Scan barcode
A review by mat_tobin
Race to the Frozen North: The Matthew Henson Story by Catherine Johnson
4.0
Abused by his step-mother, Matthew runs away with no money to his name but a spark of hope that the nearest city, Washington DC, will provide him with the opportunity for success. As luck would have it, fortune shines on Matt and he ends up working for a kindly woman, Janey Moore, whose Café is much loved by the poorer locals.
Finally able to establish himself, Matthew finds himself inspired by tales of adventure and exploration from one of the café visitors, Baltimore Jack, and decides to take to the high seas. He heads towards the docks of Kennard Wharf and good fortune places him in the path of a fine captain. From here, Matt’s life becomes rich and varied with his adventures eventually taking him to the North Pole. But will his skill, knowledge and courage give him the credit he deserves or, as a black man, will it sink beneath the waves and never surface?
Catherine Johnson is doing an excellent job of breathing life into the lost stories of should-be-famous black people. Matthew Henson’s story was one I had never heard of before as was those of Olaudah Equiano and Shadrack Furman in Freedom. As always, Johnson’s light prose presented in Barrington Stoke’s most-welcome dyslexia-friendly format means that this is an accessible and important story for many readers. Let’s hope she continues writing these.
Finally able to establish himself, Matthew finds himself inspired by tales of adventure and exploration from one of the café visitors, Baltimore Jack, and decides to take to the high seas. He heads towards the docks of Kennard Wharf and good fortune places him in the path of a fine captain. From here, Matt’s life becomes rich and varied with his adventures eventually taking him to the North Pole. But will his skill, knowledge and courage give him the credit he deserves or, as a black man, will it sink beneath the waves and never surface?
Catherine Johnson is doing an excellent job of breathing life into the lost stories of should-be-famous black people. Matthew Henson’s story was one I had never heard of before as was those of Olaudah Equiano and Shadrack Furman in Freedom. As always, Johnson’s light prose presented in Barrington Stoke’s most-welcome dyslexia-friendly format means that this is an accessible and important story for many readers. Let’s hope she continues writing these.