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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
adventurous
informative
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This would be a good story to introduce young readers to the story of the Titanic. I did find it unbelievable that a 12 year old girl would be so interested/knowledgeable/curious about all the factors that led to the Titanic's sinking. It kind of gave away all the issues early in the book, which did not build my suspense as a reader. But, maybe for an 8-12 year old reader with limited background knowledge, this would be appropriate.
I think this was a fabulous middle grade read. I read other reviews that it wasn’t this authors best work or as good as her other. I disagree. This was written for 8-12 years old. It is teaches about the History of the Titanic in an age appropriate way. The main character learns about class, friendship, and what it means to be a hero on her journey. I would recommend this to anyone who loves historical fiction, but I definitely recommend to my students passed and present!
“It’s a book for kids, it’s a book for kids, it’s a book for kids.”
NOPE. I can’t do this. Kids deserve SO MUCH better!
First off, I’ve done a lot of research and reading on the Titanic since I was a kid. But I’ve gotten even more into it in the past 5-6 years, because there are a TON of YouTube channels dedicated to getting the facts right about Titanic, as well as hundreds of other maritime disasters. Often, they will look at these popular tales about the Titanic - the ones meant to make us think the people in charge were deliberately negligent, or just plain incompetent.
Sadly, some of these myths made it into this story. The idea that the coal fire weakened the ship’s hull and made it sink quicker - debunked https://youtu.be/Ry-PmtX_wtc. The Marconi operator shouting at his opposite number on the Californian - debunked https://youtu.be/CvLWcP_bD4w (this one ticks me off the most, because the Titanic’s wireless broke down and the operators spent all night trying to fix the dang thing. Can you imagine the night of the sinking WITHOUT someone sending distress calls??) And the characterization of J. Bruce Ismay as a coward, when he was actually helping people into lifeboats. He only got in one because he was the last person standing in the area and there was room for him. He didn’t take away a spot for anyone else. https://youtu.be/l_YxR2v71Yw
I could go on, but you get the point.
Beyond that, Hazel is written as a girl from Current Year trying to look for reasons the Titanic is in trouble, even days before the ship hit the iceberg. I mean, I get it. You have to have something to write about in the time of the voyage where nothing notable was happening. James Cameron did it with his movie and the love story that filled up the time before disaster struck. I would have thought the mystery of the two criminals trying to steal from other passengers would have been enough for that. But maybe the editor wanted to indulge in the Titanic clickbait just to make the story a little more spicy for middle-graders.
NOPE. I can’t do this. Kids deserve SO MUCH better!
First off, I’ve done a lot of research and reading on the Titanic since I was a kid. But I’ve gotten even more into it in the past 5-6 years, because there are a TON of YouTube channels dedicated to getting the facts right about Titanic, as well as hundreds of other maritime disasters. Often, they will look at these popular tales about the Titanic - the ones meant to make us think the people in charge were deliberately negligent, or just plain incompetent.
Sadly, some of these myths made it into this story. The idea that the coal fire weakened the ship’s hull and made it sink quicker - debunked https://youtu.be/Ry-PmtX_wtc. The Marconi operator shouting at his opposite number on the Californian - debunked https://youtu.be/CvLWcP_bD4w (this one ticks me off the most, because the Titanic’s wireless broke down and the operators spent all night trying to fix the dang thing. Can you imagine the night of the sinking WITHOUT someone sending distress calls??) And the characterization of J. Bruce Ismay as a coward, when he was actually helping people into lifeboats. He only got in one because he was the last person standing in the area and there was room for him. He didn’t take away a spot for anyone else. https://youtu.be/l_YxR2v71Yw
I could go on, but you get the point.
Beyond that, Hazel is written as a girl from Current Year trying to look for reasons the Titanic is in trouble, even days before the ship hit the iceberg. I mean, I get it. You have to have something to write about in the time of the voyage where nothing notable was happening. James Cameron did it with his movie and the love story that filled up the time before disaster struck. I would have thought the mystery of the two criminals trying to steal from other passengers would have been enough for that. But maybe the editor wanted to indulge in the Titanic clickbait just to make the story a little more spicy for middle-graders.
adventurous
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
informative
inspiring
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A delightful historical fiction story. The author deftly wove facts about the titanic into the narrative in a way that didn't feel forced or info-dumpy, and the story proceeded at a great pace so the information didn't slow the narrative down.
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No