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mountie9's review against another edition
5.0
Jake’s Review:
Mom: Jake seriously I think you should read this, its really kind of exciting.
Jake: Mom, you promised.
Mom: I know but you know what I think you should try. Tell ya what give it 5 chapters and if you don’t like it I will go buy you the next beast quest book.
Jake: Mom are you bribing me?
Mom: Yup totally. See how all this reading has made you so smart.
2 Days Later
Jake: It’s pretty scary and a little creepy but you are right, I wanted to keep reading it. There was tons of action and I really liked how smart the kids were and how dumb the adults were. Didn’t like reading it at night though since the Jack the Ripper guy was kinda creepy. Want to find out more about Jack the Ripper and the Titanic disaster, can we look up some stuff on the Internet? So since I finished reading it will you still buy me the Beast Quest.
Mom: Ok, so since you told me I was right, I will definitely buy you a new book. Now go tell your father that mom was right
Jake’s Rating:8.5/10 (just a little too scary and sad for my tastes)
Mom’s Review: This really was a fantastic read for the middle school reader. Lots of thrills and chills and smart kids solving things without bumbling adults getting in the way. History and moral questions thrown in such a subtle way kids won’t know they are learning things. This is such a treat with middle school fiction because you want to instill in kids the love of reading but at the same time teach them things and make them think. Korman really has a talent here and I can see why he sells tons of books. Ok guys this involves the Titanic so pretty much I am prejudice towards liking it. I promised Jake I wasn’t going to make him read this, but I think he will really enjoy it. Don’t want to give away too much but this story involves some interesting theories on the identity of Jack the Ripper and also how the disaster could have been prevented. Lighttoller really comes across as a jerk which differs from some of my reading. Love it, love it. Can’t wait to read the final part of the story.
Mom’s Rating: 10/10
We received this from Scholastic in Exchange for an honest review
Mom: Jake seriously I think you should read this, its really kind of exciting.
Jake: Mom, you promised.
Mom: I know but you know what I think you should try. Tell ya what give it 5 chapters and if you don’t like it I will go buy you the next beast quest book.
Jake: Mom are you bribing me?
Mom: Yup totally. See how all this reading has made you so smart.
2 Days Later
Jake: It’s pretty scary and a little creepy but you are right, I wanted to keep reading it. There was tons of action and I really liked how smart the kids were and how dumb the adults were. Didn’t like reading it at night though since the Jack the Ripper guy was kinda creepy. Want to find out more about Jack the Ripper and the Titanic disaster, can we look up some stuff on the Internet? So since I finished reading it will you still buy me the Beast Quest.
Mom: Ok, so since you told me I was right, I will definitely buy you a new book. Now go tell your father that mom was right
Jake’s Rating:8.5/10 (just a little too scary and sad for my tastes)
Mom’s Review: This really was a fantastic read for the middle school reader. Lots of thrills and chills and smart kids solving things without bumbling adults getting in the way. History and moral questions thrown in such a subtle way kids won’t know they are learning things. This is such a treat with middle school fiction because you want to instill in kids the love of reading but at the same time teach them things and make them think. Korman really has a talent here and I can see why he sells tons of books. Ok guys this involves the Titanic so pretty much I am prejudice towards liking it. I promised Jake I wasn’t going to make him read this, but I think he will really enjoy it. Don’t want to give away too much but this story involves some interesting theories on the identity of Jack the Ripper and also how the disaster could have been prevented. Lighttoller really comes across as a jerk which differs from some of my reading. Love it, love it. Can’t wait to read the final part of the story.
Mom’s Rating: 10/10
We received this from Scholastic in Exchange for an honest review
margaretann84's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, this is great aside from the whole "Jack the Ripper" subplot and all the times I can't help picturing the '97 film. Still an enjoyable read, especially for a Titanic enthusiast such as myself.
tami_provencher's review against another edition
4.0
The Titanic Trilogy consists of three books: (1) Book One: Unsinkable; (2) Book Two: Collision Course; and (3) Book Three: S.O.S. Written by one of my absolute favorite authors–Gordon Korman–these books weave a heart-stopping adventure based on the historical “unsinkable” ship, the Titanic in 1912. Book One details the final arrangements for the Titanic’s maiden voyage and its initial departure from England. Book Two covers the actual event of the Titanic’s fatal crash with the iceberg. Book Three finishes the tale with the actions taken by passengers and crew in the face of certain death as the Titanic literally sinks into the ocean beneath them. Each book is able to stand on its own as a complete story but I think the reader loses a fraction of Korman’s entire work by not reading them in order as one story.
