Death on the River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt's Amazon Adventure

by Samantha Seiple

Overview

"I did have a murderous trip down South, but it was mighty interesting."

In October 1913, Theodore Roosevelt arrived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on a tour of South America. The thrill-seeking adventurer had no idea that he would soon receive an offer he couldn’t refuse: the chance to lead an expedition deep into the Amazon jungle to chart an unmapped river with his son Kermit and renowned Brazilian explorer Candido Mariano da Silva Rondon.

Death on the River of Doubt takes readers inside the thrilling journey that unfolds as Roosevelt, Rondon, Kermit, and their companions navigate an unpredictable river through an unforgiving jungle. With new threats at every turn, from bloodthirsty piranhas and raging rapids to starvation, disease, and a traitor in their own ranks, it seems that not everyone will make it out alive.

Through it all, the indomitable Teddy Roosevelt remained determined to complete their mission and rewrite the map of the world. Or die trying.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545709163
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	01/03/2017
Pages:	240
Sales rank:	111,025
Product dimensions:	5.80(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Lexile:	1040L (what's this?)
Age Range:	12 Years

About the Author

Samantha Seiple is the author of Lincoln's Spymaster: Allan Pinkerton, America's First Private Eye, a 2015 Junior Library Guild Selection; Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion; and Byrd & Igloo: A Polar Adventure. She has worked as a competitive intelligence specialist for a Fortune 500 company, as a librarian, and as a production editor and copy editor. Her education includes degrees in English, journalism, and library and information science. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Prologue Knocking on Death's Door 1

Chapter 1 The Naturalist 7

Chapter 2 A Force of Nature 17

Chapter 3 The Offer 33

Chapter 4 A Bad Beginning 45

Chapter 5 Survival of the Fittest 59

Chapter 6 Into the Unknown 73

Chapter 7 The Roar 83

Chapter 8 Welcome to the Jungle 91

Chapter 9 Misfortune 98

Chapter 10 Risking It 105

Chapter 11 The Arrow 113

Chapter 12 No Doubt 119

Chapter 13 True Colors 127

Chapter 14 A Death Sentence 133

Chapter 15 Dire Straits 139

Chapter 16 Do or Die 143

Chapter 17 Criminal 147

Chapter 18 A Turn for the Worse 155

Chapter 19 Left for Dead 163

Chapter 20 The Hunt 167

Chapter 21 Signs of Life 173

Epilogue 183

Teddy's Travel Tips 193

Theodore Roosevelt-Career Highlights 198

Sources 202

Index 207

Acknowledgments 213

About the Author 214

Editorial Reviews

11/07/2016
This gripping chronicle of a 1914 expedition that changed the map of Brazil highlights a post-presidential accomplishment of Teddy Roosevelt. Setting the scene, Seiple (Lincoln’s Spymaster) writes that, after arriving in Rio de Janeiro for a speaking tour, the “danger-loving, thrill-seeking” Roosevelt was recruited by the Brazilian government to lead, along with local explorer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon, a mission to chart an unexplored and unmapped waterway in the Amazon jungle, known as the River of Doubt. Accompanied by his son Kermit and an entourage of Brazilian camaradas (canoeists and other laborers), Roosevelt embarked on what became as much a journey of survival as discovery. Incorporating quotations from the journals of Roosevelt and the expedition’s other principal members, Seiple illuminates the party’s life-threatening struggles with thundering rapids, punishing rain, disease, injuries, hostile native tribes, insubordination, dwindling provisions, and plummeting morale. Simultaneously, Seiple’s portrait of Roosevelt reveals his perseverance, good humor, selflessness, and compassion, despite potentially fatal malaria and an infected leg wound. Archival photos help draw readers into this death-defying drama. Ages 12–up. Agent: Jessica Regel, Foundry Literary + Media. (Jan.)

Publishers Weekly

Seiple (Lincoln’s Spymaster [Scholastic, 2015/Voya August 2015]) presents another compelling adventure; this one is about Theodore Roosevelt’s post-presidential expedition to map the Rio da Duvida in Brazil. At the invitation of the Brazilian government, the former president, his son Kermit, and American naturalist George Cherrie join a team of fourteen Brazilians led by explorer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon as they map this unexplored tributary of the Amazon. From the outset, the journey slows to the pace of a sloth, and each day’s adversity stretches the men and their resources to the limit—smashed canoes, swarms of insects, stolen food, injuries, disease, and death. The outcome is as doubtful as the river’s name, and not everyone lives to share the experience. Their personalities and competing interests invite readers to think beyond the straightforward survival plot line, though the plot twists will certainly pull readers along. The book is well researched, relying mainly upon primary sources, with a handful of recent and reputable secondary ones. Near the beginning, a gallery of photos and names helps readers sort out the seventeen men. At the end, “Teddy’s Travel Tips,” adapted from Roosevelt’s memoir, provide a clever review. English language arts teachers may find this slim book useful as a mentor text for writing narrative nonfiction from primary sources. One minor omission is a list of photo credits. Reviewer: Donna L Phillips;

