First Man
First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson (Fiction - Young Adult)
First Man
Simon Schwartz
In this graphic novel, Simon Schwartz weaves biography and fiction together to explore the life of Arctic adventurer Matthew Henson. Moving between different time periods and incorporating Inuit mythology, Schwartz offers fresh perspective on the many challenges Henson confronted during his life. As a member of early missions to reach the North Pole, Henson braved subzero temperatures and shifting sea ice. As an African American at the turn of the twentieth century, he also faced harassment and prejudice. Henson won a place on Arctic expeditions through skill and determination--though he didn't receive the same credit as his teammates. He also won the respect of the native peoples he met during his journeys--though he couldn't prevent the harm that the expeditions caused them. More than a biography, First Man: Reimagining Matthew Henson is an artistic homage to Henson's accomplishments and the complicated realities of being a trailblazer in a society that didn't recognize black men as equals.

Book Details

Genre: 

  • Adventure
  • Biography
  • Environment
  • Fiction
  • Manga/Graphic Novel

Age Level: 

  • 8 - 12
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Simon Schwartz combines biography and fiction and explores the life of Arctic adventurer Matthew Henson in the form of a graphic novel. The story moves between different time periods. Schwartz also lets Inuit mythology take center stage.

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