• Age: 12 to 16
• Grade: 7 to 11
• Reading age: 12 to 16

This enthralling and up close tale of the ill-fated Franklin expedition reveals bone-chilling details of what really happened in Terror Bay!

In 1845, Sir John Franklin's expedition set sail for the Arctic from England in search of the Northwest Passage from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Not only did they not succeed, his two ships --- HMS Erebus and HMS Terror --- and their entire party of 129 men vanished, their fate a mystery that remained unsolved for decades. In 10 suspenseful episodes, the thrilling tale of that doomed polar mission is told from the points of view of the commander of the Terror and of those back home and the search parties who attempted to find them. Each episode also describes some of the modern-day searches, including the discovery of the lost ships, allowing readers to examine the evidence and consider the theories about what happened. It's a thorough and thoroughly captivating read about an intriguing story from the past.

Award-winning author Sigmund Brouwer packs loads of information, including the most up-to-date findings, into this original and engaging narrative. The highly graphic design includes historic photos, maps, a timeline and illustrations plus modern photos. The book highlights the importance of Inuit oral history and knowledge in solving the mystery. It was reviewed by an Inuit interpreter and elder. Sidebars throughout contain fascinating information about how technology and inventions at the time of the expedition brought about social changes, and mini-mysteries from history that ask readers to solve them using forensic science. There are strong curriculum links here to history, geography, Inuit studies, engineering, technology and applied science.

With close to three million books in print, Sigmund Brouwer writes for both children and adults. In the last ten years, he has given writing workshops to students in schools from the Arctic Circle to inner city Los Angeles. One of his latest novels, The Last Disciple, earned Sigmund an appearance on ABC's Good Morning America. Sigmund and his family live half the year in Nashville, Tennessee, and half the year in Red Deer, Alberta.

The Talk:
Reach For Your Dreams
It doesn't matter where you come from, it's where you decide to go in life that is important. Sigmund Brouwer encourages students to reach for their dreams, giving them fun and practical advice for the reading and writing skills that are the foundation of future success.

The Presentation:
Sigmund's presentations are an hour of high-level energy. He especially reaches out to reluctant readers and gears the talk to engage their attention. Audience size varies; often his presentations take place in the gym for the entire school, including kindergarten. (After the first half hour, the K-2 grades are dismissed, and the remainder of the presentation is focused on the older students.) There are no restrictions on audience size except for the space limitations of the gym. Smaller schools are welcome to invite another school to share in the cost of the presentation.

Booking:
For presentations that involve travel, Sigmund appreciates it if two or three schools in the area make bookings on the same day. For more information on booking, fees and expenses, please email Sigmund: rockandrollliteracy@me.com

Sigmund Brouwer's profile page

Thrilling, chilling reading for fans of historical disasters, particularly of the many that began as ventures into our planet's colder realms

Booklist, starred review

An entertaining trek, both concise and comprehensive, through a fascinating historic episode.—Kirkus Reviews

The book conveys a tragic tale, but Brouwer tells his story in a manner that provides a fitting tribute to the heroic men who sacrificed so much ...—CM Magazine

“For students who are curious to learn more about our early space program or technology development, this is an easy to read, comprehensible starting place.”—School Library Connection (Praise for Moon Mission)

An entertaining trek, both concise and comprehensive, through a fascinating historic episode.

Kirkus Reviews