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Around the World
A Scott O'Dell Award-winning graphic novelist follows three dauntless adventurers on a Jules Verne-inspired challenge: circling the world, solo!
As the nineteenth century wound down, a public inspired by the novel Around the World in Eighty Days clamored for intrepid adventure. The challenge of circumnavigating the globe as no one ever had before--a feat assuring fame if not fortune--attracted the fearless in droves. Three hardy spirits stayed the course: In 1884, former miner Thomas Stevens made the journey on a bicycle, the kind with a big front wheel. In 1889, pioneer reporter Nellie Bly embarked on a global race against time that assumed the heights of spectacle, ushering in the age of the American celebrity. And in 1895, retired sea captain Joshua Slocum quietly set sail on a thirty-six-foot sloop, braving pirates and treacherous seas to become the first person to sail around the world alone. With cinematic pacing and deft, expressive art, acclaimed graphic novelist Matt Phelan weaves a trio of epic journeys into a single bold tale of three visionaries who set their sights on nothing short of the world.
As the nineteenth century wound down, a public inspired by the novel Around the World in Eighty Days clamored for intrepid adventure. The challenge of circumnavigating the globe as no one ever had before--a feat assuring fame if not fortune--attracted the fearless in droves. Three hardy spirits stayed the course: In 1884, former miner Thomas Stevens made the journey on a bicycle, the kind with a big front wheel. In 1889, pioneer reporter Nellie Bly embarked on a global race against time that assumed the heights of spectacle, ushering in the age of the American celebrity. And in 1895, retired sea captain Joshua Slocum quietly set sail on a thirty-six-foot sloop, braving pirates and treacherous seas to become the first person to sail around the world alone. With cinematic pacing and deft, expressive art, acclaimed graphic novelist Matt Phelan weaves a trio of epic journeys into a single bold tale of three visionaries who set their sights on nothing short of the world.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2011
17 people are currently reading
1726 people want to read
About the author
Matt Phelan
49 books273 followersMatt Phelan made his illustrating debut with Betty G. Birney’s The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs (Atheneum/Simon & Schuster). Since then he has illustrated many picture books and novels for young readers, including Where I Live by Eileen Spinelli (Dial), Very Hairy Bear by Alice Schertle (Harcourt), and The Higher Power of Lucky by Susan Patron (Simon & Schuster) winner of the 2007 Newbery Medal.
Matt studied film and theater in college with the goal of one day writing and directing movies. But his first love was always drawing, and the more he saw the wonderful world of children’s books, the more he realized that this was the place for him. Being an illustrator is in many ways like being an actor, director, cinematographer, costumer, and set designer rolled into one.
Matt writes: “I have a fascination with the decade of the 1930s. The movies were learning to talk (and in the case of King Kong, growl), the music was beginning to swing, and the nation was thrown into tremendous turmoil. On one hand, you see a level of suffering documented in the dramatic and gritty photography of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. On the other hand, consider what the American public was flocking to see in the movie theaters: the glamour and grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a series of perfect musicals. For my first book as both writer and illustrator (coming in 2009 by Candlewick Press), I naturally gravitated to this complex decade, specifically the strange world of the Dust Bowl.”
Matt studied film and theater in college with the goal of one day writing and directing movies. But his first love was always drawing, and the more he saw the wonderful world of children’s books, the more he realized that this was the place for him. Being an illustrator is in many ways like being an actor, director, cinematographer, costumer, and set designer rolled into one.
Matt writes: “I have a fascination with the decade of the 1930s. The movies were learning to talk (and in the case of King Kong, growl), the music was beginning to swing, and the nation was thrown into tremendous turmoil. On one hand, you see a level of suffering documented in the dramatic and gritty photography of Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans. On the other hand, consider what the American public was flocking to see in the movie theaters: the glamour and grace of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing in a series of perfect musicals. For my first book as both writer and illustrator (coming in 2009 by Candlewick Press), I naturally gravitated to this complex decade, specifically the strange world of the Dust Bowl.”
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 356 reviews
April 7, 2016
As I've said before, for Phelan (or his publishers) to market this for kids narrows its possibilities, maybe. As with Storm in the Barn and his most recent Bluffton, the overwhelming feeling in his work is nostalgia, for youth, for the past, always evoked in feathery pencil sketches and lovely, sentimental watercolors. Gorgeous work. A few kids might like it, my 9 year old Harry, for sure, who is contemplative and reflective… and you know, we get 100 library books a week at least in this house, most of them for kids, of course, and they are still being read with or to kids, so I guess publishers figure a work like Phelan's is essentially "all ages," and will be read and appreciated and picked up by parents to read WITH kids.
This bit of nostalgia (Around the World) is also historical work, and goes back to the late nineteen nineties, back to the days of and Jules Verne's 80 Days Around the World that set people off doing that very thing. Phelan tells three stories of people who did that, one on a bike, Thomas Stevens, and two via boats (and some other vehicles), Nellie Bly and Joshua Slocum. The travelers are essentially travel buffs, adventurists. But the feel of the text is not like a thriller, it's more contemplative, like about why people might have decided to do this kind of physical and geographical challenge.
As Nellie Bly says, "if you want to do it, you can do it." I liked it a lot because Pehaln is doing it and his sensibility is gentle and sweet. Very spare and lovely work. For kids? For some, for sure, but not for struggling readers or mainstream kids. . . but yeah, for me!
This bit of nostalgia (Around the World) is also historical work, and goes back to the late nineteen nineties, back to the days of and Jules Verne's 80 Days Around the World that set people off doing that very thing. Phelan tells three stories of people who did that, one on a bike, Thomas Stevens, and two via boats (and some other vehicles), Nellie Bly and Joshua Slocum. The travelers are essentially travel buffs, adventurists. But the feel of the text is not like a thriller, it's more contemplative, like about why people might have decided to do this kind of physical and geographical challenge.
As Nellie Bly says, "if you want to do it, you can do it." I liked it a lot because Pehaln is doing it and his sensibility is gentle and sweet. Very spare and lovely work. For kids? For some, for sure, but not for struggling readers or mainstream kids. . . but yeah, for me!
