I'm not sure why, but I've read several books about Antarctic expeditions - about Shackleton and the Endurance, and about Franklin. As I embarked on #middlegradeMay2025, I figured I wouldn't get any/many non-fiction books in. I don't know WHY I thought that. After finding one middle grade nonfiction, I specifically searched out some others and this one popped up.

The library had audio, and a physical copy. No Kindle copy. Amazon doesn't show a Kindle copy. I put the physical copy on hold and picked it up, but still went with the audio to start. After listening, I did a quick re-read/skim of the book. Lots of photographs and I think maybe one that would be appreciated more reading than listening?

This never screamed "middle grade" to me ... it felt very educational, but did not overly simplify things or dumb anything down. Just presented, clear and concise and interesting.  I had remembered several things from my previous reads ("to our wives and sweethearts, may they never meet!" ... the dogs, getting stuck, scurvy, frozen feet, the trek out) but this was a good refresher, and would be a great presentation of the facts for an initial introduction to the subject. The photos really added a "real" touch, I was surprised how many pictures there were (that back when this happened they had a photographer with them). 

Definite thumbs up for anyone interested in the subject.  It was a little dry at the start ... it took a bit for me to get pulled in, but I did.