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Titanic: Voices From the Disaster
Critically acclaimed nonfiction author Deborah Hopkinson pieces together the story of the TITANIC and that fateful April night, drawing on the voices of survivors and archival photographs.
Scheduled to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the TITANIC, a topic that continues to haunt and thrill readers to this day, this book by critically acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the voices and stories of real TITANIC survivors and witnesses to the disaster -- from the stewardess Violet Jessop to Captain Arthur Rostron of the CARPATHIA, who came to the rescue of the sinking ship. Packed with heartstopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details, loads of archival photographs on almost every page, and quotes from primary sources, this gripping story, which follows the TITANIC and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers.
Scheduled to coincide with the 100th anniversary of the tragic sinking of the TITANIC, a topic that continues to haunt and thrill readers to this day, this book by critically acclaimed author Deborah Hopkinson weaves together the voices and stories of real TITANIC survivors and witnesses to the disaster -- from the stewardess Violet Jessop to Captain Arthur Rostron of the CARPATHIA, who came to the rescue of the sinking ship. Packed with heartstopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details, loads of archival photographs on almost every page, and quotes from primary sources, this gripping story, which follows the TITANIC and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers.
289 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2012
257 people are currently reading
4,165 people want to read
About the author
Deborah Hopkinson
100books356followersI write nonfiction and historical fiction, picture books, and Golden Books. I speak at school, libraries, and conferences. I also love to garden and offer manuscript critiques. ([email protected])
NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.
I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.
NEW books in 2024 include DETERMINED DREAMER: THE STORY OF MARIE CURIE, illus by Jen Hill, ON A SUMMER NIGHT, illus by Kenard Pak, TRIM HELPS OUT and TRIM SAILS the STORM, illus by Kristy Caldwell, EVIDENCE! illustrated by Nik Henderson, and a nonfiction work called THEY SAVED THE STALLIONS. I'm delighted to say that Trim Helps Out, Trim Sails the Storm, On a Summer Night and Evidence! are all Junior Library Guild selections.
I live and work in Oregon and travel all over to speak to young readers and writers.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 729 reviews
February 25, 2013
I grew up in the Land of 10,000 Frozen Lakes. In Minnesota, it oozes cold. I thought I KNEW cold. But I found out I didn't when I decided to jump off a sailboat into Lake Superior. Whooee, I was so unprepared for air whooshing out of my lungs when I hit the water. Imagine a big block of ice being dropped onto your chest. The water temperature was in the 50's and my teeth were chattering and blue within a short amount of time. Thank goodness I had a life jacket on. The coldness was paralyzing. That is why I cannot imagine being submerged in 28 degree water for HOURS and surviving with no limbs amputated from exposure. Yet unbelievably, many survivors of the Titanic did just that in this page-turning nonfiction account of the sinking of the Titanic. Their voices are powerful and dramatic in this description of the lucky few who survived this disaster.
When I first started this book I thought... argh... I'm never going to be able to keep track of all these people. Don't let this trip you into not reading it. You don't really need to keep track of everyone. Think of it as one collective voice that moves the storyline forward. So many people from the stewards to the passengers are heroes in this tragedy. The story is a powerful comment on the culture and class structure of that time, not to mention the overconfidence of those in charge of the ship, and lack of understanding of the seriousness of the accident after they hit the iceberg. Many crew members and staff sacrificed their lives in order to save others and even though some were responsible for the errors they were noble in their efforts to save the ship and others in the end. It just made the fate of those on board even more tragic. So many good people. So many collective mistakes.
The author doesn't dramatize the text with her voice; instead, she presents the facts in such a way that they speak for themselves. She also uses a variety of people on the ship which gives different viewpoints of the event. That's why you can't worry about all the different characters in the story. This variety of peoples' perspectives shows how the disaster impacted people in different ways. For instance, in first class people couldn't tell that there was an accident; in second class, they felt a bump but it wasn't violent enough to toss a person on the floor; and in third class, a noise was heard and water was rapidly seeping into the cabins so people knew it was serious. The different viewpoints makes for a unique and rich narrative that allows the reader an omniscient view of unfolding events.
