After the Last Dog Died : The True-Life, Hair-Raising Adventure of Douglas Mawson's 1912 Antarctic Expedition [Hardcover]

Carmen Bredeson (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up | Grade Level: 5 and up | Series: Golden Kite Honors

Survival against the odds, a clipper ship, Ernest Shackleton, the south magnetic pole, Antarctic science, a puppy named Blizzard, and a young woman named Paquita all play roles in this compelling profile of Australia’s most famous Antarctic explorer. Carmen Bredeson presents the life of Sir Douglas Mawson from his early fascination with geology to his adventures in Antarctica with Shackleton—leading up to a gripping account of his own scientific expedition to study uncharted parts of the continent. Tension mounts as Mawson sets out from base camp with a small team . . . suffers the loss of his men, dogs, and supplies . . . battles torturous cold with makeshift shelter, little food, and failing body . . . and ultimately—but just barely—makes it back to camp alive. This spellbinding adventure will keep kids turning pages!

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5 Up-About a century ago, Australian Douglas Mawson's interest in glaciers led him to become a member of Ernest Shackleton's 1908 expedition to Antarctica. The geologist and two others made their way to the magnetic South Pole and back, gathering valuable scientific data. Mawson subsequently met with Robert Scott but decided not to join that ill-fated trip to the Pole. Instead, he organized his own Australasian Antarctic Expedition. Double-page duo-tone photos are one of several adept design details that suggest the vastness of the terrain, while the text describes how Mawson and two companions, Lt. Belgrave Ninnis and Dr. Xavier Mertz, set out to explore the ice shelf with sled dogs. Five difficult weeks out from base camp, Ninnis was lost to a crevasse along with most of the food. Over the next few days the remaining dogs were shot and butchered. Both men suffered greatly during the treacherous journey back to camp, and Mertz died. Mawson barely survived, but recovered and eventually returned home. An appendix explains that the men had inadvertently been poisoned by a surfeit of Vitamin A from the dogs' livers. A resources list includes books, interviews, and Internet sites. An enticing, attractive, and inspiring addition to adventure/exploration collections.
Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Junior High School, Iowa City, IA
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. Before Shackleton's 1914 expedition on the Endurance came Douglas Mawson's tragic South Pole exploration. The 1911 expedition was a dream come true for the 29-year-old Mawson, an Australian geology teacher, and the carefully planned journey went well until Mawson and two companions set out to map the interior of the continent. Three hundred miles from base camp, tragedy struck: a member of the party fell into a deep crevasse along with most of the team's food. Badly frostbitten and starving, Mawson managed to return to the base camp, surviving to tell of the harrowing ordeal. Although the personal loss was tragic, the expedition was a great success because of its scientific contribution. Mawson was hailed a national hero and knighted for his efforts. Bredson's compelling story of courage and survival draws heavily on quotes from Mawson and other primary source documents; there are also charts, maps, and many photographs, including some taken by Frank Hurley, who later traveled on the Endurance. A chronology and sources for further research are appended. Ed Sullivan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic Children's Books (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792261402
• ISBN-13: 978-0792261407
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,584,290 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fast and easy..., June 14, 2010

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Rebecca White "yukikabuki" (The Green Part) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: After the Last Dog Died : The True-Life, Hair-Raising Adventure of Douglas Mawson's 1912 Antarctic Expedition (Hardcover)

received this book quickly and in great condition thanks to great packing. Book was exactly what we needed to replace a lost school book. Thanks!

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Dog Lover's Answer to Mrs.Chippy, September 3, 2008

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N. Walker "nantarctica" (USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: After the Last Dog Died : The True-Life, Hair-Raising Adventure of Douglas Mawson's 1912 Antarctic Expedition (Hardcover)

Polar exploration aside,This is a MUST for dog lovers or parents who want their child to have one but can't. The photo on page 30 of little Blizzard, the mascot of the tragic expedition, is astounding. It is like a picture of a dog saint, which the little fellow probably was....

Amazon might enlist the publisher, National Geographic, to get going with sepia posters and stuffed toys (but only the finest-made, please) because this is a dog unlike any other. My bro has an old print of a mutt with his head in a bandage and a "please kill me" expression, which I guess was how one was to think of dogs a long time ago. Blizzard is a whole 'nother pup. He is fat, like more and more of us, but with doggie devotion and perhaps foreknowledge.

On top of that, this is a wonderful book, something for anyone of any age. An excellent introduction to polar exploration, Aussies, heroism, puppies.