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

Quotes

• “The harrowing survival story of English explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton and the ill-fated Endurance has intrigued people since the 1914 expedition…[Armstrong] brings the unbelievable journey to life with delicious details: how a handsome young stowaway was discovered too late to cast him off; how the ship itself would become frost-white, looking like ‘another species of sparkling white iceberg as it nosed its way through the pack;’ and how the ice-pack-dwelling Emperor penguins seemed to enjoy the banjo music of crew member Leonard Hussey. The true-to-life story is as thrilling as they come, and Armstrong’s lively, crystal-clear writing style is just as compelling….[An] inspiring nonfiction adventure story that young readers will devour from cover to cover.”

  — Amazon.com, editorial review

• “Armstrong keeps her narrative moving at a brisk pace. A generous supply of colorful anecdotes and excerpts from journals shed light on the men’s personalities and reveal Shackleton’s remarkable skill for keeping his crew agreeable and hopeful, despite life-threatening conditions. Other passages…possess heart-pounding immediacy. Armstrong’s absorbing storytelling… make this an enthralling adventure.”

  — Publishers Weekly (starred review)

• “Ernest Shackleton’s 1914–1916 Antarctic expedition was, in Armstrong’s words, ‘one of the most incredible feats of survival ever recorded.’ Her captivating, complete account, which identifies and tracks practically every crew member and liberally employs quotes from crew diaries, will find an audience with the detail-oriented, want-to-know-it-all kind of reader.”

  — Horn Book Guide (starred review)

• “Filled with intriguing details and written with dramatic style, this riveting account of the ill-fated Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition reads like an adventure novel…Armstrong brings all of these experiences vividly to life, frequently using quotes from members of the expedition…Armstrong crafts [the facts] into an unforgettable story of true heroism and the triumph of the human spirit. A book that will capture the attention and imagination of any reader.”

  — School Library Journal

• “Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World is a book to finish in one breathless sitting, then dream about all night long.”

  — Riverbank Review

• “Armstrong takes this material and makes an equally spectacular read. The ‘Boss’ and his crew come alive in one amazing event after another…This is an adventure to keep any kid or grownup awake late into the night, shivering from the cold and turning pages.”

  — Children’s Literature

• “This adventure story of survival against all odds in one of the harshest environments on the planet is told in swift, stirring prose by Armstrong, a children’s book author; it’s an ALA Best Book for YAs, a Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor Book, and the recipient of many other honors. An exceptional work of nonfiction for all libraries serving YAs.”

  — Kliatt

• “This unbelievable story is enhanced by the vigorous prose; from the captivating introduction through the epilogue, it is the writing as much as the story that will rivet readers.”

  — Kirkus Reviews

• “Armstrong paints a vivid picture of the ordeal.”

  — Booklist

• “Taylor Mali’s narration of the book by Jennifer Armstrong is riveting, and his shifts from one accent to the next are effective and not at all distracting. The text moves from diary entries to explanations of how to read the sun, and the descriptions of the terrain and weather are superb. This is a very effective presentation of not only how the disaster occurred but of the toll it took on the crew and how they rose to the challenge.”

  — School Library Journal (audio review)

• “Armstong’s vivid biography of Shackleton and his crew is brought to life by Taylor Mali. Excerpts from diaries and newspaper accounts, which flesh out this incredible adventure of survival in the harshest environment on the planet, are read in distinct accents by Mali…Mali’s intense narration drives listeners of all ages to experience the severe weather, lack of food, and incredible demands of exploration and survival.”

  — AudioFile