Around the World

Summary: After the publication of Jules Verne's Around the World in 80 Days, readers everywhere were inspired by the idea of racing around the globe. This graphic novels tells three stories of people who not only dreamt about the possibilities of circumnavigation, but actually went out and did it. First is Thomas Stevens, a coal miner and cycling enthusiast who rode a bicycle (one of the early ones with the big front wheel) around the world in 1884. Next is Nellie Bly, a reporter who set out in 1889 to travel around the world in less time than it took Verne's protagonists, as a publicity stunt in an era when no respectable woman would be seen traveling alone. And finally, Joshua Slocum, who in 1895 sailed away from his New England home show more aboard his sailboat Spray, and did not return until he'd sailed around the world.

Review: I picked this book of the library shelf on a whim, and I'm so glad I did. To start with, the art was absolutely lovely. It's not a style I would typically gravitate towards, with sketchy pencil lines filled in with watercolor-esque washes of muted color, but the I thought overall effect fit both the time period and the tone of the stories remarkably well. The stories themselves are, on the surface, quite straightforward, and almost deceptively simple. The narration and dialogue boxes are relatively sparse throughout most of the book. This may be an attempt to make this book appeal to younger audiences, and it's certainly appropriate for mid-grade readers. But by letting the art carry a lot of the story forward, Phelan is putting the emotions and motivations of his characters on full display, making what might seem like simple stories into deeply resonant pieces. I noticed this most in Slocum's story, since he has to face not only the terrors of the wide open ocean, but also has to face the ghosts of his own past. This is probably why this book gets shelved as fiction in my library, even though it's about real people and is factually accurate. But all three stories are told really effectively, making this a graphic novel worth picking up no matter where it's shelved. 4 out of 5 stars.

Recommendation: Definitely recommended for readers of all ages - it's accessible to kids but there's enough here to satisfy adults as well - particularly readers who are fans of Verne's original, who like adventure or exploration stories, or who watch The Amazing Race. show less

Jules Vernes’s classic tale of adventure, Around the World in 80 Days, inspired many intrepid explorers to undertake the same daring feat. Matt Phelan briefly shares the stories of three of those wanderers: Thomas Stevens, a former miner who accomplished the act on a big-wheel bicycle in 1884; Nelly Bly, intrepid girl reporter, who attempted to circumnavigate the world in 74 days; and Joshua Slocum, a retired sea captain who ventured out alone on his sailboat in 1895.

This book is a taste of these three journeys and made me eager to learn more about the featured explorers.

The artwork is beautifully done in a style that I (most definitely not an artist) can only describe as a cross between line drawings and watercolors. The predominant show more colors of each section reflect (or set?) the mood. Warm tones illustrate Nellie Bly’s story, which adds to the excitement. Will she make her deadline despite inevitable delays? Blue is the primary color of Joshua Slocum’s tale because of both his watery surroundings and his more introspective journey. Thomas Stevens is a mix of colors: somber in the mines where his story begins and happier as he finds his pace on his trip.

Of the three personalities, I was most drawn to Captain Slocum. He reflects on the great joys and great losses in his life during his journey. He’s also a reader who made room for two full bookshelves on his 36-foot boat. I like his priorities.

Nellie’s journey was fairly stressful for me! I know almost nothing about her so I worried about her deadline. She saw very little of the world other than trains and boats. I hope she traveled again, taking her time and enjoying the journey. I was impossibly proud of her for undertaking such a trip at a time when women could barely cross town alone, much less travel significant distances.

Thomas Stevens is my least favorite of the three wanderers but at the same time, the one whose book I’m most tempted to seek out. He wants a way out of the mines where he’s working and decides that a cross-country bicycle ride will generate the publicity he needs to change his life. Once he finishes that task, it’s only natural for him to keep going around the world. I want to know more about the places he visited and the people he met. The author touches on both but in 50 pages of a graphic novel, he can’t share a lot of detail.

Around the World is marketed for middle grade readers but young adults and adults will enjoy reading about these explorers as well. Reluctant readers who enjoy this book should be inspired to seek out more information about the subjects in other books. Highly recommended for those who like to travel, whether in fact or in imagination. show less

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.

Around the World by Matt Phelan is a graphic novel style account of three different late 19th century trips around the world: by bicycle, for the news, and by ship. These are all mini-biographies with the emphasis being on the journeys they took and how those journeys were transformative for the travelers and for the people they met.

The first biography is of Thomas Stevens, a man who became so enamored with the bicycle (and not the modern safety style, but the old high wheeler) that he took his on a ride around the world. Stevens saw the bicycle as a tool for peace and certainly had enough positive experiences to give some weight to that notion.

The next biography covers Nellie Bly's successful attempt to recreate the journey in Around show more the World in 80 Days but in less time. She had her own problems mostly from resistance because she was a woman traveling alone, and from other newspapers sending competition after her (on higher budgets, meaning they could bribe their way into faster slots), and her own sea sickness and hatred of early mornings. She did however have the brains and stubbornness to accomplish the trip, and the affection of her readers, meaning even if she couldn't bribe her way, she didn't need to.

The last biography is a nautical one. It follows Joshua Slocum who one day said goodbye to his family and set off in his ship for a one man sailing adventure in a time when there wasn't radio or modern day tracking devices. Through personal peril he managed to become the first person to solo sail around the world.

This book has been on my wishlist since it was first published. It lived up to all my expectations and frankly surpassed them. I hope Matt Phelan continues to do these occasional biographies / historical fiction graphic novels along with the many picture books he illustrates. show less

Phelan noted that at the end of the 19th century the public was inspired by Jules Vernes’ adventures, particularly Around the World in 80 Days. In this graphic novel, Phelan relates the stories of three such individuals: Thomas Stevens (who set out in 1884 to bicycle around the globe); Nellie Bly (setting out in 1889 with a goal of besting the fictional Phileas Fogg’s record by several days), and Joshua Slocum (who set sail in a 36-foot boat he had rebuilt himself, for what would become a 3-year round the world solo journey).

Phelan’s illustrations are marvelously detailed and advance the stories quickly, so that he’s able to give a good overview of each explorer’s journey in one book. Of the three profiled, Slocum, a retired show more sea captain, was the only one who had previously journeyed far afield. I particularly liked Nellie Bly’s mantra: “If you want to do it, you can do it!” show less

Matt Phelan is BRILLIANT! His deft, spare ink/ pencil/ watercolor illustrations further the story, rather than simply illustrate it.
And the third and final story -- about loner Joshua Slocum, who circumnavigated the globe alone in his 36' sloop -- is his finest, and most moving.

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.