The book not only has firsthand accounts, but gives interesting details and primary documents that are inserted throughout chapters. Some inserts are original letters that use the language of the time while others are original photos; all add to a historical feel that help draw the reader into the story. In addition, there are blurbs that give the historical context as to why there weren't enough lifeboats or the reason the special watertight doors failed or the testimonies of different survivors. The design and chronological layout of the book is brilliant with answers to questions I had not even thought about; plus, the appendices and facts about discovering the Titanic in 1985, and the price one can get today for a Titanic relic such as a life belt make for good stuff.
I was amazed reading about the firsthand accounts of how many men went down with the ship so that the women and children could be saved. What is truly incredible is that they didn't storm the lifeboats but insisted that the women go. They knew there weren't enough boats but did not panic. It is quite a comment on society at that time as to what actions were considered noble and honorable. For me, it was heroic and sacrificial adding to the poignancy of tragic loss. Approximately 1500 people died, and 80% of them were men. Seventy-five percent of the women and 55% of the children were saved. The biggest loss was with third class passengers and there were several reasons for this such as not knowing English, not knowing how to get to the deck and the steward running out of time as he scurried people out of the ship's bowels, and passengers staying in their cabins waiting for instructions that never came when they should have evacuated.
There were so many things that went wrong on the Titanic from the Captain driving too fast and not paying attention to iceberg warnings, to the wireless operators not knowing the seriousness of the situation, to the disorganization of people evacuating on lifeboats, to a nearby ship (10-20 miles away) not responding to the rocket distress signals launched by the Titanic, to the lifeboat operators not going back for survivors fast enough and passengers heedlessly drowning from hypothermia. The list of mishaps is so unbelievable it is like pushing a small snowball down a hill and watching it build into a giganto ball that mows down everything in its path.
I was a little confused at first with the voice of Frank Browne because he is 17-years-old and boards the Titanic at Belfast. He is actually studying to be a Jesuit Priest and it would have been helpful if this had been stated right away. I'm thinking he's a high school kid who is living at home with his parents and not at a seminary school. The Titanic sailed from Belfast to South Hampton and Frank is only sailing this portion. He meets an American couple who offer to pay his passage to New York. He wires the priests asking for permission to go and they say, "No." So he doesn't. He is in the book because he took a bunch of awesome photos and because he is a symbol of fate or luck. He was so close to sailing on that fateful ship. It seems that many people who did survive were lucky like Frank and the author hammers this point home with the different voices explaining their experiences.
I remembering skipping 6 blocks to elementary school in January with partially wet hair that would freeze into icicles and clink together like wind chimes. Kind of cool and weird. I know. This book makes me think of my icicle wind chimes. I bought this book because it has been showing up on Newbery 2013 lists on ŷ. I can see why. A ringer, for sure.
Reading Level 7.6
When I first started this book I thought... argh... I'm never going to be able to keep track of all these people. Don't let this trip you into not reading it. You don't really need to keep track of everyone. Think of it as one collective voice that moves the storyline forward. So many people from the stewards to the passengers are heroes in this tragedy. The story is a powerful comment on the culture and class structure of that time, not to mention the overconfidence of those in charge of the ship, and lack of understanding of the seriousness of the accident after they hit the iceberg. Many crew members and staff sacrificed their lives in order to save others and even though some were responsible for the errors they were noble in their efforts to save the ship and others in the end. It just made the fate of those on board even more tragic. So many good people. So many collective mistakes.
The author doesn't dramatize the text with her voice; instead, she presents the facts in such a way that they speak for themselves. She also uses a variety of people on the ship which gives different viewpoints of the event. That's why you can't worry about all the different characters in the story. This variety of peoples' perspectives shows how the disaster impacted people in different ways. For instance, in first class people couldn't tell that there was an accident; in second class, they felt a bump but it wasn't violent enough to toss a person on the floor; and in third class, a noise was heard and water was rapidly seeping into the cabins so people knew it was serious. The different viewpoints makes for a unique and rich narrative that allows the reader an omniscient view of unfolding events.
The book not only has firsthand accounts, but gives interesting details and primary documents that are inserted throughout chapters. Some inserts are original letters that use the language of the time while others are original photos; all add to a historical feel that help draw the reader into the story. In addition, there are blurbs that give the historical context as to why there weren't enough lifeboats or the reason the special watertight doors failed or the testimonies of different survivors. The design and chronological layout of the book is brilliant with answers to questions I had not even thought about; plus, the appendices and facts about discovering the Titanic in 1985, and the price one can get today for a Titanic relic such as a life belt make for good stuff.