April 23, 2022
A wonderfully fun book introducing the adventures of Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly, and Joshua Slocum to a new generation of readers. Around the World was a quick but delightful read.
April 30, 2012
Not all comic books are about superheroes, with dramatic action scenes and sound effects. This was a comic about a different kind of hero, not one of whom wore tights.
The three heroes in this book were all circumnavigators, back when circling the world wasn't as easy as booking a few flights. (Not that flying is all that fun these days. You do face danger, and boredom, on those super long flights where there's no leg room, and there's a high chance of dying from a blood clot, but I digress.)
My favorite was the story about the cyclist. This was back when bikes had that huge front wheel, and weren't a bit safe to ride. Imagine having never ridden a bike before, and deciding to learn to ride one of those AROUND THE WORLD. But it was a great idea, because everywhere he went, everyone wanted to know about the bike. It was great for meeting people, and he made converts all along his trip. It made me want to bike around places, except bikes aren't a novelty anymore. Still, biking is fun, and I encourage everyone to get out on a bike this summer and explore. Wear your helmets!
The second story was about girl reporter Nellie Bly, and I didn't find that segment as interesting. I wanted more background about Nellie, and it wasn't there. My main impression was that Nellie was grouchy, and extremely determined, and that women weren't taken very seriously back then. If you want to know about Nellie Bly, and you should because she is fascinating, read elsewhere.
The last part was about a mariner who repaired an old, derelict boat and sailed alone around the world. We learn that he lost his wife to illness, and one gets the sense he is making this voyage in her memory, returning to the port where she died. Matt Phelan's sketches matched the melancholy feel of this story perfectly.
Lovely artwork, and a quiet subtle style to this - for thoughtful readers.
The three heroes in this book were all circumnavigators, back when circling the world wasn't as easy as booking a few flights. (Not that flying is all that fun these days. You do face danger, and boredom, on those super long flights where there's no leg room, and there's a high chance of dying from a blood clot, but I digress.)
My favorite was the story about the cyclist. This was back when bikes had that huge front wheel, and weren't a bit safe to ride. Imagine having never ridden a bike before, and deciding to learn to ride one of those AROUND THE WORLD. But it was a great idea, because everywhere he went, everyone wanted to know about the bike. It was great for meeting people, and he made converts all along his trip. It made me want to bike around places, except bikes aren't a novelty anymore. Still, biking is fun, and I encourage everyone to get out on a bike this summer and explore. Wear your helmets!
The second story was about girl reporter Nellie Bly, and I didn't find that segment as interesting. I wanted more background about Nellie, and it wasn't there. My main impression was that Nellie was grouchy, and extremely determined, and that women weren't taken very seriously back then. If you want to know about Nellie Bly, and you should because she is fascinating, read elsewhere.
The last part was about a mariner who repaired an old, derelict boat and sailed alone around the world. We learn that he lost his wife to illness, and one gets the sense he is making this voyage in her memory, returning to the port where she died. Matt Phelan's sketches matched the melancholy feel of this story perfectly.
Lovely artwork, and a quiet subtle style to this - for thoughtful readers.
February 12, 2018
Marvelous. I'm not a big fan of graphic 'novels' nor of history or adventure, and yet I devoured this. I don't like 'scribbly' art, and though this is sometimes like that, to the point that occasionally I had trouble making out some of the details, I found the book beautifully illustrated and designed.
The thing is, Phelan did a terrific job of (concisely!) helping the reader understand the characters' inner lives, their motivations and ambitions and frustrations. I'd normally add 'fears' to a list like that, but none of these intrepid folks seemed to actually have fears... is that true, or a weakness of the book?
Brief author's note and bibliography.
I do recommend this to all, not just children.
The thing is, Phelan did a terrific job of (concisely!) helping the reader understand the characters' inner lives, their motivations and ambitions and frustrations. I'd normally add 'fears' to a list like that, but none of these intrepid folks seemed to actually have fears... is that true, or a weakness of the book?
Brief author's note and bibliography.
I do recommend this to all, not just children.
January 9, 2019
rating: 3.5
1884, 1889, 1895
Phelan introduces three historical figures, only one of whom I'd heard of (Nellie Bly). Of the three journeys, the one by Thomas Stevens was the most amazing. It's incredible that he could circumnavigate the world on one of those early bikes, especially considering the condition of roads back then. Nellie Bly would have been an interesting person, and as for Joshua Slocum ... his story was sad.
This is one of the few graphic novels I've read. About the graphics: All of the men look similar except for their facial hair, and everyone looked perpetually angry. (Stevens looks like a villain from a melodrama.) Poor Nellie. She's not only angry, she's grumpy and petulant.
1884, 1889, 1895
Phelan introduces three historical figures, only one of whom I'd heard of (Nellie Bly). Of the three journeys, the one by Thomas Stevens was the most amazing. It's incredible that he could circumnavigate the world on one of those early bikes, especially considering the condition of roads back then. Nellie Bly would have been an interesting person, and as for Joshua Slocum ... his story was sad.
This is one of the few graphic novels I've read. About the graphics: All of the men look similar except for their facial hair, and everyone looked perpetually angry. (Stevens looks like a villain from a melodrama.) Poor Nellie. She's not only angry, she's grumpy and petulant.
May 29, 2018
These graphic novels of historical fiction have become a real habit for author/illustrator Matt Phelan; and who, after all, does them any better than he? With a touch of whimsy to his characters' smiles and the bold wishes of a few determined people to go against all odds and change the world, a story is born; not from the author's imagination, but from the actual journeys of three real people who chose, each in his or her own way, to circumnavigate the globe in the tradition of Ferdinand Magellan and Phileas Fogg (fictional though the latter may be). Battling their critics, situational obstacles and the limits of human physiological stamina and contemporary technology, Thomas Stevens, Nellie Bly and Joshua Slocum each set out to accomplish a feat that had never been successfully completed...even, for some of them, if it meant devoting years of their life to the task.
