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Description
In 1912, thirteen-year-old Albert considers his younger sister a pest, but things change when they travel with their mother and uncle aboard the "Titanic" and are caught up in its tragic sinking.
Quick Summary
If you want a Titanic story that goes beyond the tragedy itself, this one's told from a thirteen-year-old boy's point of view, which gives it a completely different feel than most books on this topic. Albert starts off typical of any older sibling he finds his little sister annoying and just wants her to leave him alone but watching their relationship evolve as they face the disaster together is actually the heart of the story. The historical details about 1912 ship life are woven in naturally, so readers learn about class divisions and what daily life was like aboard without feeling like they're being taught. Kids who enjoy realistic historical fiction, especially ones who appreciate some humor alongside the serious moments, will probably get the most out of this one. The sinking itself is handled appropriately for the middle-grade age group it's scary and emotional but not gratuitously graphic. I'd recommend it to readers who liked "The Endurance" by Caroline Alexander or other survival-at-sea stories, though this one is gentler in tone.