Animal fantasy meets history in this enjoyable new series about dogs who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances: aboard the Titanic and on Shackleton's expedition. Occasional realistic illustrations highlight key narrative events. An appended author's note in each reveals surprising real-life facts woven into the stories: a cat traveled with Shackleton's men to the Antarctic; several dogs survived the Titanic's sinking. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos.

In 1914 sled dogs vie for a spot on the famous Antarctic voyage led by Ernest Shackleton.Samson longs for glory and adventure. Sally dreams of returning to her mate and birthing her puppies safely, but Bummer just hopes to survive. The three dogs, along with 66 others, are chosen to board the Endurance to sail to the icy continent of Antarctica. Twenty-six expedition members and one stowaway crew the ship across treacherous water and around dangerous icebergs. But neither man nor beast is prepared when the rising ice traps the wooden ship, forcing them to abandon it. With provisions dwindling, they take to the ice, where the dogs must prove their worth towing the sleds. As their ship slowly sinks below the water, the men join the dogs and tow the lifeboats filled with provisions across the ice, hoping to find water. Told from the point of view of the dogs, this dangerous journey is one not only of adventure, but of sacrifice, loyalty, and strength. Backmatter contains a glossary, a timeline, and additional historical facts. Care has been taken to skirt the fact that all of the dogs died either of worms or at the hands of the men unable to feed them any longer. All the human members of the expedition are white.An inspiring story that while essentially factual is necessarily incomplete. (Historical adventure. 8-12)