Sterling Biographies®: Matthew Henson: The Quest for the North Pole
Grade 7–9—Most of the text in the first book is concerned with Cousteau's evolving inventions for breathing and exploring underwater. Olmstead describes how his films and television specials opened a new world to viewers, and how he became a leading advocate for the oceans. She also makes mention of Cousteau's secret second family and his dispute with his son Jean-Michel over using the family name for an ecotourist resort. In the second book, Henson's own contradictory and partially fabricated writing about his effort to reach the North Pole with Robert Peary presented some challenges to the biographer, but she gamely sorts out the most likely version of the story, letting readers know what is unsubstantiated and what is corroborated fact. Olmstead describes Henson's life as a series of triumphs and disappointments, not the least of which was Peary's refusal to acknowledge the crucial role he played in their several expeditions. The author also emphasizes the differences between Henson's experiences in the Arctic, where he was treated like family by the Inuit, and even fathered a child, and his less-welcome reception back in the United States. Both of these attractively formatted titles have black-and-white and full-color photographs or reproductions as well as sidebars. Solid additions to biography shelves.—Rebecca Donnelly, Loma Colorado Public Library, Rio Rancho, NMCopyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.