Uncommon Traveler: Mary Kingsley in Africa

Another great Don Brown biography. This is definitely one of my favorites. Well done. Much appreciated. Mary Kingsley is such an unusual historical figure. It's fascinating to read of the exploits of her short life after her parents death. She accomplished so much in so short a time. ( )

Picture-book biographer Don Brown - whose other contributions to the genre include Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein and Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries - tells the tale of Victorian explorer Mary Kingsley in Uncommon Traveler. After passing a lonely - one almost might say neglected! - childhood and young adulthood, caring for her infirm mother, Kingsley set out for West Africa at the age of thirty, a journey few women of her time would have undertaken. Wading through swamps, tussling with alligators, and getting to know the native peoples she met, Kingsley conceived a respect and love for the region that would astonish her contemporaries back "home..."

I enjoyed Don Brown's book enough that I am tempted to add Kingsley's own memoir, Travels in West Africa, to my (ever-growing) to-be-read shelf. The story is fascinating, as is the woman. She seems such a contradiction to me - willing to step out of a traditional woman's role, and travel on her own, but either indifferent or opposed to various issues of women's rights; feeling a deep and true respect for the cultures of Africa, but unable or unwilling to challenge the racist underpinnings of colonialism itself. I'm glad that Brown points out some of these contradictions in his afterword, which was very informative. Although I can't say the illustrative style here really appealed to me, the tale itself was so engaging, and the figure of Mary Kingsley so compelling, that I would recommend Uncommon Traveler to all young readers with an interest in the history of exploration, or a taste for biography. ( )

Given her extraordinary life, this information picture book about Mary Kingsley was both enlightening and entertaining. Although her childhood seemed bleak, Kingsley found comfort in learning and eventually had the gumption to set out for Africa to explore and continue the work of her father. As a work of nonfiction, this book would introduce children to terminology associated with African cultures like the different names of tribes, rivers, and exotic landscapes. Also, the funny anecdotes about her experiences with animals like crocodiles and hippopotamuses would keep children engaged.

I believe this book would fare better for a younger audience and would not necessarily be useful at the secondary level. However, the book introduces a woman who fearlessly broke barriers and added to the scientific and anthropological fields. She is a woman I would like to introduce into my lessons concerning either Victorian England, exploration, or noteworthy people in anthropology.

The book is organized chronologically beginning with her childhood in England then focusing on her adventures in Africa until her eventual death in 1900. The story is dotted with excerpts from her writings and speeches which add authenticity to the narrative. The sentences are not very complex but include words that would help expand younger readers' vocabulary. The author even included a bibliography to point where he got his information although there were no citations anywhere in the text.

All in all, a good book with a heroine whose life story will entertain younger audiences. ( )

This book is simply beautiful. The slight wistfulness in the voice of the narrator combined with the soft, but detailed illustration mad me want to travel to west Africa on my own to explore the world. This picture book biography tells the story of the trying childhood of Mary Kingsley, here desire to explore the world like her infrequently present father, and how she comes to terms with becoming her own woman after years of caring for family members. ( )

As a small child Mary had much responsibility due to her parents being sick. She had to grow up before it was time for her too. When Mary parents died, she decided to travel the world. She went to South Africa after being warned not too.