This was a great book. Antarctica is a place, or a concept even, that has always fascinated me. I have read exactly zero fiction books about Antarctica, and was so excited to get into this one.

It's 1914, and Clara, a young woman from America, has lied about her age and her nationality to get onboard the 28 person crew headed to Antarctica. She is strong and determined, and is the only woman on this expedition. Clara has to fight for herself on the ice, something she learned from the suffragettes fighting in England for the right to vote. As she and her crew get stranded on ice 100 miles from where they were supposed to land, Clara is constantly at odds with the men on the crew, and with the forces of nature.

I loved so much about the book. The world-building made me feel like I was on the ice fighting alongside Clara. I appreciated how she stood up for herself, especially in an era when women were largely not heard or taken seriously. I admired her strength and think she is an inspiration to young girls everywhere. I also really liked the epistolary style of the novel. It felt even more real. Great book!

Clara joins an expedition to Antarctica and when they get stuck in the ice, she has to prove her skills to the rest of the crew who do not believe her capable. Told through diary entries, Clara reveals her struggle of being take seriously while also having to fend off members of the crew. Overall, an interesting look at the expeditions to Antarctica and the fight for equality. Readers who enjoy adventure stories in extreme environments will like this one.

Thank you to NetGalley for an eARC and to the author, Yi Shun Lai, for a finished signed copy of this book.

Clara is the sole woman on a treacherous journey to the Antarctic in 1914. In this epistolary novel, Clara recounts her adventures and many struggles through the uncontrollable dangers of the frozen tundra. Educational, wittingly sarcastic, and deeply inspirational, Clara juxtaposes her journey with that of the women's march towards suffrage.

As a child, I absolutely devoured historical fiction centering around young women. It's been a good, long while since that passion has been kindled. Clara's adventures delighted me with her biting wit, and her eloquenced roused in me a hope towards continuing the journey towards women's equality.

dnf @ 13%

Just not my preferred writing style. Def a great place for YA readers interested in fiction about (Ant)arctic expeditions!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was very excited about this book release, but I was quickly disappointed by the overall tone and delivery of the book. Firstly, I was not a fan of the diary entry format. It made the book feel like a Dear American or Dear Canada book. The story would have worked much better if we had just been following the expedition on their adventure instead of reading about everything that happened after the fact. In the same vein, this book had a problem with finding its audience. The main character, Clara, acted quite juvenile and felt like a middle grade protagonist even though she was 18 years old. I liked the uniqueness of the story and the fact that it took place on Antarctica, but otherwise, it didn't really work for me.

Thank you Netgalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

"A Suffragist's Guide to the Antarctic" by Yi Shun Lai is a unique blend of historical fiction and survival adventure. I have never read a book before that weaves together themes of women's suffrage and Antarctic exploration; I was extremely interested in reading this book due to this unique combination of themes even though I’m not a big fan of historical fiction. The survival aspect in Antarctica is what really drew me in, but I ended up really enjoying the historical aspects.

The story follows Clara Ketterling-Dunbar, a young suffragette who defies societal norms by joining an Antarctic expedition dominated by men. When tragedy strikes, Clara and her companions must rely on each other to survive the harsh Antarctic wilderness. The book unfolds through Clara's diary entries, providing you with intimate insight into her thoughts and experiences. I really enjoyed reading the unfiltered thoughts of Clara through the diary entries! I thought this was a unique way to develop the story that is already so unique. Clara's involvement in the suffragette movement adds depth to her character, highlighting her strength and courage in the face of adversity. As she navigates the challenges of both the expedition and the fight for women's rights, Clara is definitely a heroine readers I admire. I was rooting for her throughout the entire book, and I was extremely invested in her story and survival in the tundra.

Because the book is centered around Clara’s diary entries, the storytelling is a bit limited in that way; we don’t really get to see other characters’ perspectives or thoughts. The ending also left me a bit unsatisfied. Despite this, I really enjoyed the fast-paced plot, engaging writing, and the portrayal of historical events. I couldn’t put the book down!

Overall, "A Suffragist's Guide to the Antarctic" offers a thought-provoking exploration of resilience and the fight for equality. It is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and those interested in stories of courage and survival.

