Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica

If you have a kid in your life who devoured Jack London and Gary Paulsen’s survival stories (or if you were that kid once upon a time), this middle grade book is for you. The narrative alternates between a 1910 race to make history in the South Pole and a strikingly similar 2018 trek across Antarctica. The comparison between Captain Robert Scott’s historical endeavor and Captain Louis Rudd’s more recent feat creates an immediate and intense reading experience, and photos bring the Arctic to life. Descriptions of dangerous, even deadly conditions are presented in a straightforward tone, sparing no factual detail, so be mindful of content for sensitive young readers.