How to Survive in Antarctica

by Lucy Jane Bledsoe

In a story that is part memoir, part survival tips, and part curiosities, the author lets readers vicariously experience her adventures while on exploration in Antarctica.

Genres: Nonfiction, Geography

32 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2006

About the author

Preorder Lucy's new novel, TELL THE REST, about love, rage, and redemption, at https://amzn.to/3QRyHXD. The New York Times says Lucy Jane Bledsoe's novel, A THIN BRIGHT LINE, "triumphs." Ms. Magazine calls her novel, THE EVOLUTION OF LOVE, "fabulous feminist fiction." Her 2018 collection of stories, LAVA FALLS, won the Devil's Kitchen Fiction Award. Bledsoe played basketball in both high school and college. As a social justice activist, she's passionate about working for voting rights.

Reviews

[Chris Connolly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Category (Informational)
Found on page 280 in the textbook


1. Description

Lucy Jane Bledsoe travels to the most remote destination on earth: Antarctica. The ways of travel include plane and ship, nothing else. Bledsoe gives firsthand accounts of many aspects of the frozen lifestyle including everything from building snow homes, putting up and anchoring tent to learning how to use the bathroom. Interestingly, many think of such a place as being cold and wet, but it actually is cold and dry, having more sunrays than the average beach trip on a summer's day.

2. Organization

Bledsoe does a wonderful job with organizing her informational book; she explained why she chose to travel to Antarctica, how she told the reader how to plan for their trip, and about the areas that she encountered. The contents page shows how she intends on relaying her story to the reader.

3. Style

Reading the language and the boldness of important information that occurs on every page, it is evident that Bledsoe makes the book really fun to read for the reader. I found that the one-hundred page book took little time to read through as I found great interest in what she wrote.

4. Design/Illustrations

Bledsoe carries a camera with her from which all her photos are based throughout the entire book, allowing the reader to understand exactly what she refers to; there are several occurrences where she explains different types of seals and penguins she encounter on her voyage.

5. Accuracy

The information that Bledsoe presents is accurate with current scientific studies; she mentions several facts such as, the sunrays being more severe there than at the beach to climate change occurrences that are inarguably real. it appears as if she has first rate knowledge of what is discussion throughout the book.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is nonfiction, which means that the information is true. This genre can include books that have real facts, like biographies. This books topic is Antarctica, the continent at earth's south. This book tells you about how to survive on this freezing continent, as well as a tale of the author's trip to the continent. This book shows you how to build a snow shelter, join the 300 club, and use the bucket. This book has chapters, and sections within those chapters. There are lots of pictures, which the author took herself. There is a table of contents, and glossary, but no index. With the chapters, and sections, this book. Is easy to navigate. It is easy to find what you want. In this book, the author writes about her own story/expedition, so she knows what she is writing about, "not some crap from the internet compiled in to one book" this book is very interesting to read because most people haven't been to Antarctica, so they will find it very interesting to read about it. After reading this book you will have gained a basic understanding of how to live, and survive in Antarctica. The author did well on this book, she has a very straight forward writing style, by this I mean that she gets to the facts, and doesn't just Blabber on about unrelated crap. I recommend this book to all who are interested in Antarctica, and I rate his 4.5 stars

[Crystal Lockhart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read How to Survive Antarctica by Lucy Bledsoe as one of my Informational Choice books. I found this title in the textbook on page 280. This book is mostly a memoir of Bledsoe travels in Antarctica. She tells about her adventures in Antarctica but also gives the reader some great information and tips about survival in the cold, rough area. This book was a detailed read about her journey and about the survival in Antarctica. Bledsoe writes about some of the wonderful encounters she had with animals and makes sure to let the reader know the best tips she had for survival.

The book presented great information in many different categories of information. There were historical and scientific facts along with a fun narrative story. I believe the book was broke up into manager sections to help ensure the students do not get bored. I enjoyed this read because again I found a book was heavy with information that I did not know. The way the book read, I was not bored and did not feel overwhelmed by the information. I think this book would lend well to a lesson about writing a personal narrative. I also believe this book would be good for a primary resource for a research project.