Bicycles were pretty much old hat by the time Around the World was first published in 2011. How many American kids didn't own a bicycle, or even more than one? Most kids learned to ride while still in early elementary school. Back when the penny-farthing model bicycle was first released in the late 1800s, though, bicycles were still considered a weird new contraption, one that was not likely to ever catch on with the masses. Avid cyclists were self-proclaimed "wheelmen", making for a strange spectacle anytime they went out in public riding one of their peculiar bicycle machines. It wasn't until Thomas Stevens undertook an expedition to ride his penny-farthing across the United States that the bicycle really had its chance to shine. Making his way thousands of miles on a machine as unstable and potentially dangerous as the penny-farthing was a scene too fascinating for most Americans not to watch, and Mr. Stevens became quite famous as he slowly chugged from coast to coast. Little did he know that when he arrived at his original final destination, an idea would already be in the works for him to traverse all the way around the globe on his bicycle, with the help of boats to carry him and his ride across the seas and oceans. The trip was a long one, and must have been physically draining; the people in some areas of the world were quite welcoming, while others were less than happy at the appearance of his strange new vehicle. Thomas Stevens never gave up, though, continuing to pedal his way around the world until his determination paid off and the bicycle became viewed as a legitimate mode of travel. To think that one man could have such an effect, all because of a small idea that kept growing bigger and bigger and the extraordinary efforts of the man who continued to grow along with it.
"As I always say: If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is: Do you want to do it?"
―Nellie Bly, Around the World, P. 146
At a time when female news reporters were a rarity, Nellie Bly was a true star in the making. The book Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne had recently been released and was enormously successful, but what if a person could actually make it around the world in fewer than eighty days...say, seventy-four? And what if that person just happened to be a woman, one willing to go without sleep and reside in uncomfortable, tightly cramped quarters for more than two months if it meant latching on to a news story that had the potential to go worldwide? Nellie Bly was just such a woman, and did not hesitate to embark on the ambitious quest to best Phileas Fogg's mark of eighty days to circumnavigate the globe. Battling the elements, people who didn't wish to see her succeed, unexpected competition for the record and the demanding nature of her self-imposed time constraint, Nellie fought to show that there truly was nothing she couldn't do if she put her mind to it, and challenged all of us to see ourselves in the same way. Who better to know what one is capable of achieving than oneself, and what better incentive could there be for accomplishment than knowing that one is trying to do something that no human being before has ever successfully done?
Then the troubled sea captain, Joshua Slocum, takes center stage. It has fallen to him to sail his boat around the world alone, becoming the first person ever to make the journey without a crew of sailors at his assistance. Tormented by the memory of his late wife, and bothered by thoughts of the wife he left behind to go on this journey, Captain Slocum sets off across a waterworld that holds many dangers, even for the experienced seaman. Even more dangerous, for him, is that he enters this untamed world of blue above and blue beneath while struggling with his own inner demons, not entirely sure what is real that he sees, and what is rising from the dark corners of his imagination. For Captain Slocum to live through his journey will, indeed, be a more tenuous task than it was for Thomas Stevens or Nellie Bly, who at least had others to help them, and were in no real danger of losing their lives. Slocum's survival, on the other hand, is very much up in the air, and though there are no cheering crowds to greet his arrival in a new body of water and no news crews to record his every word, the drama is thick as he struggles to stay alive, battling the ghosts of his life at the same time as he struggles with the angry waves that threaten to destroy him. But even if he does survive the fury of the seas, will he have a reason to keep on living afterward?
In my mind, it's really the "Author's Note" that best explains why Matt Phelan did this book. It was always about more than just recording the exploits of three daring figures from history. As Matt Phelan, himself, says, he was interested in juxtaposing the public journey―recorded so thoroughly by the reporters who knew that the public always enjoys hearing about a good adventure―against the more quietly dramatic personal journey of the person attempting to make it around the world. Why did these three people agree to embark on such difficult odysseys, sacrificing their time, health and possibly even their lives? Around the World, at its core, is about digging deeper into these stories to find out the "whys" that accompany them; and, in so doing, to encourage us to ask ourselves what might make us risk it all to achieve something of lasting importance. Around the World is a good book, well-illustrated and thoughtfully constructed, and I would definitely give it two and a half stars.
Bicycles were pretty much old hat by the time Around the World was first published in 2011. How many American kids didn't own a bicycle, or even more than one? Most kids learned to ride while still in early elementary school. Back when the penny-farthing model bicycle was first released in the late 1800s, though, bicycles were still considered a weird new contraption, one that was not likely to ever catch on with the masses. Avid cyclists were self-proclaimed "wheelmen", making for a strange spectacle anytime they went out in public riding one of their peculiar bicycle machines. It wasn't until Thomas Stevens undertook an expedition to ride his penny-farthing across the United States that the bicycle really had its chance to shine. Making his way thousands of miles on a machine as unstable and potentially dangerous as the penny-farthing was a scene too fascinating for most Americans not to watch, and Mr. Stevens became quite famous as he slowly chugged from coast to coast. Little did he know that when he arrived at his original final destination, an idea would already be in the works for him to traverse all the way around the globe on his bicycle, with the help of boats to carry him and his ride across the seas and oceans. The trip was a long one, and must have been physically draining; the people in some areas of the world were quite welcoming, while others were less than happy at the appearance of his strange new vehicle. Thomas Stevens never gave up, though, continuing to pedal his way around the world until his determination paid off and the bicycle became viewed as a legitimate mode of travel. To think that one man could have such an effect, all because of a small idea that kept growing bigger and bigger and the extraordinary efforts of the man who continued to grow along with it.
"As I always say: If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is: Do you want to do it?"
―Nellie Bly, Around the World, P. 146
At a time when female news reporters were a rarity, Nellie Bly was a true star in the making. The book Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne had recently been released and was enormously successful, but what if a person could actually make it around the world in fewer than eighty days...say, seventy-four? And what if that person just happened to be a woman, one willing to go without sleep and reside in uncomfortable, tightly cramped quarters for more than two months if it meant latching on to a news story that had the potential to go worldwide? Nellie Bly was just such a woman, and did not hesitate to embark on the ambitious quest to best Phileas Fogg's mark of eighty days to circumnavigate the globe. Battling the elements, people who didn't wish to see her succeed, unexpected competition for the record and the demanding nature of her self-imposed time constraint, Nellie fought to show that there truly was nothing she couldn't do if she put her mind to it, and challenged all of us to see ourselves in the same way. Who better to know what one is capable of achieving than oneself, and what better incentive could there be for accomplishment than knowing that one is trying to do something that no human being before has ever successfully done?
