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3.98 AVERAGE
3.98 AVERAGE
I love Jennifer Nielsen's historical fiction and this might be favorite of hers yet.
I absolutely loved the characters and all the historical information throughout. I think it's the perfect book for kids learning about the Titanic because it is such an enjoyable story but also teaches so much. I can't wait to read this with my kids in the future.
I absolutely loved the characters and all the historical information throughout. I think it's the perfect book for kids learning about the Titanic because it is such an enjoyable story but also teaches so much. I can't wait to read this with my kids in the future.
This was a well written book but because I knew what the end result was, it was hard to stay engaged.
Somehow this was more mature than the YA book I had tried reading before it. It trusted its audience, and thinking of 12-year old me, I really appreciate it. I can see how this was sculpted perfectly for middle-grade, and taught about the Titanic, while also providing an entertaining story. Hazel was the perfect choice for a main character, and Charlie, and Silvia were excellent picks for her friends. As an adult I appreciate this story, and I know as a kid who also loved asking just as many questions as Hazel that I would have loved it then. Weirdly, I also learned quite a bit. I think this story can provide worth for any age.
This novel is an excellent one for children. The protagonists all live to tell their story. The tragedy of Titanic is sugar coated so as not to terrify young readers. The main character has snuck on board, meeting a socialite her same age. A fast friendship develops. Yet two passengers that we know we’ll attempt a crime. Ultimately good wins even as many passengers go down with Titanic.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Not my usual genre, but I read it because my 7th grader loved it. Boy was he right!! This was SO GOOD. Now I want to read all of her books. Amazing story. Absolutely incredible.
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Oof. I really expected a lot better from Nielsen. This book is a mess, from the easiest things to get right (how can you get the number of passengers on the ship wrong? I don't even need to look it up to know--it's as well known as the name of Columbus' ships) to the cartoonish villains. Maybe I'm just too much of a Millennial and I'm seeing things that aren't there, but too often I felt like I was getting movie quote references--it's like the main research source was James Cameron. Nielsen so often knocks it out of the park with historical thrillers, and this was not thrilling. It also kept harping on "women and children first" in this really aggressive way as if to retcon that idea as standard maritime procedure, when it was actually considered really weird for Smith to order the evacuation that way (contrary to what disaster movies and books will have you think, men typically save themselves in emergencies and do not stop to help others--in most maritime disasters, crew survive and passengers die because it's every man for himself lolsob). Everyone felt like a caricature that you'd find in a really lazy historical fiction novel, which makes no sense because Nielsen is a highly talented writer! This is like a bad parody of her own stuff.
Spoiler
Bumbling con man who speaks openly about his plans? Check. Noble poor boy willing to die to save rich people? Check. Snooty formerly poor person trying to hide their humble backgrounds whose heart eventually melts? Check. Filthy rich girl who is weirdly understanding and kind to dirt poor people? Check.
This was a good middle grade read about a young inquisitive girl who stows away on board the Titanic. If you know your Titanic history, this book stays very true to real life and it was well written. The only reason I’m giving it 3 stars is because I felt that the main character was only there to give young readers facts about the story of the Titanic. She didn’t act like a young girl her age would, in my opinion, and it took away from the story a little bit. But young readers will probably enjoy it.
My son and I really enjoyed reading this one together. The author does a really good job at keeping all ages interested in the storyline.
adventurous
emotional
mysterious