Victoria McKernan Knihy

Set against the backdrop of the 1914 Antarctic expedition, the narrative follows Ernest Shackleton and his crew aboard the Endurance as they embark on a historic journey to traverse the uncharted continent. As they leave Buenos Aires behind, the story hints at the complexities of human emotions and relationships, focusing on the lone crew member who remains detached from the excitement of the adventure. This exploration of ambition, isolation, and the spirit of discovery unfolds amidst the harsh realities of the Antarctic landscape.

When orphans Aiden and Maddy Lynch first meet trailrider Jefferson J. Jackson in the spring of 1865, they're struggling to survive on their family's drought-ravaged Kansas farm. So when Jackson offers an escape – a 2000-mile journey across the roughest country in the world – Aiden knows it's their only choice.They say there are a hundred ways to die on the Oregon Trail, and the long wagon journey is broken only by catastrophe: wolf attacks, rattlesnakes, deadly river crossings, Indians, and the looming threat of smallpox, "the devil's paint." Through it all, Aiden and Maddy and a hundred fellow travelers move forward with a growing hope, and the promise of a new life in the Washington Territory. But one question haunts them: who will survive the journey?In an adventure-filled and historically accurate new novel, Victoria McKernan captures both the peril and the stunning beauty of the frontier West. Shackleton's Stowaway ("Truly thrilling" according to The Washington Post) was Victoria McKernan's first novel for young adults. She lives in Washington, D.C..