Then the troubled sea captain, Joshua Slocum, takes center stage. It has fallen to him to sail his boat around the world alone, becoming the first person ever to make the journey without a crew of sailors at his assistance. Tormented by the memory of his late wife, and bothered by thoughts of the wife he left behind to go on this journey, Captain Slocum sets off across a waterworld that holds many dangers, even for the experienced seaman. Even more dangerous, for him, is that he enters this untamed world of blue above and blue beneath while struggling with his own inner demons, not entirely sure what is real that he sees, and what is rising from the dark corners of his imagination. For Captain Slocum to live through his journey will, indeed, be a more tenuous task than it was for Thomas Stevens or Nellie Bly, who at least had others to help them, and were in no real danger of losing their lives. Slocum's survival, on the other hand, is very much up in the air, and though there are no cheering crowds to greet his arrival in a new body of water and no news crews to record his every word, the drama is thick as he struggles to stay alive, battling the ghosts of his life at the same time as he struggles with the angry waves that threaten to destroy him. But even if he does survive the fury of the seas, will he have a reason to keep on living afterward?
In my mind, it's really the "Author's Note" that best explains why Matt Phelan did this book. It was always about more than just recording the exploits of three daring figures from history. As Matt Phelan, himself, says, he was interested in juxtaposing the public journey―recorded so thoroughly by the reporters who knew that the public always enjoys hearing about a good adventure―against the more quietly dramatic personal journey of the person attempting to make it around the world. Why did these three people agree to embark on such difficult odysseys, sacrificing their time, health and possibly even their lives? Around the World, at its core, is about digging deeper into these stories to find out the "whys" that accompany them; and, in so doing, to encourage us to ask ourselves what might make us risk it all to achieve something of lasting importance. Around the World is a good book, well-illustrated and thoughtfully constructed, and I would definitely give it two and a half stars.
April 9, 2018
When I think about this book, I keep having to remind myself that not every kid is a 10-year-old boy who loves aliens and farting.
As a youth services librarian, I try to cater to the kid who's on the brink of not enjoying reading anymore, and usually "dumb" jokes and superheroics are key in keeping a kid in the library loop.
This book is not for that kid.
It's a subtle, inferential book, somber and reflective. On one randomly-flipped-to spread, there are only 10 words, on 10 panels.
In a book about people traveling around the world, I was hoping for something more flashy. More adventurous. More... questy.
The first story is the most joyous of the tales - and the guy learned how to ride the bicycle specifically to become famous and had a hard time getting support from the bicycling establishment. Politics and reporting ethics come into play.
The stories get more depressing from there. Nellie Bly seems to have had a terrible time, and was mostly carried in her journey by others. Joshua Slocum seems to have embarked on his trip out of severe depression over losing a wife.
So yeah, these are not happy, triumphant stories. Things are not spelled out for us - we have to interpret the pictures to understand major plot points.
And so, with my ten-year-old boy on the brain, I wonder if this is best served in the kids section. The stories are mature. The approach is mature. Normally the approach to telling this kind of story is screwball comedy. Particularly when telling this kind of story to kids. And I feel like grown-ups, who will have more of a sense of the context and more of an appreciation of the weighty tone, might be a better audience.
As a youth services librarian, I try to cater to the kid who's on the brink of not enjoying reading anymore, and usually "dumb" jokes and superheroics are key in keeping a kid in the library loop.
This book is not for that kid.
It's a subtle, inferential book, somber and reflective. On one randomly-flipped-to spread, there are only 10 words, on 10 panels.
In a book about people traveling around the world, I was hoping for something more flashy. More adventurous. More... questy.
The first story is the most joyous of the tales - and the guy learned how to ride the bicycle specifically to become famous and had a hard time getting support from the bicycling establishment. Politics and reporting ethics come into play.
The stories get more depressing from there. Nellie Bly seems to have had a terrible time, and was mostly carried in her journey by others. Joshua Slocum seems to have embarked on his trip out of severe depression over losing a wife.
So yeah, these are not happy, triumphant stories. Things are not spelled out for us - we have to interpret the pictures to understand major plot points.
And so, with my ten-year-old boy on the brain, I wonder if this is best served in the kids section. The stories are mature. The approach is mature. Normally the approach to telling this kind of story is screwball comedy. Particularly when telling this kind of story to kids. And I feel like grown-ups, who will have more of a sense of the context and more of an appreciation of the weighty tone, might be a better audience.
December 2, 2011
Around the World is a stunning marriage of history and fiction that reads like a memoir. The book recounts three journeys around the world by three amazing individuals, and offers some suggestions for how these journeys may have impacted personally the people who took them. Phelan (Storm in the Barn) has practically mastered the ability to convey important information using gorgeous watercolored panels and relatively little dialogue. He narrates the events enough to streamline their flow, but he also knows when to quit and let the illustrations narrate themselves. Particularly moving is the final story of Joshua Slocum, who sailed around the world in a little over three years in a small sailboat. The reader can feel his isolation, and it's not always oppressive. His interpretation of the death of Slocum's first wife and the impact it had on Slocum is especially compassionate and effectively validates Slocum as not just a name in a history book but a being of flesh and blood and sweat and tears.
Around the World teaches, inspires, entertains, and points the reader to something bigger. In the words of Nellie Bly: "If you *want* to do it, you *can* do it. The question is, Do you *want* to do it?
Around the World teaches, inspires, entertains, and points the reader to something bigger. In the words of Nellie Bly: "If you *want* to do it, you *can* do it. The question is, Do you *want* to do it?