I was amazed reading about the firsthand accounts of how many men went down with the ship so that the women and children could be saved. What is truly incredible is that they didn't storm the lifeboats but insisted that the women go. They knew there weren't enough boats but did not panic. It is quite a comment on society at that time as to what actions were considered noble and honorable. For me, it was heroic and sacrificial adding to the poignancy of tragic loss. Approximately 1500 people died, and 80% of them were men. Seventy-five percent of the women and 55% of the children were saved. The biggest loss was with third class passengers and there were several reasons for this such as not knowing English, not knowing how to get to the deck and the steward running out of time as he scurried people out of the ship's bowels, and passengers staying in their cabins waiting for instructions that never came when they should have evacuated.
There were so many things that went wrong on the Titanic from the Captain driving too fast and not paying attention to iceberg warnings, to the wireless operators not knowing the seriousness of the situation, to the disorganization of people evacuating on lifeboats, to a nearby ship (10-20 miles away) not responding to the rocket distress signals launched by the Titanic, to the lifeboat operators not going back for survivors fast enough and passengers heedlessly drowning from hypothermia. The list of mishaps is so unbelievable it is like pushing a small snowball down a hill and watching it build into a giganto ball that mows down everything in its path.
I was a little confused at first with the voice of Frank Browne because he is 17-years-old and boards the Titanic at Belfast. He is actually studying to be a Jesuit Priest and it would have been helpful if this had been stated right away. I'm thinking he's a high school kid who is living at home with his parents and not at a seminary school. The Titanic sailed from Belfast to South Hampton and Frank is only sailing this portion. He meets an American couple who offer to pay his passage to New York. He wires the priests asking for permission to go and they say, "No." So he doesn't. He is in the book because he took a bunch of awesome photos and because he is a symbol of fate or luck. He was so close to sailing on that fateful ship. It seems that many people who did survive were lucky like Frank and the author hammers this point home with the different voices explaining their experiences.
I remembering skipping 6 blocks to elementary school in January with partially wet hair that would freeze into icicles and clink together like wind chimes. Kind of cool and weird. I know. This book makes me think of my icicle wind chimes. I bought this book because it has been showing up on Newbery 2013 lists on ŷ. I can see why. A ringer, for sure.
Reading Level 7.6
October 28, 2015
This is an excellent resource for young adults to learn about the sinking of the Titanic. It is very complete while being succinct. The text covers the entire voyage from the day it left dry dock, through the short journey up the coast to when it set off across the Atlantic, the disaster and the aftermath, including impact on the world immediately after that and finally a little about the discovery of the wreck. I found just the right amount of information, not too much, not too little. The couple of questions I had left were really not appropriate for a book aimed at young people or were ones for which there are probably no certain answers. There are several tables of data at the end for anyone wanting to learn more intricate details and I found myself referring back to them as I read the text.
Illustrating the stories were amazing photographs taken by a young priest who was told to disembark in Ireland by the church even though a rich couple had offered to pay his way to the US. It was disturbing to think about the fact that most of the people in the photos only had days to live. Other photos that have been alleged to be from the Titanic are clarified to be from its sister ship the Olympic. Drawings from newspapers and diagrams round out the illustrations. My only complaint is that the ship's diagram points out all sorts of sections but practically none of the areas mentioned in the accounts. For example, I wanted to know which decks were which such as the Promenade and the third class deck. I wanted to be able to picture exactly where people were, where each lifeboat was, etc., but it's just nitpicking considering the wealth of information in 280 pages.
But the true beauty of the book is that the story is told from the perspectives of some of the survivors gleaned from interviews after they returned to port and during the inquiries. They paint full pictures of real people, the true heroism of most of the passengers along with the very few less than admirable acts. I've seen the movie and read bits here and there but this painted a real picture for me of what happened and what it must have been like (as far as anyone who wasn't there could imagine). I was really impressed with how nonjudgmental the text tried to be, even when talking about the company owner's rush to save himself at the expense of others and the attitudes of the haughty first class passengers in a near-empty boat when asked if they considered going back for survivors. The author let the interviews speak for themselves.
