Gr 7 Up-A fascinating look at Matthew Henson's life that combines fact, fiction, dual time lines, and Inuit mythology, this graphic novel is a tribute to a remarkable man who was judged by his skin color rather than his accomplishments. Henson was an African American explorer who accompanied Robert E. Peary on most of his expeditions. Although Peary received many honors for being the first to lead an expedition to the North Pole, Henson's contributions were largely ignored. Effective artwork allows the story to alternate seamlessly between Henson's younger days and his twilight years. The panels are striking and easy to follow, created in black and white with shades of grays and cool arctic blues. Henson spent extensive time with the Inuit people, learning their ways and gaining their respect and a permanent place in their history and legends. The main characters are occasionally portrayed in traditional Inuit Spirit Masks, which adds another layer of depth to an already poignant story. Blake A. Hoena's Matthew Henson: Arctic Adventurer (Capstone, 2006) is a work of true graphic nonfiction but is dry and rushed compared to this fictionalized work. Though Schwartz plays fast and loose with the facts in places, this is an unforgettable title that will resonate with readers. VERDICT A compelling graphic novel that biography lovers will greatly enjoy, and a wonderful addition to Black History Month book lists. Kelley Gile, Cheshire Public Library, CT

Matthew Henson spent 23 years on six separate voyages to Greenland with explorer Robert Peary to find the magnetic North Pole. An African American, Henson's efforts were largely ignored, and his claim of reaching the pole before Peary were almost universally dismissed. To the Inuit with whom Henson traveled and lived, however, he was Mahri-Pahluk: Matthew the Kind One. This fictionalized account of Henson's life offers a sympathetic glimpse into the hardships and prejudice faced by Henson both on and off the polar ice. Deftly using key moments in Henson's life, Schwartz fluidly weaves several time lines together, imagining Henson's motivations, frustrations, and disappointments. The cold blue-and-gray palette is used to maximum effect, and the highly stylized imagery, some of which is borrowed from Inuit art, adds a supernatural element, escalating the menace of the polar landscape. Some basic facts have been significantly altered to heighten the story's impact, and less flattering details of Henson's life have been omitted from the narration, but a chronology, photographs, and bibliography provide more accurate historical context.