August 10, 2015
Funny, a lot of the goodreads reviews are about whether or not this is a good book for kids. When I read it (I read adult and kids stuff without always thinking about what age things are meant for, unless I am considering reading them to my neighbor, who will be 5 soon) I thought it had an adult vibe in terms of the characters, pacing and some of the content. On the other hand, I think there could have been a lot more in the way of detail and emotional transparency/intensity whether for adult or kids.
Or, how should I say, the stories are put together in one volume because they are all circumnavigation stories. I'm not sure this is the best premise for this particular book. I think each story would stand better on its own and more fully developed. This is historical fiction, which means, I think, we get to have a story. The thematic nature of the book gave Phelan a kind of out -- as if he decided he didn't have to fully develop the story lines because travel itself was doing all the work of stakes, plot, etc for him. But instead it just leaves each section feeling a bit watered-down and not quite sure where it's really trying to go.
The book was good. Just not, in my experience, an even and fully satisfying experience.
Or, how should I say, the stories are put together in one volume because they are all circumnavigation stories. I'm not sure this is the best premise for this particular book. I think each story would stand better on its own and more fully developed. This is historical fiction, which means, I think, we get to have a story. The thematic nature of the book gave Phelan a kind of out -- as if he decided he didn't have to fully develop the story lines because travel itself was doing all the work of stakes, plot, etc for him. But instead it just leaves each section feeling a bit watered-down and not quite sure where it's really trying to go.
The book was good. Just not, in my experience, an even and fully satisfying experience.
December 5, 2021
6 out of 10
Decently good! This book has three different stories of people traveling around the world. It's interesting to see how some people traveled the world in such unique ways. Like for instance the first story. A man traveled all around the world on a big bike, and that was decently interesting.
The artwork isn't my favorite, but most of the stories are pretty good. I would've liked to see a less-plain font for the text, and the third story, felt less on par with the two first ones, (especially the artwork) but I will say that I think I liked this book a bit more than Bluffton and The Storm in the Barn.
Pretty inoffensive. Decent graphic novel, but nothing really astounded me about this one, nor particularly stuck with me. I enjoyed learning about some cool adventures from around the world. Decent!
Decently good! This book has three different stories of people traveling around the world. It's interesting to see how some people traveled the world in such unique ways. Like for instance the first story. A man traveled all around the world on a big bike, and that was decently interesting.
The artwork isn't my favorite, but most of the stories are pretty good. I would've liked to see a less-plain font for the text, and the third story, felt less on par with the two first ones, (especially the artwork) but I will say that I think I liked this book a bit more than Bluffton and The Storm in the Barn.
Pretty inoffensive. Decent graphic novel, but nothing really astounded me about this one, nor particularly stuck with me. I enjoyed learning about some cool adventures from around the world. Decent!
March 26, 2018
Another book from Rachel that I enjoyed. I enjoyed this graphic novels with its great pictures. The stories were brief but told the stories.
September 13, 2018
I love Matt Phelan's simple storytelling.
November 22, 2013
*Spoiler Alert*
Trying to travel around the world in only 74 or even 72 days (without planes of any sort) has to be difficult especially for the following. Their are 3 stories in this book, one is the tale of a man called Thomas Steven who rode around the world in 2 years on a bicycle that had a giant wheel in the front and a tiny training wheel in the back. The second person is named Nellie Bly who was determined to travel the world by train and ship in 72 days in meaning of beating the record of 74 days made by Phileas Fogg. Last but not least was a guy who was named Joshua Slocum who planned to sail around the world without a purpose.
My favorite story was the journey of Joshua Slocum. He was a mariner who wanted to sail around the world with an old falling apart boat that he had transformed into a new sturdy sailboat but with all the troubles he faced like the occasional whirlpools Joshua always made it though with the long experience he possessed as a skill. So when Joshua made the mistake of eating plums and cheese he had suffered a serious food poisoning then had a series of hallucinations of the pilot of the Pinta and of his wife Virginia who had passed away in the year of 1884 at 35 years old. Lastly when Joshua had finally made it back from around the globe he decided to make another round, but when he sailed off he was never seen again... The type of conflict in this book was Person vs Person considering the fact that Joshua was the only character in the book because everyone else had refused to accompany him on the long lasting trip. Joshua Slocum in my opinion is a mind driven person who can accomplish anything he seeks out to do. He also in my view still has a strong grip on life itself and his previous wife. The main points in this specified story were when Joshua first hired a crew to help him rebuild the ship because without that happening he wouldn't never got the idea of taking that journey. Another main point of the story was in my opinion the fact that Joshua was never seen again considering all the inferences that you could make out of just that little line. The authors purpose of this book was to entertain and inform because although this book was entertaining I was also informed that these events really happened and that people were actually willing to do these things for no reward at all.
I had predicted that Joshua would move on after he had came back from the sail, but it turned out that he decided to go out again. I wish that the story had provided more information of their findings or if they ever found any remains of his ship (The Spray). I liked the way the author left the reader with many questions, many thoughts, and a reminder of the book he or she just read. I agreed with the fact that the author set a main theme through the entire book, and as you can tell the theme was Around The World.
I can make a text to world connection by saying that I agree with the fact that anybody like Joshua is able to do anything if determined. I cannot compare this book to another because this is the first time i've read anything like it and is the first time i've gotten into non-fiction as I just did. I can relate this book to my life because I know a handful of students that are very outgoing and always give %110.
My overall thoughts of the book are that I liked how the author left the reader with many inferences about what could have happened to Joshua Slocum and that I wished that the author could have provided more information of which if there was an exploration to find the remains of his ship. I would rate this book a 7 out of 10 because although I liked the main points they distributed throughout the story (especially in the prologues and epilogues) like I said it would've been nice to have more information. I would recommend this book to anyone who is left wanting more and who likes a good adventure. So from bicycles to trains to boats what do you think will come next?
Trying to travel around the world in only 74 or even 72 days (without planes of any sort) has to be difficult especially for the following. Their are 3 stories in this book, one is the tale of a man called Thomas Steven who rode around the world in 2 years on a bicycle that had a giant wheel in the front and a tiny training wheel in the back. The second person is named Nellie Bly who was determined to travel the world by train and ship in 72 days in meaning of beating the record of 74 days made by Phileas Fogg. Last but not least was a guy who was named Joshua Slocum who planned to sail around the world without a purpose.