Finally, the book directs readers to a number of appropriate and specific online resources to find more information and encourages readers to become researchers themselves. Even though the book is geared towards young adults and greatly interested my teen, it was exactly right for my own level of interest in the subject as well.
Illustrating the stories were amazing photographs taken by a young priest who was told to disembark in Ireland by the church even though a rich couple had offered to pay his way to the US. It was disturbing to think about the fact that most of the people in the photos only had days to live. Other photos that have been alleged to be from the Titanic are clarified to be from its sister ship the Olympic. Drawings from newspapers and diagrams round out the illustrations. My only complaint is that the ship's diagram points out all sorts of sections but practically none of the areas mentioned in the accounts. For example, I wanted to know which decks were which such as the Promenade and the third class deck. I wanted to be able to picture exactly where people were, where each lifeboat was, etc., but it's just nitpicking considering the wealth of information in 280 pages.
But the true beauty of the book is that the story is told from the perspectives of some of the survivors gleaned from interviews after they returned to port and during the inquiries. They paint full pictures of real people, the true heroism of most of the passengers along with the very few less than admirable acts. I've seen the movie and read bits here and there but this painted a real picture for me of what happened and what it must have been like (as far as anyone who wasn't there could imagine). I was really impressed with how nonjudgmental the text tried to be, even when talking about the company owner's rush to save himself at the expense of others and the attitudes of the haughty first class passengers in a near-empty boat when asked if they considered going back for survivors. The author let the interviews speak for themselves.
Finally, the book directs readers to a number of appropriate and specific online resources to find more information and encourages readers to become researchers themselves. Even though the book is geared towards young adults and greatly interested my teen, it was exactly right for my own level of interest in the subject as well.
December 3, 2020
Good book, especially for kids and the audiobook is a high quality production
March 13, 2019
In this 2012 Scholastic book, the author does an excellent job in her retelling of the famous catastrophe. Hopkinson provides gripping and horrifying details of the occurrence focusing on the personal viewpoints of many of the survivors � Colonel Gracie, Violet Jessup, Second Officer Lightoller, Jack Thayer, governess Elizabeth Shuts, Captain Rostron of the rescue ship Carpathia, wireless operator Harold Bride, Frankie Goldsmith, Lawrence Beesly and others. Included are plenty of black and white photos, charts, maps, and sketches including Photo Credits, End Notes, Bibliography and other Research Sources as well as a “Titanic Timeline.� All in all an excellent reference.
September 25, 2024
2.75
i read this along with the other books i don’t count towards my reading goal for school and it was okay. i skimmed most of it 😋😋
i did think it was interesting but i did read it for ela class so that took away some of the appeal.
also the captain was incredibly dense like why didnt he stop when he got multiple ice warnings??
nvm, im counting school books towards my reading goal now, ignore all these old reviews
April 16, 2021
A detailed and comprehensive source of the Titanic with quite a personal touch with voices and primary sources from individuals who both perished and survived the tragedy.
April 28, 2023
What a fascinating read. Equal parts emotional and frustrating. The sinking of the Titanic won't soon be forgotten.
February 18, 2017
Variety is a hallmark of Deborah Hopkinson's work for young readers. She's written novels, picture books, biographies, and historical nonfiction, and each have been lauded as quality literature. But it was Titanic: Voices From the Disaster that earned Deborah Hopkinson a Sibert Honor as one of "the most distinguished informational" books of 2012, cementing her status as a premier children's nonfiction author. Ms. Hopkinson elaborated on aspects of the Titanic tragedy that aren't always noted, scrutinizing the sequence of events on as detailed a level as I've read. What oversights and brash dismissals of common sense were responsible for the grandest ship ever to sail the open seas sinking on its maiden voyage, an occasion that should have been triumphant but ended with the deaths of 1,496 passengers? Was it an unavoidable twist of fate, a sobering reminder that the natural world is big and dangerous and no manmade construct can withstand its wrath, or could the mess have been avoided if key figures had performed their jobs properly? Titanic: Voices From the Disaster examines these storylines and more, attempting to portray the mammoth scope of the tragedy and how it affected many thousands of people connected to those onboard the Titanic. The shockwaves of this incident would reach every corner of the globe.
"Maybe the Titanic makes us all historians. We can't help being curious: What happened? Why? Who said what and when? What did it mean? And, of course, what if?"
