Race to the Frozen North

The Matthew Henson Story

By: Catherine Johnson, Katie Hickey

Narrated by: Ako Mitchell

A thrilling fictionalised account of the life of Matthew Henson, the first African-American man to travel to the North Pole, from the Carnegie nominated author Catherine Johnson.

Matthew Henson was simply an ordinary man. That was, until Commander Robert E. Peary entered his life, and offered him a chance at true adventure. Henson would become navigator, craftsman, translator, and right-hand man on a treacherous journey to the North Pole. Defying the odds and the many prejudices that faced him to become a true pioneer.

This is his remarkable and often untold story.

Particularly suitable for readers aged 9+ with a reading age of 8.

©2018 Catherine Johnson (P)2022 Small Audio Limited

Critic reviews

"Catherine Johnson is the grand master of historical fiction for children; her prose is warm and wise and utterly gripping" – Katherine Rundell, Guardian

"If it doesn't make you angry you haven't read it properly" – Fleur Hitchcock

"Matthew Henson's life plays out like a story … This book really highlights our ignorance in not recognising sooner his incredible plight in defying the odds, breaking boundaries, fighting prejudice and becoming a true black pioneer" – Scott Evans, The Reader Teacher

"Wonderful … Uncovering the forgotten and hidden histories of those who have been marginalised is a serious and necessary undertaking and this book is a great addition to that genre" – The Letterpress Project