Korman has created four young people who have all ended up as passengers on the ill-fated Titanic when it begins its first and only trip from England to New York. Paddy is a homeless boy living by his wits and his pickpocketing skills in Ireland pursued by gangster from whom he unwittingly stole money; Sophie is the daughter of the well-known and extremely outspoken American Suffragist Amelia Bronson who is being expelled from England by the British authorities; Julianna is the daughter of the seventeenth Earl of Glamm, raised as English nobility; and Alfie has been abandoned by his mother and gotten himself hired as a steward aboard the Titanic to be close to his father who stokes the furnaces.
Their four young lives intertwine and mix with those of Thomas Andrews, the engineer who designed the Titanic, two dangerous Irish gangsters, the famed murderer Jack the Ripper as well as the wealthiest in English and American society and the hard-working emigrants seeking a new life in America.
Korman has a remarkable ability as a storyteller to leave the reader breathless from page to page as our young heroes first clash in their beliefs and actions, then gradually find friendship through their growing awareness and insight into themselves and those around them. Each of them discover a cache of wisdom within themselves that allows new understanding of who they are as individuals and why those closest to them are so important.
And amidst these engaging storylines and profound discoveries, Korman also tells the tragic true story of the sinking of the Titanic. This historical event becomes real to the reader in a way he or she could never have imagined. If you are a history buff, have a special interest in the Titanic or enjoy a heart-pounding adventure story, these books are for you!
With a historical tragedy of the proportions of the sinking of the Titanic Korman wisely does not try to tie everything up in a ‘happily-ever-after’ package at the end. He does, however, completely fulfill the promise of each storyline and subplot. The reader is left with the sorrow of so many lost lives and the renewed spirit that so often arises when we witness the courage and strength of others in such a desperate situation.
This is a fantastic read for ages 2nd grade-middle school. It may be a possible read-aloud selection for an older elementary or middle school class. I would not use it as a read-aloud for younger elementary ages due to some of the menace toward children in the storyline with the gangsters. None of it is inappropriate, but I know I would want to make sure each individual child was able to handle the content in a safe and healthy way; this is, of course, a decision based on individuals, age and classroom dynamics. I do, however, recommend it as a bedtime reading option for families.
Korman has created four young people who have all ended up as passengers on the ill-fated Titanic when it begins its first and only trip from England to New York. Paddy is a homeless boy living by his wits and his pickpocketing skills in Ireland pursued by gangster from whom he unwittingly stole money; Sophie is the daughter of the well-known and extremely outspoken American Suffragist Amelia Bronson who is being expelled from England by the British authorities; Julianna is the daughter of the seventeenth Earl of Glamm, raised as English nobility; and Alfie has been abandoned by his mother and gotten himself hired as a steward aboard the Titanic to be close to his father who stokes the furnaces.
Their four young lives intertwine and mix with those of Thomas Andrews, the engineer who designed the Titanic, two dangerous Irish gangsters, the famed murderer Jack the Ripper as well as the wealthiest in English and American society and the hard-working emigrants seeking a new life in America.
Korman has a remarkable ability as a storyteller to leave the reader breathless from page to page as our young heroes first clash in their beliefs and actions, then gradually find friendship through their growing awareness and insight into themselves and those around them. Each of them discover a cache of wisdom within themselves that allows new understanding of who they are as individuals and why those closest to them are so important.
And amidst these engaging storylines and profound discoveries, Korman also tells the tragic true story of the sinking of the Titanic. This historical event becomes real to the reader in a way he or she could never have imagined. If you are a history buff, have a special interest in the Titanic or enjoy a heart-pounding adventure story, these books are for you!
With a historical tragedy of the proportions of the sinking of the Titanic Korman wisely does not try to tie everything up in a ‘happily-ever-after’ package at the end. He does, however, completely fulfill the promise of each storyline and subplot. The reader is left with the sorrow of so many lost lives and the renewed spirit that so often arises when we witness the courage and strength of others in such a desperate situation.
This is a fantastic read for ages 2nd grade-middle school. It may be a possible read-aloud selection for an older elementary or middle school class. I would not use it as a read-aloud for younger elementary ages due to some of the menace toward children in the storyline with the gangsters. None of it is inappropriate, but I know I would want to make sure each individual child was able to handle the content in a safe and healthy way; this is, of course, a decision based on individuals, age and classroom dynamics. I do, however, recommend it as a bedtime reading option for families.
ktharland's review against another edition
3.0
This series has more facts about the Titanic than any other story I've read. It's a wonderful mix of fact and fiction. I'm impressed.
3milyr3n33's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
sstallryan's review
3.0
We finished this 2nd book as the anniversary of the Titanic's sinking nears. Very exciting. It took Jonathan well into the second book to keep the names of characters straight but we are very much looking forward to the concluding book to find out how the kids make it out of this pickle.
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