X-treme Places

Look no further for real-life adventure stories of people challenging and surviving in some of the most dangerous places on earth than this series. The series introduces the young readers to individuals who survived perilous journeys in space, on mountains, in rain forests, deserts, oceans, and polar regions. Temba Tsheri Sherpa becomes the youngest climber to reach the top of Mt. Everest. Yossi Ghinsberg, separated from his traveling companions, is able to survive three weeks in the Amazon rain forest before he is rescued. Dr. Sylvia Earle faces great dangers as she makes the deepest solo dive in human history into the darkness of the Pacific Ocean’s Deep Zone. In the early 1800s, Rene Caillie treks 2,849.4 miles across the Sahara Desert in 508 days. Astronauts Linda Godwin and Dana Tani train for months, travel to the International Space Station, and work outside in zero-gravity. Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft face the harshest environment in the world as they attempt to ski across Antarctica. Important facts, awesome photographs, colorful maps, and diagrams accompany the adventurers and help to complete the experience for the reader. Each text includes a section on “Just the Facts,” a timeline, glossary, index, bibliography, a “Read More” list, and a “Learn More Online” selection of sites. There is certainly enough in each title to challenge the willing and adventurous spirit. Recommended.

Look no further for real-life adventure stories of people challenging and surviving in some of the most dangerous places on earth than this series. The series introduces the young readers to individuals who survived perilous journeys in space, on mountains, in rain forests, deserts, oceans, and polar regions. Temba Tsheri Sherpa becomes the youngest climber to reach the top of Mt. Everest. Yossi Ghinsberg, separated from his traveling companions, is able to survive three weeks in the Amazon rain forest before he is rescued. Dr. Sylvia Earle faces great dangers as she makes the deepest solo dive in human history into the darkness of the Pacific Ocean’s Deep Zone. In the early 1800s, Rene Caillie treks 2,849.4 miles across the Sahara Desert in 508 days. Astronauts Linda Godwin and Dana Tani train for months, travel to the International Space Station, and work outside in zero-gravity. Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft face the harshest environment in the world as they attempt to ski across Antarctica. Important facts, awesome photographs, colorful maps, and diagrams accompany the adventurers and help to complete the experience for the reader. Each text includes a section on “Just the Facts,” a timeline, glossary, index, bibliography, a “Read More” list, and a “Learn More Online” selection of sites. There is certainly enough in each title to challenge the willing and adventurous spirit. Recommended.

These books investigate some of the world’s most extreme locations and introduce readers to an individual who has spent time in each environment and endured its harsh conditions. The appealing layout is sure to capture children’s interest. They will enjoy picking up these stories of survival and examining the colorful photographs. From the termite-eaten clothing of Yossi Ghinsberg (Rain Forests) to the missing fingers of Temba Tsheri Sherpa (Mountains), readers will find the pictures simply fascinating. While the story about each survivor should be new to most students, the information about each location is somewhat basic. Still, the texts are suitable for instructional purposes. Diagrams, illustrations, graphs, maps, and sidebars are all examples of features now included in state testing. These books should appeal to most young readers, and the text features provide many teaching opportunities.