Aloha Wanderwell: The Border-Smashing, Record-Setting Life of the World's Youngest Explorer

Fink-Jensen, Christian and Randolph Eustace-Walden. Aloha Wanderwell: The Border-Smashing, Record-Setting Life of the World's Youngest Explorer. 2016. 425 p. ISBN 9780864928955.

In 1922, a rebellious 15-year-old French convent student, yearning for adventure, responded to an advertisement posted by an already famous explorer, for a traveling secretary. This audacious young woman soon became known to the world as Aloha Wanderwell. She possessed an uncanny confidence and a burning ambition. She wanted to become the first woman to circumnavigate the globe by car. 

Despite facing immense challenges, including scarce roads, a lack of gasoline stations, and a hostile world largely unfamiliar with automobiles, Wanderwell embarked on this audacious expedition. Equipped with a specially modified Model T Ford and working with a small crew, she traversed continents, encountering diverse cultures and personalities, from the Eiffel Tower to the Sphinx, from Mussolini to a Detroit ticker tape parade. By the age of 25, she had achieved international fame as a pilot, actress, peace advocate, and a pivotal figure in a captivating California murder mystery.

However, this extraordinary tale of global exploration harbors a significant secret. The celebrated Aloha Wanderwell was, in fact, Idris Hall, a Canadian woman who meticulously crafted a persona to fuel her adventurous spirit. Drawing upon a wealth of sources, including diaries, travel logs, films, photographs, and even declassified government documents, "Aloha Wanderwell" unveils the remarkable true story of this enigmatic explorer, revealing the astonishing life and daring exploits of one of the most audacious and captivating figures of the 1920s.

South

Shackleton, Ernest. South. 2016. 384p. ISBN 9780760350256

In the early 20th century, one of the few remaining frontiers was Antarctic, the vast landmass sitting on top of the South Pole. Many expeditions had been mounted, including Roald Amundsen's team being the first to reach the South Pole in December 1911. But no one had crossed the continent from one side to the other. Ernest Shackleton, a polar explorer, was appointed in 1914 to mount such an expedition. Setting sail from England in August 1914, a few days after the beginning of the First World War, Shackleton, who commanded the Endurance, a coal powered icebreaker, hoped to land in the Weddell Sea on the Atlantic side of Antarctica, then cross through the South Pole to Cape Evans, on the Pacific  side of Antarctica. This was his third expedition to Antarctica, and it would prove to be the most dangerous.

Everything that could go wrong did. The Endurance had expected smooth sailing deep inside the Weddell Sea, but early ice floats blocked the path, and despite several attempts to move south the ship soon found itself stuck in ice, unable to free itself. Hoping for rescue, the crew continued to conduct science experiments and collect samples, until it became clear no one was coming for them. As the ice slowly crushed the ship, a decision was made to abandon it and trek to land. When this proved impossible, the crew found itself stranded on an ice float. As the ice drifted north, they eventually escaped the now dangerously thin ice and made for Elephant island, where they erected a shelter but lacked food and warmth. 

Shackleton and three other crew members then departed in one of the lifeboats, hoping to strike South Georgia 800 miles away in open and choppy frigid waters. Miraculously, they reached land 16 harrowing days later, only to discover they were on the wrong side of the island, and now needed to trek through the unchartered mountains to reach the whaling station that was their ultimate destination. An additional 36 hours of dangerous climbing through glaciers and crevices sapped their remaining strength, until they reached the whaling stations called Stromness. 

Finally rescued, Shackleton and his men were not at the end of their labors, for the rest of the crew remained on Elephant Island. Shackleton mounted a rescue, but had to turn back due to lack of fuel. He returned with another ship, and finally rescued his remaining crew members 128 days after leaving them behind. Despite the odds, no one died, and all of them survived this incredible ordeal.

Told by Shackleton himself, this story remains one of extreme survival against the odds. Fans of survival stories will appreciate the grit and determination it took to survive and to rescue a stranded crew.

Magellan: Over the Edge of the World

Bergreen, Laurence. Magellan: Over the Edge of the World. 2017. 211p. ISBN 978-1-62672-120-3. Available at 910.4 BER on the library shelves.

