native New Yorker, Barell has sailed to Antarctica as part of Operation Deepfreeze to explore that continent based upon his meetings and correspondences with Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. After Antarctica, he became an educator in New York City public high schools, then at Montclair State University in teacher education and world literature (now Professor Emeritus). Subsequently (2000-2007), he was a consultant at The American Museum of Natural History where he fostered networks of inquiry among science and social studies educators.

Currently, he is researching the various ways we assess the quality and improvement of students’ performances with 21st century skills: inquiry, problem solving, critical/creative thought and technological proficiency. The first completed report on this project, How Do We Know They’re Getting Better? Assessment for 21st Century Minds, K-8 (Corwin), was published January, 2012. His focus now is on those who teach at the high school level.

Sailing to Antarctica has served as his model for inquiry: starting with a dream and a passion leading to explorations of new territories, both physical, spiritual, educational and creative.

Barell is author of these publications about Antarctica: Quest for Antarctica—A Journey of Wonder and Discovery (memoir, 2011, ebook); Surviving Erebus—An Antarctic Adventure on board HMS Erebus and Terror (YA novel, 2008; 2011 ebook) and “Twenty Below,” an award winning story published by Boys’ Life and Boys’ Life Anthology.

He is also the author of these professional books: Did You Ever Wonder? Fostering Curiosity Here, There and Everywhere (2013); How Do We Know They’re Getting Better? Assessment for 21st Century Minds, K-8 (2012); Why are School Buses always Yellow? Teaching for Inquiry, PreK-5 (2007); Problem-Base Learning—An Inquiry Approach (2007); Developing More Curious Minds (2003); “. . . EVER WONDER. . ?” (1992); Opening the American Mind (1988) and Playgrounds of Our Minds (1980).

A recent (2013) novel, Absolute Bearing, is available at amazon.com. One reviewer wrote: “Not since I read Nicholas Monsarrat's THE CRUEL SEA have I enjoyed a sea tale, indeed, a tale of life itself, so much!”