BOOK: HISTORICAL FICTION (ages 6-10)
Brief Description: In an engaging opening scene, the titanic is described as sinking, and10-year-old George Calder is frightened, hears screaming, and then there is darkness. Readers are then taken back to George’s 5th day at sea. He continues to feel lucky to be aboard the Titanic with his wealthy aunt Daisy, but each day George finds himself in trouble because of his great ideas; on this day he vows to keep out of mischief! When he learns there might be a mummy in the cargo hold, he sets out on an adventure only to find a robber who takes his knife and turns it on George. At that moment, the ship lurches as it hits the infamous iceberg. George scrambles on deck to see fellow passengers throwing snowballs made from the iceberg. Readers experience great angst as the ship continues to sink. Ultimately, there is a happy ending for George and his family and friends, but the author reminds readers that this wasn’t the case for the 1, 517 people who didn’t survive this disaster.
Awards: None
Personal Opinion: I was surprised by how well developed the characters were in this transitional level historical account of the Titanic disaster. In short space, Tarshis defines them beautifully and draws the reader into their lives; I found myself routing for them as the suspenseful actions unfolded. Being a children’s story, there is a happy ending, but I thought the author’s inclusion of more facts about the disaster were well done at the story’s end.
Programming Idea: This would be a great book to include in the study of the Titanic or other world events in the early 1900’s. Kids might be encouraged to write their own historical fiction story using other disastrous events in history.
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