Written by Maria Cristina Pritelli
Review by Rebecca Langston-George
Narrated by a teenaged Laurentz Waxell, the son of Sven Waxell, second in command to Captain Vitus Bering, The Great Northern Expedition tells the story of Vitus Bering’s second journey as a cartographer for Russia. The voyage, for which this book is named The Great Northern Expedition, followed Bering’s first and better-known expedition, the Kamchatka Expedition, in which he explored the Bering Strait and proved Asia and North America are not connected, though ultimately not exploring all he set out to.
The second journey was designed to map Siberia and the Arctic areas of North America but despite its backing by Russian royalty, it was beset with issues starting with its inception in 1733. In fact, the ship did not set sail until 1741 due to many delays, supply shortages, bureaucratic failures, and harsh conditions. Bering, along with several crew members, ultimately died during the journey, and Sven Waxell, the father of the book’s narrator, took the helm.
Author and illustrator Maria Cristina Pritelli captures the setting beautifully with soft, lush artwork, making this a visually stunning picture book. While the intended audience of readers ages 8 and up may enjoy the lovely land and seascapes, the history behind the story will likely be a stretch for an audience that young. Older readers studying cartography and voyages are more likely to find it intriguing and may be led to research more about Bering’s first journey.