In 1519, Europe knew of the Americas, but each European King still sought the fabled passage to India, so they could enter the lucrative spice trade and bypass Arab middlemen. Spain and Portugal, which had already reached the New World, hoped to be the first to the Spice Islands. Having separated the world between them, each country pinned their hopes on daring explorers willing to undertake this dangerous expedition.

The son of a minor Portuguese noble, Ferdinand Magellan always knew he wanted to be an explorer. As a soldier in India and Africa, he honed his leadership skills and learned how to sail. Convinced he could find a westerly passage to India, Magellan tried to convince the king of Portugal to finance an expedition, but after he refused him too many times, Magellan switched allegiance and went to work for the Spanish. Granted a fleet of ships and a crew, Magellan set sail in 1519 and headed west to avoid waters controlled by the Portuguese navy.

Faced with difficult decisions in areas previously unknown, Magellan pushed his crew to the limit. Several mutinies rocked the fleet, and a ship left back for Spain when Magellan was at the southern tip of South America, charting what became known as the Straits of Magellan. After over 90 days of crossing the Pacific Ocean without seeing land, Magellan and his sailors arrived in the Philippines, located the Spice Islands, and discovered that the Portugueses had already been trading with the natives. 

Magellan participated in several local conflicts, where he was killed. Demoralized with broken ships, some of the crew stayed on the islands fixing one of the two remaining ships, while the Victoria sailed on to Spain, its hull filled with spices. Upon its arrival in Seville on September 6, 1522, the remains of Magellan's crew proved that the world was round and were the first to circumnavigate it.

Fans of history will appreciate the dedication and tenacity Magellan displayed in the face of overwhelming odds.

The Hobbit

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit. 2001. 330p. ISBN 0-618-16221-6. Available at FIC TOL on the library shelves or as an eBook on Overdrive.

Bilbo Baggins leads a life of contentment in his very comfortable dwelling under the hill in Hobbiton. A hobbit of means, Bilbo enjoys good food and time with friends. On a beautiful morning, he greets Gandalf the wizard, a human, who just happened to be passing through, with a good morning. Gandalf questions whether it is a good morning, or whether Bilbo meant it as a question, confusing the hobbit who promptly retreats back to his hobbit hole. Gandalf realizes he has found his hobbit, and marks Bilbo’s door. Thus commences Bilbo’s adventure to the Lonely Mountain and back.

That night, thirteen dwarves present themselves at Bilbo’s house and eat all of his food. They reveal that Gandalf told them to meet here, and that Bilbo is to accompany them as a burglar for the purpose of infiltrating the Lonely Mountain, the dwarves’ ancestral home, and fight the dragon Smaug, who conquered it over a century ago. Bilbo is not the adventuring type, but he soon finds himself on the road. Along the way they encounter trolls, elves, goblins, shapeshifters, spiders, more elves, and the men of Laketown. Bilbo manages to acquire a weapon that glows when goblins and orcs are present, as well as a strange ring that allows him to become invisible. He acquired this ring from a creature named Gollum who dwelled in the depths of the Misty Mountains.

Freeing the mountain from the dragon takes some work, but the death of Smaug leads to several competing claims on the Lonely Mountain, all backed by armies. Five armies meet on the plains by the mountain, and though not a fighter, Bilbo is nonetheless involved in the conflict. Peace is finally achieved, but at the cost of the deaths of many a dwarves, who are now tight friends of Bilbo.

Returning home a rich hobbit due to his share of the treasure but a changed one due to the hardships of the adventure, Bilbo discovers with astonishment that his cousins thought him dead and have proceeded to auction off his possessions and his home.

The Hobbit introduces the world of Middle Earth and provides several details that become important in the Lord of the Rings. Fans of fantasy will love the worldbuilding Tolkien performed and will cheer Bilbo on as he manages time and again to overcome the odds placed before him.

Arena 3

Rice, Morgan. Arena 3. Book 3 of the Survival Trilogy. 2016. 240p. ISBN 0984975373. Available as an eBook on Overdrive.