My favorite story was the journey of Joshua Slocum. He was a mariner who wanted to sail around the world with an old falling apart boat that he had transformed into a new sturdy sailboat but with all the troubles he faced like the occasional whirlpools Joshua always made it though with the long experience he possessed as a skill. So when Joshua made the mistake of eating plums and cheese he had suffered a serious food poisoning then had a series of hallucinations of the pilot of the Pinta and of his wife Virginia who had passed away in the year of 1884 at 35 years old. Lastly when Joshua had finally made it back from around the globe he decided to make another round, but when he sailed off he was never seen again... The type of conflict in this book was Person vs Person considering the fact that Joshua was the only character in the book because everyone else had refused to accompany him on the long lasting trip. Joshua Slocum in my opinion is a mind driven person who can accomplish anything he seeks out to do. He also in my view still has a strong grip on life itself and his previous wife. The main points in this specified story were when Joshua first hired a crew to help him rebuild the ship because without that happening he wouldn't never got the idea of taking that journey. Another main point of the story was in my opinion the fact that Joshua was never seen again considering all the inferences that you could make out of just that little line. The authors purpose of this book was to entertain and inform because although this book was entertaining I was also informed that these events really happened and that people were actually willing to do these things for no reward at all.
I had predicted that Joshua would move on after he had came back from the sail, but it turned out that he decided to go out again. I wish that the story had provided more information of their findings or if they ever found any remains of his ship (The Spray). I liked the way the author left the reader with many questions, many thoughts, and a reminder of the book he or she just read. I agreed with the fact that the author set a main theme through the entire book, and as you can tell the theme was Around The World.
I can make a text to world connection by saying that I agree with the fact that anybody like Joshua is able to do anything if determined. I cannot compare this book to another because this is the first time i've read anything like it and is the first time i've gotten into non-fiction as I just did. I can relate this book to my life because I know a handful of students that are very outgoing and always give %110.
My overall thoughts of the book are that I liked how the author left the reader with many inferences about what could have happened to Joshua Slocum and that I wished that the author could have provided more information of which if there was an exploration to find the remains of his ship. I would rate this book a 7 out of 10 because although I liked the main points they distributed throughout the story (especially in the prologues and epilogues) like I said it would've been nice to have more information. I would recommend this book to anyone who is left wanting more and who likes a good adventure. So from bicycles to trains to boats what do you think will come next?
November 21, 2012
A delightful travel graphic novel about three people who attempted (and succeeded) travelling around the world in the late 1800s. I loved, loved, loved researching the lives and events about Thomas Stephens, Joshua Slocum, and Nellie Bly. I enjoyed looking up the details about the Centennial Exposition of 1876. I found out that there was an actual Nellie Bly board game. There is a modern version of the game distributed by Pomegranate. The game is actually a puzzle and once you complete the puzzle then you can play the game. Clever!
Observations:
Stephens had joined the League of American Wheelman. He wanted his endeavour of travelling around the world on his Columbia big wheel bicycle. Colonel Albert Pope tells Stephens that he cannot directly fund his expedition saying: "But to pay you would be to make you a professional. It is my deepest belief that bicycling should not be tarnished by professionalism or by paid endorsement of any kind." This reminded my of the Tour de France endorsements of Lance Armstrong and the American team as well as all the other teams. It applies to all of our modern sports and those who endorse the teams.
In the Stephen's story I liked the excerpt from his memoir that mentions "terra incognita." When I read this my mind immediately referenced D.H. Lawrence's poem titled "Terra Incognita." The two are not related as Lawrence was born in 1885, the exact year that Stephens set off for England on his Columbia. To me, the poem hold the same spirit as Stephen's feelings of his journey.
P. 61-62: My favorite illustration in the book of Stephens riding his Columbia bicycle infront of the Taj Mahal.
I enjoyed reading about the bicycle riding boom in the 1890s. I compared the bikes from then up until now and that bicycle evolution was fun to see.
I love how Nellie Bly travels around the world with just one bag on her person. She has no trunks full of woman crap. A woman after my own heart!
In the story of Joshua Slocum, he looks for the notorious ghost ship the Flying Dutchman. Sadly, I could only recall the Spongbob Episode about the Flying Dutchman. Go popculture!
Slocum's mysterious disappearance reminded me of Ambrose Bierce's disappearance just in different places.
I look forward to teaching my daughter about Nellie Bly's adventure as a woman who challenged the odds against her.
Favorite Quotes: "We found that modern mechanical invention instead of disenchanting the universe, had really afforded the means of exploring it's marvels the more surely. Instead of going round the world with a rifle, for the purpose of killing something...this bold youth simply went round the globe to see the people who are on it; and since he always had something to show them as interesting as anything that they could show him, he made his way among the nations." -Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
"If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is: Do you want to do it?" -Nellie Bly from the book
Observations:
Stephens had joined the League of American Wheelman. He wanted his endeavour of travelling around the world on his Columbia big wheel bicycle. Colonel Albert Pope tells Stephens that he cannot directly fund his expedition saying: "But to pay you would be to make you a professional. It is my deepest belief that bicycling should not be tarnished by professionalism or by paid endorsement of any kind." This reminded my of the Tour de France endorsements of Lance Armstrong and the American team as well as all the other teams. It applies to all of our modern sports and those who endorse the teams.
In the Stephen's story I liked the excerpt from his memoir that mentions "terra incognita." When I read this my mind immediately referenced D.H. Lawrence's poem titled "Terra Incognita." The two are not related as Lawrence was born in 1885, the exact year that Stephens set off for England on his Columbia. To me, the poem hold the same spirit as Stephen's feelings of his journey.
P. 61-62: My favorite illustration in the book of Stephens riding his Columbia bicycle infront of the Taj Mahal.
I enjoyed reading about the bicycle riding boom in the 1890s. I compared the bikes from then up until now and that bicycle evolution was fun to see.
I love how Nellie Bly travels around the world with just one bag on her person. She has no trunks full of woman crap. A woman after my own heart!