�Titanic: Voices From the Disaster, from the Foreword
It took years of innovative, ambitious design and round-the-clock labor to build the RMS Titanic, the White Star Line's superstar luxury ship. It was safer, more elegant, and much larger than any other boat, a veritable hotel on water that catered to the wealthiest magnates and poor immigrants at the same time. It was three mega ocean liners in one, its first-class, second-class, and third-class areas designed to function as separate worlds. The White Star Line couldn't have been prouder of their signature seacraft, and with great fanfare the Titanic embarked on its debut, sailing from Belfast to Southampton to Cherbourg and on to New York City. People had booked passage on the Titanic for any number of reasons, but all anticipated a smooth, safe journey to the New World on the most modern of seafaring vehicles.
Though built for comfort more than speed, the Titanic moved at a fast clip once it gained momentum on the Atlantic, and was ahead of schedule when warnings started coming from other ships that they were in an area dotted with icebergs. The Titanic had long been touted as indestructible, so the captain and other top officers didn't take the warnings seriously, maintaining only standard precautions against dangerous ice. When the lookout spotted an iceberg jutting from the water directly ahead, he alerted the captain at once, but it was too late to steer the massive Titanic away from the sharp mound of ice. A mortal wound was dealt the ship's underbelly, and seawater gushed into several boiler rooms. Though the passengers and most of the crew remained unaware that anything was seriously wrong, the fantastic ship was already doomed.
As the Titanic took on water and it dawned on the crew that they were only hours from sinking to the bottom of the ocean, they notified passengers and led an exodus to the lifeboats. Unfortunately, there weren't nearly enough seats in the boats for everyone. The Titanic had set sail without a comprehensive emergency protocol in place, and more than a thousand lives stood to be lost unless the radio operators could hail a ship to rush to their aid within a few hours. Urgent dispatches were sent to the Carpathia and Californian, but only the former immediately received the call and set out to the Titanic's coordinates. Onboard the sinking vehicle, women and children were given priority placement in lifeboats, but evacuation was disorganized and inefficient. By now the Titanic was obviously in trouble, listing noticeably as water filled its lower compartments and rose through the opulent interior. People grew desperate for lifeboat berths as the Titanic dipped lower in the water, but few were available. At approximately 2:20 A.M., with the Carpathia still many miles away, the Titanic finally sank beneath the frigid waves of the Atlantic as hundreds of disbelieving survivors watched, both in lifeboats and treading water. When the Carpathia arrived hours later, most people not in lifeboats had frozen and slipped to the depths of the quiet sea, but hundreds in lifeboats were pulled aboard the Carpathia and ministered to as they recovered from the shock of the past several hours. The tragedy and the stories surrounding it captured public interest and would continue to hold it for more than a hundred years, the legend only growing of the floating palace that sank supposedly due to the hubris of the men in charge. The Titanic was not invincible, but its legacy turned out to be. And so did the legacies of those who survived the tragedy and were associated with it for the rest of their days, living relics of a historic night that has much to teach about human frailty, lest we arrogantly forget it.
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster is nowhere near as emotional as the best fiction set on the Titanic (Yes, I'm thinking of James Cameron's 1997 movie, probably the best film I ever saw), but Deborah Hopkinson sure did her research. Human interest episodes mingle with the timeline of the sinking to give multiple perspectives on the disaster, and that's an indispensable part of this book. Without understanding who the world lost that night, we'd have little reason to care. Being introduced to a few of the people who died, getting to know them and what they were like, allows us sorrow over their deaths. And the story of the Titanic still isn't truly over. There will always be mysteries around the ill-fated voyage, ones that diligent historians may eventually solve and ones that are irretrievably lost to the past. We never tire of looking back on that night, so the Titanic lives on. I rate this book two and a half stars, and commend Deborah Hopkinson for a solid historical piece. Every kid fascinated by the Titanic should pick up a copy of this book.
"Maybe the Titanic makes us all historians. We can't help being curious: What happened? Why? Who said what and when? What did it mean? And, of course, what if?"
