Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story: 1

Product Information

Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+ About This Edition ISBN: Decide how you’ll show everyone the list of questions for Roll and recap and get the list ready – we’ve suggested some example questions, but you could add your own.

LKS2 Whole-Class Reading Planning - Explorer Theme - Tes Year 3/4 LKS2 Whole-Class Reading Planning - Explorer Theme - Tes

Loved this! Fascinating insight to Matthew Henson who was lost in history. Thank you Catherine for bringing his story to life. Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Henson would become navigator, craftsman, translator, and right-hand man on a treacherous journey to the North Pole. Defying the odds and the many prejudices that faced him to become a true pioneer. This is his incredible and often untold story. year old Nathaniel is a slave, sent to England. Life in London is tough and Nat seizes the first opportunity to escape. He hears the story of The Zong, a ship where the crew murdered 133 slaves. Will the world continue to turn a blind eye to the horrors of slavery? And can Nat really evade his masters forever? 9+It was really informative to learn about the trials Matthew had to go through to even get to the North Pole, but also afterwards where his accomplishment was constantly overshadowed by his white peers. It took years before he was seen as equal, and even years after his death for people to give him the hero's burial he deserved.

Race to the Frozen North by Catherine Johnson, Katie Hickey

Matthew Henson did something incredible: he was the first person to set foot on the north pole. Explorers like Matthew usually go down in history – they get awards, books and films are made about them, and their names appear on university buildings, libraries and street signs. Can anyone think of any examples of this? Perhaps there’s a school nearby named after someone famous or they’ve seen a film about a historical figure who did something amazing.

Whilst the story depicts scenes of death and hardship, it is not overall an emotionally difficult book to read (probably due to language and pace), and I believe would be suitable for anyone in Y4+. However, racism is a theme throughout and should, as always, be discussed in a sensitive manner with children. Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Every once in a while I stumble across a teenage novel that restores my faith in the genre…..a superb book.’