Mary Kingsley spent her childhood in a small house on a lonely lane outside London, England. Her mother was bedridden, her father rarely home, and ...
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Jan 03, 2010
Kathryn
rated it: 
I debated between three and four stars on this one. It didn't really GRAB me--I didn't feel as much connection to Mary as I like to do when I read picture book biographies--and the artwork was sometimes a bit odd for me, but overall I think it's a nice introduction to Kingsley. Born in 1862, Mary spent the first thirty years of her life virtually house-bound, waiting on her ailing mother and awaiting her father's brief and infrequent returns from his many travels. Yet, she educated herself an
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(6 people liked it)
Nov 12, 2009
(NS) Sue
rated it:
Mary Kingsley is a plucky, admirable heroine. She spent her lonely, reclusive childhood in Victorian England, caring for her bedridden mother and taking care of the family house. She was never sent to school and educated herself in her absent, well-traveled father's library. At the age of thirty, after her parents die, Mary decides to see the world and sets off to explore West Africa (in proper Victorian dress!) where she thrives. She has many adventures with the native people and animals an
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Dec 21, 2009
Connie
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I never heard of this woman until I got this biography from my Secret Santa at LibraryThing. She had a fascinating life after she was grown - exploring Africa alone in those days when travel was difficult.
I like how the book is written. The author doesn't speculate on her thoughts or motivations (although actual quotations by Mary Kingsley are used when appropriate), and while her childhood was certainly "difficult" (she grew up isolated, educating herself and taking care o More...
I like how the book is written. The author doesn't speculate on her thoughts or motivations (although actual quotations by Mary Kingsley are used when appropriate), and while her childhood was certainly "difficult" (she grew up isolated, educating herself and taking care o More...
Apr 30, 2009
Bonnie
rated it:
An inspiring story of Mary Kingsley in Africa, raised alone by a sickly mother while her adventurous father, a doctor, traveled the world. She rarely if ever left her house or garden but learned to read from her father's library of books that he would bring back from his travels. After her parents passed away she left England in the 1800s and traveled, often alone, through dangerous and rough terrain, to visit the peoples of Africa. Of course she is deemed crazy by the people in England from whe
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Oct 22, 2009
Ashley
rated it: 
The Uncommon Traveler is the biography about Mary Kingsley a young girl who was born in London England. During her childhood, she was very imaginative and curious about nature and animals. When she grew up she moved to Africa to explore the creatures of that country. The illustrations were outlined in ink and then they were colored in with watercolors. There were borders around each picture and the rest of the page was white with plain black letters. The story could be in the classroom to t
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May 07, 2009
Heather
rated it: 
Amazing! The true story of Mary Kingsley in Africa. Victorian woman goes to study and adventure in Africa. It describes a very strong female protagonist who braves the wilderness and defies society to satisfy her curiosity for learning and also to volunteer.
Excerpt:
In a swamp, and eight-foot-long crocodile "chose to get his front paws over the stern of my canoe," Said Mary. "I had to reire to the bow, to keep the balance and fetch him a clip on the snout More...
Excerpt:
In a swamp, and eight-foot-long crocodile "chose to get his front paws over the stern of my canoe," Said Mary. "I had to reire to the bow, to keep the balance and fetch him a clip on the snout More...
Feb 01, 2011
Abigail
rated it:
Picture-book biographer Don Brown - whose other contributions to the genre include Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein and Rare Treasure: Mary Anning and Her Remarkable Discoveries - tells the tale of Victorian explorer Mary Kingsley in Uncommon Traveler. After passing a lonely - one almost might say neglected! - childhood and young adulthood, caring for her infirm mother, Kingsley set out for West Africa at the age of thirty, a journey few women of her time would have undertaken. Wading through
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(5 people liked it)
Sep 25, 2010
Lisa
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I am a fan this author-illustrator’s work and I did like this book.
I figure if Kingsley could be happy, I could try to keep from seeing this as a dismal story of a horrific childhood and an exciting and somewhat fulfilling but way too short and still lonely seeming adulthood. Why she so adored her father and deliberately wished to follow in his footsteps is something I don’t fully understand. All in all, I consider this a rather sad story, even if Mary wouldn’t agree.
I di More...
I figure if Kingsley could be happy, I could try to keep from seeing this as a dismal story of a horrific childhood and an exciting and somewhat fulfilling but way too short and still lonely seeming adulthood. Why she so adored her father and deliberately wished to follow in his footsteps is something I don’t fully understand. All in all, I consider this a rather sad story, even if Mary wouldn’t agree.
I di More...
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(4 people liked it)
Mar 30, 2010
Johannes
rated it:
MCL.
She didn't go to school, but books were her teachers. When her parents died, she traveled to Africa and explored. When she was old, she lived in an apartment with her collections from Africa and she kept it very hot in to remind her of Africa, of home.
She didn't go to school, but books were her teachers. When her parents died, she traveled to Africa and explored. When she was old, she lived in an apartment with her collections from Africa and she kept it very hot in to remind her of Africa, of home.
Oct 16, 2011
A new author for us...well adapter. He distills biographies and real life snippets into children's books. A neat way to explore people and places while having things still feel like fiction.
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Apr 15, 2009
Natalie
rated it:
What a wicked story. Until her parents death, Mary Kingsley lived in service of her family. Cooking, cleaning, nursing, doing maintenance. She basically spent the first thirty years of her life stuck in her gloomy home.
She did however have books to keep her company, and after all those solitary years years went by she had a great longing for adventure.
So in 1893, still in Victorian garb Mary Kingsley, left home with the destination of West Africa. She met murky swamps, e More...
She did however have books to keep her company, and after all those solitary years years went by she had a great longing for adventure.
So in 1893, still in Victorian garb Mary Kingsley, left home with the destination of West Africa. She met murky swamps, e More...
Nov 14, 2011
Matthew
rated it:
Another great Don Brown biography. This is definitely one of my favorites. Well done. Much appreciated. Mary Kingsley is such an unusual historical figure. It's fascinating to read of the exploits of her short life after her parents death. She accomplished so much in so short a time.
Nov 12, 2007
Carly
rated it:
This is an amazing book. It has beautiful pictures and a great story. It tells the story of Mary Kingsley's life and I really think it will pull kids right in because of the beautiful illustrations and action packed story. It would be a great book to pull in during a Wax Museum unit in elementary school.
Jul 05, 2011
Mrs Bond
rated it:
Amazing story, wonderfully told. Beautiful illustrations, muted and soft, as if we were seeing Kingsley's memories. Includes note and bibliography.
Aug 14, 2008
Corinneecomly
rated it:
Great overview of the life of Mary Kingsley who explored the east coast of Africa in the late 1800s.
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