When Brooke and her friends managed to escape Arena 2, they fled northward towards Canada, propelled by rumors that there was a sanctuary city that had been spared by the war. The trek almost killed them, but at the beginning of Arena 3 they reach Fort Noix, in Quebec. Fort Noix runs like a military operation, and residents must obey military orders. After many discussions, the Fort’s commander allows Brooke, Ben, Bree and Charlie to join in exchange for work and obedience.

Thrilled to be finally safe after years in the wilderness running away from slavers, Brooke meet other teenagers her age and immediately joins the patrols. The two kids adapt quickly to life in the Fort, but Ben, however, continues to suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder and remains distant. For months, they get stronger and better. But then the Fort receives a cryptic message from Texas. Another base has survived and is trying to contact other pockets of survivors. There are doubts, however. How old is the message? Who is sending it? Could it be a trap?

The message gives Brooke hope, because the voice sounds like that of her father, who left at the beginning of the war in Arena 1. She is so convinced that she decides to do the unthinkable. She will leave the safety of Fort Noix and travel all the way down to Texas to locate this other base. Three of the local teenagers agree to accompany her, and they are soon joined by Ben and the children. Back in the wilderness, Brooke and her friends are once again facing the unforgiving environment of an America ruined by war as they head down to Texas. Will they be able to avoid the crazies and the slaverunners who are looking for them?

Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army of Stone

Dean, Arlan. Terra-Cotta Soldiers: Army of Stone. Part of the Digging Up the Past series. 2005. 48p. ISBN 0-516-25124-4. Available at 931 DEA on the library shelves.

More than 2,200 years ago, China was divided in seven states, all warring with each other for dominance over the region. One of these states was ruled by a strong man named Chao Cheng. Using novel military tactics, he succeeded in conquering all of the six remaining states one at a time until he was able to unify China. He crowned himself emperor and took the name Qin Shi Huangdi.

Among his many accomplishments were the standardization of the Chinese language and of weights and measures. He also reformed the government and the military. Most importantly, though, Qin Shi Huangdi is known for commissioning a large terra-cotta army that would follow him in the afterlife. His tomb was erected at great costs, both in terms of money and in terms of human capital. Covering over 20 square miles, it included palaces, training fields, and all of the comforts he had enjoyed in life. To protect it all he commissioned an army that could guard him in the afterlife.

Each soldier in this 8,000 strong army is modeled after a specific individual, and comes equipped with weapons and armor of the era. Brightly painted, the army also featured horses and wagons. Discovered in 1974 by farmers, the site has been extensively excavated by archaeologists and has been placed on UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites.

Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth

Walker, Sally M. Fossil Fish Found Alive: Discovering the Coelacanth. 2002. 72p. ISBN 978-1-57505-536-8. Available at 597.3 WAL on the library shelves.

In the era of dinosaurs, a large fish with armored scales and a jaw able to spring forward and open wide enough to swallow a prey whole dwelled in the depths of the ocean. Fossils of this fish, named coelacanth, were found in several places. It had strange pelvic fins resembling legs, as well as two dorsal fins. It had an extra fin placed at the end of the tail. This fish would have moved slowly but could have been able to maneuver better than most. And, like most dinosaurs, it was thought to be extinct.

Until, that is, in 1938, Marjorie Courtenay-Latimer, the director of the East London Museum in South Africa, received a startling fish delivered from a local captain. With armored scales, extra fins that resembled legs, and a strange tail, she wasn’t sure what she was looking at, but she remembered from her studies she was looking at something very old, if not prehistoric. She tried to preserve the dead fish as well as she could, and she contacted a local ichthyologist, a fish expert. After examining what was left of the fish, as well as the pictures Courtenay-Latimer took, J. L. B. Smith knew he was looking at something truly unique: a coelacanth, a prehistoric fish that first appeared on Earth hundreds of millions of years ago. Here was the proof that this fish has somehow survived the death of the dinosaurs and the rise of humanity.

What followed over the next 60 years was the fascinating chase to discover more about the coelacanth. Even today, after nearly eight decades following its first recorded appearance in modern times, we know very little about this ancient fish. A strange but true story, this book demonstrates that discoveries remain to be found. It will also passionate readers with a scientific curiosity.