�Titanic: Voices From the Disaster, from the Foreword
It took years of innovative, ambitious design and round-the-clock labor to build the RMS Titanic, the White Star Line's superstar luxury ship. It was safer, more elegant, and much larger than any other boat, a veritable hotel on water that catered to the wealthiest magnates and poor immigrants at the same time. It was three mega ocean liners in one, its first-class, second-class, and third-class areas designed to function as separate worlds. The White Star Line couldn't have been prouder of their signature seacraft, and with great fanfare the Titanic embarked on its debut, sailing from Belfast to Southampton to Cherbourg and on to New York City. People had booked passage on the Titanic for any number of reasons, but all anticipated a smooth, safe journey to the New World on the most modern of seafaring vehicles.
Though built for comfort more than speed, the Titanic moved at a fast clip once it gained momentum on the Atlantic, and was ahead of schedule when warnings started coming from other ships that they were in an area dotted with icebergs. The Titanic had long been touted as indestructible, so the captain and other top officers didn't take the warnings seriously, maintaining only standard precautions against dangerous ice. When the lookout spotted an iceberg jutting from the water directly ahead, he alerted the captain at once, but it was too late to steer the massive Titanic away from the sharp mound of ice. A mortal wound was dealt the ship's underbelly, and seawater gushed into several boiler rooms. Though the passengers and most of the crew remained unaware that anything was seriously wrong, the fantastic ship was already doomed.
As the Titanic took on water and it dawned on the crew that they were only hours from sinking to the bottom of the ocean, they notified passengers and led an exodus to the lifeboats. Unfortunately, there weren't nearly enough seats in the boats for everyone. The Titanic had set sail without a comprehensive emergency protocol in place, and more than a thousand lives stood to be lost unless the radio operators could hail a ship to rush to their aid within a few hours. Urgent dispatches were sent to the Carpathia and Californian, but only the former immediately received the call and set out to the Titanic's coordinates. Onboard the sinking vehicle, women and children were given priority placement in lifeboats, but evacuation was disorganized and inefficient. By now the Titanic was obviously in trouble, listing noticeably as water filled its lower compartments and rose through the opulent interior. People grew desperate for lifeboat berths as the Titanic dipped lower in the water, but few were available. At approximately 2:20 A.M., with the Carpathia still many miles away, the Titanic finally sank beneath the frigid waves of the Atlantic as hundreds of disbelieving survivors watched, both in lifeboats and treading water. When the Carpathia arrived hours later, most people not in lifeboats had frozen and slipped to the depths of the quiet sea, but hundreds in lifeboats were pulled aboard the Carpathia and ministered to as they recovered from the shock of the past several hours. The tragedy and the stories surrounding it captured public interest and would continue to hold it for more than a hundred years, the legend only growing of the floating palace that sank supposedly due to the hubris of the men in charge. The Titanic was not invincible, but its legacy turned out to be. And so did the legacies of those who survived the tragedy and were associated with it for the rest of their days, living relics of a historic night that has much to teach about human frailty, lest we arrogantly forget it.
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster is nowhere near as emotional as the best fiction set on the Titanic (Yes, I'm thinking of James Cameron's 1997 movie, probably the best film I ever saw), but Deborah Hopkinson sure did her research. Human interest episodes mingle with the timeline of the sinking to give multiple perspectives on the disaster, and that's an indispensable part of this book. Without understanding who the world lost that night, we'd have little reason to care. Being introduced to a few of the people who died, getting to know them and what they were like, allows us sorrow over their deaths. And the story of the Titanic still isn't truly over. There will always be mysteries around the ill-fated voyage, ones that diligent historians may eventually solve and ones that are irretrievably lost to the past. We never tire of looking back on that night, so the Titanic lives on. I rate this book two and a half stars, and commend Deborah Hopkinson for a solid historical piece. Every kid fascinated by the Titanic should pick up a copy of this book.
May 31, 2021
The Titanic disaster has always fascinated me ever since I first learned about it in grade school. What this book does so well is it gives historic background using stories from people that actually survived the wreck and mixes it with accessible story perfect for younger children to understand but still remain engaged. This is a great example of exciting nonfiction that reads like fiction, great for students 4th grade and up.
January 17, 2019
I personally thought this was a really good book, I have always had an interest in the Titanic so when I saw this book I knew I would like it. Just being able to live to tell the story about witnessing the sinking I believe is incredible.