VOYA, December 2016 (Vol. 39, No. 5) - Donna L Phillips

Seiple deftly weaves a story of murder among the native Brazilians into Theodore Roosevelt’s adventure exploring the River of Doubt, now called Roosevelt River. Eager for diversion after the letdown from his exciting presidency, Roosevelt grabbed the opportunity to discuss world democracy in South America and to tour the Amazon River in his avocation as a naturalist and collector. When he arrived in Brazil, Roosevelt was unexpectedly offered a chance to explore and map the mysterious winding River of Doubt. He could not refuse. Seiple chooses the most unlucky and exciting part of the River of Doubt expedition to anchor her story. One of the canoe paddlers was known to be a shirker and a food thief, despite the strict rationing undertaken by the entire expeditionary force. Discovered to be continuing pilfering by his fellow workers, he broke free and shot a fellow laborer. Meanwhile, Roosevelt was suffering from a skin wound that became septic. In the midst of shooting and bypassing rapids, facing off piranhas and native Amazonians, and searching for food, Roosevelt and his fellow leader Rondon hold their team together and achieve success. The extraordinary creativity and diversity of one of our most pragmatic and visionary presidents becomes the keystone of this thrilling middle grade novel. This is a fascinating read and a welcome addition to the social studies classroom and school library. Reviewer: Elisabeth Greenberg; Ages 12 up.

Children's Literature - Elisabeth Greenberg

12/01/2016
Gr 7 Up—A hardheaded outdoorsman sets out to explore the uncharted regions of the Amazon. Only one thing sets him apart from other enterprising men of his day—he used to be the president of the United States. Given the opportunity to investigate this region, Theodore Roosevelt jumped at the chance and unwittingly placed himself and his crew in great danger. Offering only the most perfunctory of overviews of his presidency, Seiple jumps into the meat of this particular episode in Roosevelt's life, his time on the so-called River of Doubt. With black-and-white photos and descriptive language, this book is an immersive reading experience for lovers of adventure narratives. While presidential biographies for kids are common fare, it is rare to see such a detailed account of an individual's time after leaving office. Seiple also takes care to profile Roosevelt's crew, including his son Kermit and respected explorer Cândido Mariano da Silva Rondon. However, the handling of Brazil's indigenous peoples leaves a lot to be desired: they are framed as existing only in the past ("Like the United States, Brazil had a population of different Indian tribes") and referred to as "hostile Indians." VERDICT While this is an action-packed work of narrative nonfiction, its occasional stereotypical depiction of indigenous peoples lessens its value.—Erinn Black Salge, Saint Peter's Prep, Jersey City, NJ

School Library Journal

2016-09-19
In this true, thrilling adventure story, 55-year-old former president Theodore Roosevelt joins an expedition to explore an uncharted river deep in the Amazon jungle and barely makes it out alive. Long before he was president of the United States, Roosevelt was famous as an intrepid adventurer. While on a speaking tour of South America, Roosevelt receives an offer he cannot refuse: lead an expedition deep into a mostly unknown region of the Amazon to chart an unmapped river. Accompanying him are his son Kermit and renowned Brazilian explorer Cndido Mariano da Silva Rondon, quite similar to Roosevelt in stamina and temperament. The expedition is plagued with difficulties from the beginning. Besides having to trudge through thick, unforgiving jungle and navigate an unpredictably dangerous river with raging rapids and steep waterfalls, Roosevelt and his companions must endure myriad threats such as ferocious insects, malaria, near starvation, bloodthirsty piranhas, poisonous snakes, and hostile indigenous peoples. Seiples crisply written, briskly paced narrative brings the constant state of danger to the fore, smoothly weaving in quotations from primary sources. As close to death as he has ever been, Roosevelt characteristically remarks, "I did have a murderous trip down South, but it was mighty interesting." One unfortunate oversight is an absence of specific source notes for these quotations. A stirring, suspenseful true story of dangerous adventure and remarkable survival. (photos, Teddys Travel Tips, timeline, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 12-16)

Kirkus Reviews