Tierra Del Fuego: A Journey to the End of the Earth

Rating:
Summary: "Fascinating" . . .
Review: . . .says School Library Journal. And it is that. A real treat
for young readers who love adventure and exploring. There's
a mix of history, adventure, "crisp" (as Booklist says) photos,
and information told in a voice that is clear and true. The
author's fascination and excitement of exploring this land
on a mountain bike comes through, and he's able to bring the
reader along. Maps are a great addition. Get this book into the hands of any young explorer.


Rating:
Summary: Very superficial
Review: It is not surprising that this would be considered a childrens's book, nor surprising that it would quickly remaindered, as they say in the trade. It is for those for whom a pretty picture is an adequate substitute for substance. And in fact most of the photos are the same as those stock historical shots used previously in the other principal works that cover this part of the world -- simply nothing new, nothing to justify reprinting in yet another little book. As far as the author's own photos, it appears that he took the equivalent of just one roll of film, albeit well exposed. It also looks at though he traveled no more than a few miles along the southern shore of the largest island in South America, missing the heart of the interior and the other shores entirely. Instead of describing the mountain ranges by their proper names and covering the associated history (such as the Darwin Range) he simply calls them "the Andes." Pages that could have been used to cover Tierra del Fuego itself are squandered on the Chilean city across the straits, where it appears that the writer got stuck before finally getting to the island. Of the very little that is covered of Tierra del Fuego, we see the Argentine side of the island, with scarcely a word and nary a photo of the extensive Chilean portion. We see a little of an estancia called Harberton (why? because an American woman settled there?) and the Argentine town of Ushuaia, but nothing of the other towns, of Porvenir and Cerro Castillo, and Río Grande, nor the major estancias of María Behety and José Menéndez and dozens of others, nor the remains of the gold mining sites, one of which is a Chilean National Monument (it appears that the author did not visit the Chilean side of the island at all). This book is a monumental disappointment: brief, shallow, and inconsequential, a tribute to missed opportunities, perhaps the most vacuous book ever published on this subject. It short-changes young readers who might otherwise have been exposed to substantial, balanced, and interesting coverage of an extensive and fascinating part of the world.

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: This is an awesome book. I felt like I was journeying to the ends of the earth with Peter Lourie. This guy has a talent for putting you right in the place he's writing about. His photos are vivid and eye catching. I've got a 4th grade nephew who will love this book for his birthday. If you know a kid that enjoys history, exploration and interesting nonfiction, buy this book!