Arctic Hero
Catherine Johnson

American explorer Matthew Henson was one of the first men to reach the North Pole in 1909. However, his place in history as an extremely brave and resourceful explorer wasn’t formally acknowledged for many years, because of the colour of his skin. Finally in 2000, Matthew was awarded the Hubbard Medal, one of the highest honours the US government can give.

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Catherine Johnson
Arctic Hero

Catherine Johnson is a novelist and screenwriter. She has written ten novels for young adults including Stella, Landlocked and Face Value.

Her book for Barrington Stoke, Arctic Hero, was published in February 2008. Her newest book, A Nest of Vipers, is published in April 2008 by Corgi. Catherine also has a story in Unheard Voices, a collection of stories edited by Malorie Blackman.

She was co-writer on the hugely acclaimed award winning British film Bullet Boy, directed by Saul Dibb and starring Ashley Walters.

Catherine also works as a mentor for the British Council and was writer in residence in Holloway prison. She was Reader in residence at the Royal Festival Hall's Imagine Children's Literature festival and runs creative writing workshops in secondary schools.

Catherine was born and brought up in London, by her Welsh mother and Jamaican father.She now lives in Hackney with her partner and teenage children.

Click here to read an interview with Catherine Johnson

http://www.catherinejohnson.co.uk

(Page 1)

"This is a true story.

It's a story about trekking across the wide frozen Arctic, fighting snow blindness and frost-bite. It's about facing the risk of starving to death or drowning. It's about getting to the North Pole before anyone else.

But this is also a story about one man, Matthew Henson, who lived two very different lives."

Extract taken from Arctic Hero by Catherine Johnson published by Barrington Stoke