River of the Gods by Candice Millard

 River of the Gods: Genius, Courage and Betrayal in the Search for the Source of the Nile by Candice Millard -349 pages

The finding of the source of the Nile River at Lake Victoria by three explorers sent by the Royal Geographical Society in the late 1850s ended in tragedy for two of the men. John Henning Speke would make the actual discovery at Lake Nyanza (Victoria), but would die by suicide after engaging in a bitter dispute with the expedition's leader, Richard Francis Burton. Burton, a language expert and anthropologist before the term existed, would be professionally injured by the controversy surrounding an expedition beset with extreme hardship and illness. Their guide, Sidi Mubarak Bombay, would become one of the most widely traveled explorers of Africa. An interesting book on the exploration of Africa during the Victorian era. 

 

To Sleep In A Sea Of Stars

by  Christopher Paolini

Xenobiologist Kira Navárez spent her whole life dreaming of discovering new worlds, and it was near perfect. Newly engaged with her life planned out, everything seems set. Then one day, she makes a huge discovery during a routine survey mission on an uncolonized planet: alien relics.

Delight turns into horror when the ancient dust around her begins to move and completely changes her life. Disaster upends everything she’s ever known, and Kira is thrust into a war that spans the entire galaxy. As Kira grapples with her humanity and these newfound responsibilities, knowing full well civilization’s survival may rest on her shoulders, she travels, fights, and soars across the stars. Kira may be humanity’s last hope, and she isn’t sure she can withstand her own personal horrors to live up to the task.

878 pages

Lewis & Clark Tailor Made, Trail Worn: Army Life, Clothing, & Weapons of the Corps of Discovery

Lewis & Clark Tailor Made, Trail Worn: Army Life, Clothing, & Weapons of the Corps of Discovery by Robert J. Moore, Jr. Illustrated by Michael Haynes 288 pages published 2003

The Lewis and Clark expedition is one of the great adventures in American history. What they did and how they did it is still an amazement. This book explores their clothing, their weapons and equipment, as well as their living conditions in the 1803 military. A great deal of research has gone into this book, as can be seen in the bibliography. Many of the articles used are still in existence. 

This book is not only a good read, but a lot of fun to thumb through and enjoy the illustrations. If I close my eyes, I can almost smell the camp fire smoke.

The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede

The Far West by Patricia C. Wrede - 378 pages

Eff has been given the opportunity to join the expedition heading into the wilderness to explore and map the areas past civilization to the Rocky Mountains.  It's exactly what she wants to do.  However, the expedition notices that there is something wrong with the magic the further they get towards the mountains.  It's building to a point that could be catastrophic.
This is the third book in the Frontier Magic series.  I believe it is probably the final book, but I really there would be more.  I've really enjoyed reading about the characters and how they've changed over the twenty years of the series.  I've also enjoyed the setting of an alternate world where we are the United States of Columbia and magic exists.  A great series for teens and adults.

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia Wrede

Across the Great Barrier by Patricia C. Wrede - 339 pages

Eff's journey into the Wilderness last summer helped her decide that is what she wants to do with her life.  She wants to explore and catalog the creatures and plants beyond the Great Barrier.  She gets her chance the year after graduating from Upper School to go on a research trip during the summer.  It's during that trip that they first discover animals that have been instantly petrified.  What could have possibly done it?
This is the second book in the Frontier Magic series.  It's set in an alternate historical world where it is the United States of Columbia and magic exists.  I found this book to be a little hard to get into.  It took a while for the story start.  However, once the story gets going I couldn't put the book down.  

Chasing Dragons: the True Story of the Piasa, by Mark and Laurie Nickless

Chasing Dragons: the True Story of the Piasa, by Mark and Laurie Nickless, 106 pages

This is a really interesting book of local interest.  Mark and Laurie Nickless hypothesize that the "Piasa bird" (painted on a cliff face in Alton, IL) was actually two Chinese dragons, painted by Chinese explorers.  The authors don't have a ton of proof for their theory, and the illustrations within leave ALOT to be desired, but it is quite provocative and really makes you wonder.