McCaughrean, Geraldine
THE WHITE DARKNESS
New York : HarperTempest, 2007
IL YA
ISBN 0060890363

(2 booktalks)

Symone has always loved to read about Antarctica, especially the details of Scott’s expedition to the South Pole in 1912.  So when her uncle sweeps her away on a last minute trip to Antarctica, she is very excited to see it in person.  But things go terribly wrong on the trip and Sym finds herself alone in this icy wasteland.  Sym turns to her imaginary companion Lawrence Oates, one of the members of the 1912 expedition, for the strength to help her survive.  (Lori Loranger, Librarian, Grisham M.S., Round Rock ISD, TX)

Booktalk #2

What is Mom going to think when she finds out.  Symone is only supposed to be away for a few days.  But now her uncle has taken her away.  All her life, her uncle has told her about the Antarctic.  She has been fascinated by the place and haunted by the explorers who have lost their lives there.  Her only friend has been the imaginary presence of Captain Laurence "Titus" Oates who lost his life in the Antarctic 90 years ago.  So now Sym is on her way to this place of her dreams with a small group of tourists.  As the journey progresses, Sym notices her uncle acting more and more unstable.  And she comes to realize that his obsession is more dangerous than her own.