okiecozyreader 's review for:

Surviving Savannah by Patti Callahan

4.0

---

Reading this book and learning about the elegant steamship Pulaski - The Titanic of the South (one of many ships, 75 years before the Titanic, that sank on its way north) was so fascinating. Patti Callahan did such an amazing job researching and writing it for 3 years. In one interview, she mentions how much what she did was exactly like what Everly does in the book (except for one scene in an attic)- she did all the same research (even writing the complete manifest of passengers - which had never been done bc many wives and slaves weren’t included). She also researched many of the survivors and stories of people on the ship, but this story is based on the written account by Rebecca Lamar, who is Augusta Longstreet in the story, bc she has her account. All of the historical aspects were exact. She changed names of family members so their personal stories could be different, though some are very similar.

Both the modern day and historical stories were interesting to read. Sometimes I felt like things fell a little too neatly in place, but I love when I learn so much and feel like I was there.