[Erin Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Junior Book Log

Informational

Source: Textbook


How to survive in Antarctica – I chose this book because I found the topic interesting because I have wondered what it was like to be in Antarctica, but hadn’t really thought about what you would need to do to survive. I liked this book because the author actually went and experienced the continent herself, so I was able to experience a real life account of life on Antarctica, through pages! The author gave particularly useful advice on what to do in certain scenarios in order to save your life…. Very important if you are planning a trip to Antarctica! I liked how this informational book was about a continent that I feel so many of us know so little about. I would like to incorporate it into a geography lesson, or even a social studies lesson about wants and needs!

[Diana Haynes · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book for my junior book reading log, it is an informational book and was found in the textbook, page 280. This is the true account of the author, Lucy Bledsoe's trips to Antarctica. During her trips, she saw many amazing sights and wildlife, and learned certain trips and tips on how to survive. The author talks of making a house out of snow and sleeping in it as well as taking a helicopter ride to see the sheet of ice that is the continent. She took pictures while on her trip, which are the ones depicted in this book. These pictures help the reader to better understand and re-live her experiences. I think this is a great book to use in the classroom, especially for a geography content lesson. Antarctica is probably the most ignored continent in the classroom as well as in the news, and this book teaches the reader more about the little-known place.

[Sarah George]

1) Genre: Informational Children's Book
2) This informational children's book teaches children about the freezing tundra of Antarctica. The author/photographer shares her personal experience of her adventure in Antarctica.
3) a. Chapter Titles
b. The creative chapter titles keep the reader interested and hooked on learning more about Antarctica.
c. For example: "Planning Your Trip to Antarctica"
4) Content Connection: Because of some of the packing lists this could open doors to different interesting writing prompts. This is also a perfect book for a lesson in science on the frozen Tundra.

[Campbell County Public Library]

Staff Review from Lyzzie, Branch Manager at Rustburg, "Although a children's title, this book intrigued me not only because I enjoy reading books about Antarctica, but this one included ideas such as lists of supplies they would take to the continent, fun facts about how waste is disposed of down there, and highlighted three different major areas on the continent that people are able to access. Still friendly enough for a juvenile to read, but informative enough that at age 25 it can still be enjoyed." 😄

[Abby Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This smorgasbord of information is chopped up into manageable chunks. Lucy Bledsoe gives her personal accounts of adventures she's had in Antarctica interspersed with scientific, biographical, and historical facts. A glossary is included but no index or source list making this book so-so for reports, but excellent for browsing. Recommended for kids who like to read about true adventures.

Full review on my blog:
http://abbylibrarian.blogspot.com/200...

[10-11 Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not a big fan of nonfifction books like this,you know facts in books is not really my thing but I really like this book a lot probably because I have never really learned about Antarctica and the book had pretty interesting facts.There were also animal facts and I love animals so it was really good.So I give this book a four because it is probably the best nonfiction book I have probably read yet.

[Alicia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Combo of information about Antarctica and the author's personal experiences visiting and exploring down there. Largely text strikes my eye, but it's broken up with nice big headlines and pull-out sections for browsers. Good number of photos, although I would have liked color.

[Carissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

a non-fiction piece filled with interesting details lucy learned on her three trips to antarctica. actually a quick read and very enjoyable.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this with my son. It was very interesting.

[AS · Rating 4 out of 5]

This year’s book representing Antarctica 🇦🇶 for my Seven Continents list
—
This is a quick read, but has loads of great details, including many things that were new to me, even after having read a number of other books about Antarctica. Lots of insights into what the hands-on experiences of people who visit and work in Antarctica are really like.
Would recommend for young readers, but adults will likely enjoy it and learn things as well : )

[Heather Warriner · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Jason · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! But I want to go to Antarctica so bad I can taste it! So maybe I'm biased!

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disappointed by all the "millions of years" references, but enjoyable otherwise.