There is a secret aboard The Resolute. A secret destined to come to light during the doomed journey to the Antarctic. Marooned on the ice, 18-year-old Clara Ketterling-Dunbar must pretend to be older than she is to prevent the crew from turning on her. It's a fight for survival against the dominating men of the crew, and the unforgiving wilderness of the Antarctic.

This was an exciting read! Author Yi Shun Lai has written a book that Gary Paulsen fans will love. Filled with themes on gender equality and the means people go to survive, Lai’s book will be a great addition to middle and high school libraries. I loved it. The overall themes of the book are reminiscent of the Lord of the Flies. A group is removed from society and must navigate social constructs and the unforgiving wilderness. The literature achieved its goal of educating readers on the struggles women face. Regardless of the situation Clara found herself in, she never gave up the fight for equality.

Clara is a young suffragette who decides to apply to an Antarctic mission to prove herself, to prove women in general. Only, whoopsie, the expedition does not go as planned, and Clara finds herself stuck on the literal ice with a bunch of men- some of whom are none too keen to share their mission with a woman. I really enjoyed the history behind this, and Clara's experiences as a suffragette, both home and abroad.

It was certainly interesting to read about Clara's experience, which is told through her journal entries. As such, we spend a lot of time in Clara's head, which of course is a bit limiting. Still, we also get to know her innermost thoughts, which is a plus. I will say that one thing that I really did not love was the ending. I wanted more, and also, I felt like her decisions didn't totally make sense for what we knew about her thus far. Plus you know how I feel about openness, which is probably more a personal preference, but alas.

So to sum up, yay for the history and survival adventure and the commentary on women's struggles (and how they are very, very ongoing). Points off for the meh ending, and the fact that I would have probably preferred to be a little more "in" the adventure with Clara, rather than read her thoughts about it afterward.

Bottom Line: Loved the history and survival, would have also loved a bit stronger ending.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this novel. 3.5/5 stars

I liked the concept and how it's not an usual historical fiction novel, but so much of it just felt meh. It is written in diary format, and that itself took a while to get into and understand. For some reason, I wanted more about, you know, suffrage, but it really was mostly the MC thinking about how she left the movement behind to go on this journey and is now dealing with patriarchy all the way in the Antarctic.

In A Suffragist’s Guide to the Antarctic, author Yi Shun Lai has woven together the women’s suffrage movement and the historic expeditions to Antarctica through a protagonist with the strength, resilience, and courage that YA readers need in a hero.

Clara has a had a full life before she is chosen to join the expedition to the Antarctic with twenty-seven others, all of whom are men. She has marched for women’s suffrage, joined the British suffragists under Emmeline Pankhurst, and watched her own mother navigate a world where men still hold the power, politically, financially, and domestically. When the expedition is iced in and must survive on an ice floe, she shows her grit and courage, and when one sailor assaults her, she shows her strength and her self-possession, knowing what is right and standing for it,, even when her male mates are confused and thrown by her defense of herself.

When given the opportunity to wait to be rescued or to join a perilous lifeboat trip to reach help, she joins the trip and shows her leadership when sickness and pain cripple many of the crew., but when she is given the chance to return to England or to go to rescue the crew left waiting for help, she faces her biggest struggle and must decide what her mission truly is.

Clara is a protagonist all readers will admire, and her actions and thoughts are realistic, candid, and brave. At times, she uses strong language which might deter some teachers or librarians from adding this to a collection, but the language is never gratuitous and underscores the severity of the situations and the struggle Clara faces. At one point, Clara even comments on her own profanity, realizing it provides an outlet for her anger and fear. While the language is strong, YA readers will see it for what it is, a venting of extreme feelings in an environment that offers few other outlets.

This novel would be an excellent addition to a study of the women’s suffrage movement or the polar expeditions. What this novel does best is present these historic events through the eyes of a character who shows the ability to study herself, grow, and see where she can join the fight to make her world a better place.

A great YA debut from Lai. 1914 Antartica- not where you might envision and young suffragette. Lai weaves a fictional tale of a young woman, Clara, on an exploration crew of all men based on diaries of an actual voyage (thought the real one was all male). While facing adversities of the Antarctic, Clara also faces and reflects on the issues of fighting for women's rights. Loved the Author's Note at the end about the research done.

Although historical fiction isn't my usual genre, I found this to be a thrilling and moving story. The many crewmates can be difficult to keep apart, but there are plenty of moments between them and Clara that economically flesh out their characters.