Hoena, Blake A. Matthew Henson: Arctic adventurer. Capstone Press (2006). ISBN-10: 073686198X

Plot Summary

Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer, written by Blake A. Hoena, is a graphic biography that tells the story of the African-American explorer Matthew Henson and his lifetime of adventures that would eventually lead to his co-discovery of the North Pole. From a young age, Henson was a thrill-seeker, and never seemed to be bothered by the poor treatment he received because of his skin color.

Hoena describes Henson’s early years, Robert Peary’s influence, and the 1909 discovery of the North Pole. Particularly important was the fact that only Peary received recognition for the amazing discovery. In fact, it wasn’t until 1937 that Henson was invited to join the Explorer’s Club, which made him the Club’s first African-American member. And, in 1945, Henson received a silver medal from the U.S. Navy.

Critical Evaluation

Told in comic book style, Henson’s story is one that is high interest and would appeal to children of all ages (grades 3 and up). A list of interesting facts, a glossary of terms, an Internet site for searches related to the book, a “read more” section, and a bibliography complete this book, which is highly recommended for reluctant readers!

Reader's Annotation

This book is a biography written in graphic novel format! Even the most reluctant reader will jump at the chance to learn about Matthew Henson and his amazing journey through life.

About the Author

As a child growing up in Wisconsin, Blake A. Hoena wrote a variety of creative stories about topics such as robots conquering the moon and trolls lurking in the woods behind his house. When he grew up, Blake moved to Minnesota and attended Minnesota State University where he pursued a Masters of Fine Arts degree in Creative Writing. After graduating, he began work as an associate managing editor for Capstone Press. He also became a production manager for Stone Arch Books where he spend over ten years editing, publishing, and writing children’s books as part of the publishing industry. In the recent past, he spent time supervising the production of interactive titles for Stone Arch Books, and he is working on a series of graphic novels about space alien brothers. Hoena has written over 30 children’s books.

Genre

Nonfiction: Biography (graphic-novel format)

Curriculum Ties

Language Arts, Social Studies, Art, Science

Booktalking Ideas

Are you a graphic novel junkie? Do you enjoy learning about history? Then, the book for you is called Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventure. Travel with Henson as he co-discovers the North Pole through comic book style images and short, but interesting captions. There is even a list of attention-grabbing facts, an Internet site for searches related to the book, and a “read more” section sure to keep you interested!

Reading Level/Interest Age

Ages 9-12, Grades 3+

Reason for Book Selection

I love the idea of taking seemingly boring biographies and turning them into graphic novels that teach children about key historical figures. This truly engages the reader!