In the story of Joshua Slocum, he looks for the notorious ghost ship the Flying Dutchman. Sadly, I could only recall the Spongbob Episode about the Flying Dutchman. Go popculture!
Slocum's mysterious disappearance reminded me of Ambrose Bierce's disappearance just in different places.
I look forward to teaching my daughter about Nellie Bly's adventure as a woman who challenged the odds against her.
Favorite Quotes: "We found that modern mechanical invention instead of disenchanting the universe, had really afforded the means of exploring it's marvels the more surely. Instead of going round the world with a rifle, for the purpose of killing something...this bold youth simply went round the globe to see the people who are on it; and since he always had something to show them as interesting as anything that they could show him, he made his way among the nations." -Thomas Wentworth Higginson.
"If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is: Do you want to do it?" -Nellie Bly from the book
January 7, 2012
While the Library of Congress and my local library both catalogued this book as fiction, it read like non-fiction to me, so that's what I'm calling it, graphic non-fiction. While the illustrations weren't particularly colorful or artistically outstanding, they were easy to follow and clearly and appropriately supported the text (which I've not found to be the case in many graphic novels). I very much enjoyed reading this book, which told of how Jules Verne's novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, inspired some similar real-life excursions. First, Phelan described the feat of Thomas Stevens, who in 1883-1884 went around the world on one of those bicycles with the huge front wheel. I'm surprised he didn't break his neck, especially when most roads weren't paved. I'd never heard of him before, so I enjoyed learning about him. Next, Phelan described the well-known journey of Nellie Bly, and, lastly, he narrated the journey of Joshua Slocum, who took 3 years to sail around the world in a small sailboat. The latter was the most fascinating of all, because the man is so much of a psychological mystery. The entire book left me wanting to read more about all three people, especially their first-hand accounts. Fortunately, Phelan provides a list of books at the end. I like Phelan's illustrating style combined with his narrative ability, and would like to read more of his graphic books. I highly recommend this one to anyone who likes to read about adventure.
December 27, 2011
I have to admit that this is not a book that I really wanted to read and it's been sitting around on my shelf for a while. But once I started reading it, I really enjoyed it and read the whole thing in a single sitting.
Phelan begins by describing Jules Verne's basic premise for Around the World in Eighty Days and the describes the journey that three different individuals made. Thomas Stevens travels on his bicycle around the world and describes the people he meets in Europe and Asia. It's an interesting peek into a world that was swiftly changing. Nellie Bly, a saucy and headstrong reporter, decides that she can race around the world in 74 days. She sets off, describing her journey and travels to increasingly interested newspaper readers. And finally, Joshua Slocum sails his 36-foot sloop around the world, the first person to complete the journey alone. Slocum's story addresses the death of his wife and his increasing desire for solitude. Younger readers may have more difficulty connecting with Slocum's story but it's a lovely complement to Stevens and Bly's stories. The graphic novel style is well done and enhanced the story. A great use of panels and text.
Recommended for grades 5 - 7.
Phelan begins by describing Jules Verne's basic premise for Around the World in Eighty Days and the describes the journey that three different individuals made. Thomas Stevens travels on his bicycle around the world and describes the people he meets in Europe and Asia. It's an interesting peek into a world that was swiftly changing. Nellie Bly, a saucy and headstrong reporter, decides that she can race around the world in 74 days. She sets off, describing her journey and travels to increasingly interested newspaper readers. And finally, Joshua Slocum sails his 36-foot sloop around the world, the first person to complete the journey alone. Slocum's story addresses the death of his wife and his increasing desire for solitude. Younger readers may have more difficulty connecting with Slocum's story but it's a lovely complement to Stevens and Bly's stories. The graphic novel style is well done and enhanced the story. A great use of panels and text.
Recommended for grades 5 - 7.
July 1, 2017
I read this aloud to my eldest daughter, and she liked it. I found reading a graphic novel aloud more work than I expected, but the art provided plenty of opportunities for conversation (and sparked a lot of questions about different cultures, emotion, and death).
The book is really three distinct true stories about circumnavigating the globe, each set at the end of the 19th century: Thomas Stevens bicycled around the world; Nellie Bly traveled around the world in 72 days ala Phileas Fogg; and Joshua Slocum sailed around the world solo in his sloop the Spray. Matt Phelan tells the first two stories fairly straightforwardly, while the last one about Slocum is much more impressionistic and psychological. It was my favorite, though my daughter liked the one about Nellie Bly best.
Fine artwork is paired with spare but surprisingly good prose. The effect is synergistic—you'd have a fundamentally less good story if you took one away, though one could still follow the general plot by only reading the text or only looking at the pictures. In a very nice touch, Phelan includes bits of text from the memoirs of each of his subjects, so that we hear both about them and from them. Overall a very good achievement; we'll be seeking out more by the author.
The book is really three distinct true stories about circumnavigating the globe, each set at the end of the 19th century: Thomas Stevens bicycled around the world; Nellie Bly traveled around the world in 72 days ala Phileas Fogg; and Joshua Slocum sailed around the world solo in his sloop the Spray. Matt Phelan tells the first two stories fairly straightforwardly, while the last one about Slocum is much more impressionistic and psychological. It was my favorite, though my daughter liked the one about Nellie Bly best.
Fine artwork is paired with spare but surprisingly good prose. The effect is synergistic—you'd have a fundamentally less good story if you took one away, though one could still follow the general plot by only reading the text or only looking at the pictures. In a very nice touch, Phelan includes bits of text from the memoirs of each of his subjects, so that we hear both about them and from them. Overall a very good achievement; we'll be seeking out more by the author.
July 14, 2014
It'd be awesome even without the amazing mustaches and the appearance by Mr and Mrs Jules Verne. [I don't know why mustaches are so popular right now. Natasha has two drawn on post-it notes tucked in to her hood pocket. Mustaches earrings and Christmas tree ornaments are everywhere this year. What an odd choice for a motif.]
