When I was little I devoured my parents’ books about the amazing voyage of Kon-Tiki. But I don’t think my children have ever heard of it. Deborah Kogan Roy’s new book, The Impossible Voyage of Kon-Tiki, tells a new generation the thrilling story of a quirky anthropologist’s attempt to recreate an ancient sea voyage.
Thor Heyerdahl wanted to prove that South Sea islands could have been populated by peoples from South America, so he built a balsa seacraft and sailed with a small crew from Peru. It was a dangerous, even quixotic, expedition. But it succeeded!
Roy tells the story clearly and economically. She doesn’t waste time with Herdahl’s childhood or schooling. The book starts with his realizing that nobody is going to take his theory seriously unless he proves it was at least possible.
Every spread has a well-chosen quote from Heyerdahl’s writing set in larger print. It’s a great way to get Heyerdahl’s voice into the book without bogging down the tempo of the story-telling.
I love the back matter, too. All of the quotations are attributed, and there’s a great bibliography. I enjoyed reading the essays about continuing debates over Heyerdahl’s theory and about Heyerdahl’s life. Endpapers give a map of the voyage.
Youtube has footage from the Kon-Tiki voyage.
The Impossible Voyage of Kon-Tiki by Deborah Kogan Roy. Charlesbridge: 2016
I enjoyed this new book very much, partly because I loved the original too. And I like that there was good added info at the back. Glad you liked it too, Annette.
I don’t know how I missed this book when it came out last October. Thanks for reminding me about it and for linking up.