Race to the Frozen North

The Matthew Henson Story

Catherine Johnson author Katie Hickey illustrator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:HarperCollins Publishers

Published:5th Sep '18

£7.99

Available to order, but very limited on stock - if we have issues obtaining a copy, we will let you know.

Race to the Frozen North cover

A thrilling fictionalised account of the life of Matthew Henson, the first African-American man to travel to the North Pole, from the Carnegie nominated author Catherine Johnson.

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. Particularly suitable for struggling, reluctant or dyslexic readers aged 8+

"Catherine Johnson is the master of historical fiction for children; her prose is warm and wise and utterly gripping" – Katherine Rundell

"If it doesn't make you angry you haven't read it properly" – Fleur Hitchcock

"Matthew Henson's life plays out like a story … This book really highlights our ignorance in not recognising sooner his incredible plight in defying the odds, breaking boundaries, fighting prejudice and becoming a true black pioneer" – Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher

"Wonderful … Uncovering the forgotten and hidden histories of those who have been marginalised is a serious and necessary undertaking and this book is a great addition to that genre" – The Letterpress Project

  • Short-listed for Young Quills Award 2019
  • Short-listed for UKLA Award 2020
  • Short-listed for STEAM Children's Book Prize 2020
  • Long-listed for North Somerset Teachers Book Award 2019
  • Long-listed for Steel City Book Club Awards 2020

ISBN: 9781781128404

Dimensions: 198mm x 130mm x 10mm

Weight: 220g

128 pages