Three different Victorians, with very different reasons, set off to travel around the world. Although two of the cases were widely publicized at the time, Phelan also looks behind the hoopla, to what compelled the adventurers. Juxtaposed against one another, it reminds me of a bit in Replay, when someone becomes fascinated by people in long isolation and adventure.
Great material, well handled, and with resources at the end for further reading. I'm now hoping to get to Bly's Ten Days in a Mad-House sooner.
Library copy.
Three different Victorians, with very different reasons, set off to travel around the world. Although two of the cases were widely publicized at the time, Phelan also looks behind the hoopla, to what compelled the adventurers. Juxtaposed against one another, it reminds me of a bit in Replay, when someone becomes fascinated by people in long isolation and adventure.
Great material, well handled, and with resources at the end for further reading. I'm now hoping to get to Bly's Ten Days in a Mad-House sooner.
Library copy.
April 1, 2016
I really liked Bluffton so was pleased when my husband brought home this other graphic novel by Phelan. It's the stories of three different around the world travelers, and I was surprised to find that 2 of the 3 I had already read about (the first I read about in a fascinating YA nonfiction about Bicycles and how they changed the world, the second was Nellie Bly and there are a couple of younger reader books I'd read aloud with my kids.)
As with Bluffton I really liked Phelan's illustration style. What is so interesting about these stories-the cyclist, the reporter in a publicity adventure, and the sailor, is the stories behind all of them. Why were they doing it? How did the journeys affect them?
My favorite kind of non-fiction-super readable, fascinating tidbits, and graphically told.
As with Bluffton I really liked Phelan's illustration style. What is so interesting about these stories-the cyclist, the reporter in a publicity adventure, and the sailor, is the stories behind all of them. Why were they doing it? How did the journeys affect them?
My favorite kind of non-fiction-super readable, fascinating tidbits, and graphically told.
August 14, 2016
Around the World by Matt Phelan
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Plot summary: Challenged with circling the world at the end of the nineteenth century, three very different adventurers--avid bicyclist Thomas Stevens, fearless reporter Nellie Bly, and retired sea captain Joshua Slocum--embark on epic journeys.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory (strong language, sex, death, religious overtones, violence, etc.)
Review citation (if available):Deanna Day. Language Arts Sept 2012 v90 i1 p64(1)
Section source used to find the material: Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee for Best Reality-Based Work (2012), YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2012
Recommended age: Ages 9-12
Genre: Non-Fiction
Format: Graphic Novel
Plot summary: Challenged with circling the world at the end of the nineteenth century, three very different adventurers--avid bicyclist Thomas Stevens, fearless reporter Nellie Bly, and retired sea captain Joshua Slocum--embark on epic journeys.
Considerations or precautions for readers advisory (strong language, sex, death, religious overtones, violence, etc.)
Review citation (if available):Deanna Day. Language Arts Sept 2012 v90 i1 p64(1)
Section source used to find the material: Will Eisner Comic Industry Awards Nominee for Best Reality-Based Work (2012), YALSA Great Graphic Novels for Teens: 2012
Recommended age: Ages 9-12
December 3, 2016
Inspired by Jules Verne's novel Around the World in Eighty Days, three late-nineteenth-century individuals separately attempt to travel around the world, each by different means. My personal favorite is Nellie Bly, but all three stories are compelling. Phelan's trademark watercolors work especially well in this graphic novel. Though the dialogue is certainly imagined, these true accounts are all thoroughly researched. These three adventurous spirits offer plenty of action, but it is the added personal angles - the story behind the story - that makes them such engaging reading and memorable after you close the cover.
June 12, 2017
1. Nelly Bly was bad@$$ and hilarious in this book. "If you want to do it, you can do it. The question is: Do you want to do it?" And posing as an insane person to do an expose on the asylum? How awesome was that?! And her sleeping until 4pm and calling that sleeping late in the morning. Haha
2. Riding the kind of bike that Thomas Stevens did across the U.S. was insane. It would be hard enough on a modern bike.
3. Most romantic quote ever, "I wish I were a rose that you might wear me for a buttonhole bouquet on your journey."
4. The last story of Joshua Slovak was sad in his quest to go after his dead wife.
5. LOVED THIS BOOK!
2. Riding the kind of bike that Thomas Stevens did across the U.S. was insane. It would be hard enough on a modern bike.
3. Most romantic quote ever, "I wish I were a rose that you might wear me for a buttonhole bouquet on your journey."
4. The last story of Joshua Slovak was sad in his quest to go after his dead wife.
5. LOVED THIS BOOK!
July 3, 2011
I cannot wait to see this in full color, but even in the black and white ARC it is an utterly splendid book. It tells the around the world stories of "three remarkable journeys" as the subtitle says: Thomas Stevens bicyclist; Nellie Bly reporter, and Joshua Slocum sea captain. He uses mostly their own words - each of them wrote about their adventures - but it his pictures, and most especially the extraordinary power of the faces he draws, that convey the emotion and power of the tales. Young readers will be so very lucky to have this book, and so are the rest of us.
May 7, 2013
With sparse prose and soft drawings using an economy of line, Phelan tells the stories of three people who made solo journeys around the globe in the late 19th century.
A mix of fact and fiction as the book straddles the line between biography and historical fiction, Phelan builds up tension for each journey, leaving the reader wondering Will They Make It!? as these intrepid people pushes themselves to see just how far, how fast, how daring, how willing to embrace something different.
August 20, 2013
Phelan tells the story of 3 different people who traveled around the world in different ways: one on a bicycle, one as a reporter, and one as a mariner. The drawings are beautiful but can be hard to interpret in places due to their rough sketch appearance. But that can also make them wonderful to use for making inferences.
June 4, 2014
No wonder I recognized the drawing style since he also did the illustrations for The Higher Power of Lucky. The drawings fit here as well. Quick read but intriguing.
August 30, 2014
I think that a good historical fiction book results in me doing more research about the topic. I went online to learn more about the three main characters and their adventures. I will be adding this to my 6th grade class library.
October 4, 2011
Excellent historical fiction and a stunning graphic novel.
May 31, 2012
I really liked the three stories, I liked the second one the best because, it told the story of a woman going around the world in 76 days 4 hours and 47 minuets.
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