“Bound in Ice” by Sandra Neil Wallace and Rich Wallace.
Calkins Creek Press, Honesdale, Penn., 191 pages, 2017, Grades 6-9.
For centuries, countries longed to find the Northwest Passage. This route would link North America, Asia and Europe by utilizing a route across the top of the world. Since the world is a globe, the distance between the continents would be greatly shortened, which could increase trade and wealth.
The problem is geography. What is the latitude and longitude of the Northwest Passage? What is the Arctic like? Is it a frozen, glacier-like area? Some even hypothesize that a warm sea is near the North Pole, surrounded by icebergs. This idea is attractive as it lessens the dangers of the voyage.
The latter hypothesis gained some acceptance by the 1880s throughout the scientific community. This in turn led a number of explorers and countries to attempt the dangerous trip across the Arctic Ocean to find the Northwest Passage.
One of the most perilous trips is sponsored by the United States Navy and is funded by a wealthy New York newspaper owner. It begins in 1879 when a 145-foot steamer leaves San Francisco and heads toward the North Pole. Its leader is Lieutenant Commander George Washington De Long and the ship, the U.S.S. Jeannette, carries a crew of 33 men. The authors write a gripping, terrifying and heroic account of the De Long expedition to find the Northwest Passage in “Bound in Ice.”
As the Jeannette steams north, the expertly-chosen crew operates with efficiency. The supplies have been carefully chosen to avoid the dread disease of scurvy and to ensure proper nutrition. Relying on the best maps and geological information in the world, they head into the ice pack, believing that they will find warm waters near the North Pole. Instead, the ice floes come together, trapping the ship in a frozen white nightmare. The winter descends with howling winds and falling temperatures. Commander De Long develops an outstanding plan to feed his crew through the long nights and to keep their spirits up. Unfortunately, the ice pack begins crushing the ship and the crew must frantically bail the water which is 30 degrees below zero to keep the Jeannette from sinking.
While they are successful, the effort weakens all of them. The next shock comes when the ice pack does not break apart and the Jeannette must spend a second winter bound in ice. De Long and his officers then begin planning a breakout if the ship sinks. But how are they going to be able to do this? The Siberian land mass is 500 miles away, and the ice is unstable and often breaks, exposing the freezing water. They are sick and running out of supplies. Then the ice crushes the Jeannette and the ship begins sinking.
At De Long’s command, the 33 men place hundreds of food rations, clothes and supplies on the ice floe. They all know that they must summon courage beyond bravery to survive the 500-mile escape across the ice pack and the treacherous sea. What choices do they make on this terrifying journey? To find out, go to the library and check out this deeply compelling book, “Bound in Ice” by Sandra Wallace and Rich Wallace.
This book is based on a true account of the courageous expedition led by Lieutenant Commander De Long in 1879. The book relies extensively on the journals and accounts of the crew and its noble commander. As a result, the book reads like a novel and keeps the reader eager to find out the next part of the story.
While the expedition ends in much tragedy, we see the explorers in the direst of conditions acting with charity and greatness of heart. It is a marvelous story of adventure and courage.
If you want to read an exciting and uplifting book, this is the one for you. You may not decide to go to the Arctic, but you can’t help but admire the greatness of the humanity in the members of the De Long Expedition.