November 18, 2021
My oldest daughter (8) recently saw a book about the Titanic and wanted to know more. She reminded me of myself. I don't know how old I was, but I went through a phase as a child where I was fascinated by the Titanic and borrowed every nonfiction book I could find from the library, and after I had exhausted that topic I moved on to ship wrecks in general and treasure hunting. It's almost unbelievable all that was on board the Titanic - it truly was a luxury ship of it's time. Our two younger children joined in on listening to the audiobook. I think some of the numbers, particularly about how many people died, were a bit over their heads. I really liked how the author put together a timeline that was detailed but not stale. Through the voices of survivors and historical documents she was able to share bit and pieces of people's stories. As she states at the end of the quote below, we can never know what it was like to be there, but through the stories we can now how various people felt during different stages of the disaster. These were REAL PEOPLE, with real feelings and hopes. I cried in numerous spots. If this isn't a "living book", I don't know what is. I'm sure the illustrations simply add to the experience. The narrator's voice (Peter Altschuler) was fantastic! So calm and serious, plus he did all the voices so well. I could listen to him for hours more!
This quote from the final chapter sums it all up:
"The events of the Titanic disaster can be seen as a symbol of what happens through an overconfidence in technology, complacence and a mindset of profits over people's safety.
Most of all, the Titanic and the questions it raises, reminds us that history isn't about learning names, events and dates. Knowing that the Titanic sank at 2:20am on April 15, 1912, doesn't begin to convey what happened that night and why, more than a century later, we're still drawn to this event. We can never really know what it was like to be there, when 1496 men, women and children perished in the icy black waters of the Atlantic."
I won't share here all my favorite parts aka all the times I cried (it would take too long!), but I do suggest you track down this book to read or listen to yourself!
This quote from the final chapter sums it all up:
"The events of the Titanic disaster can be seen as a symbol of what happens through an overconfidence in technology, complacence and a mindset of profits over people's safety.
Most of all, the Titanic and the questions it raises, reminds us that history isn't about learning names, events and dates. Knowing that the Titanic sank at 2:20am on April 15, 1912, doesn't begin to convey what happened that night and why, more than a century later, we're still drawn to this event. We can never really know what it was like to be there, when 1496 men, women and children perished in the icy black waters of the Atlantic."
I won't share here all my favorite parts aka all the times I cried (it would take too long!), but I do suggest you track down this book to read or listen to yourself!
January 19, 2021
I gave it 5 stars because it gave a historical telling of the Titanic by using information and quotes that were written down by people who were on the Titanic. Everyone should read this book that would be interested in learning more about the sinking of the Titanic. I thought the book had everything in it. It had real photographs and charts and facts about those on the ship, so I don’t think it could have been any better than it was.
This book had everything someone would want to know about the Titanic. It had a diagram of the ship, told the story of the voyage, had photos of people on the ship, and used quotes that had been written down by the passengers on the ship. There was also a time line, facts and figures about the ship, and information about who lived and who died. There was a section that had facts about some of the people on the ship and what happened with them. The part that made it most interesting is that characters in the book were people who were really on the Titanic. It was easy and fun to read. It makes the person reading the book feel like they are there.
This book had everything someone would want to know about the Titanic. It had a diagram of the ship, told the story of the voyage, had photos of people on the ship, and used quotes that had been written down by the passengers on the ship. There was also a time line, facts and figures about the ship, and information about who lived and who died. There was a section that had facts about some of the people on the ship and what happened with them. The part that made it most interesting is that characters in the book were people who were really on the Titanic. It was easy and fun to read. It makes the person reading the book feel like they are there.
February 14, 2020
Excellent concise account of the Titanic written for teens. Audio was very well done. I didn’t want to stop listening! 😍☺️
January 13, 2024
A fantastic, accessible account of the famous tragedy. While it's aimed at a younger audience, the book doesn't dumb down any part of the tragedy, providing full details, stats, accounts and more of one of the most famous disasters in history.
A must-read for Titanic enthusiasts.
A must-read for Titanic enthusiasts.
July 5, 2023
“Don’t you know what happens in the end?� My husband could not understand why I wanted to leave the dinner table early to finish this book. Yes, of course, I know the ending, but Hopkinson’s writing had me in its grip � one of the reasons this book was awarded a Sibert Honor Award for Nonfiction 2012. I hesitated in reading this book because I thought it would be primarily biographical and narrative in nature. Turns out � this is very much a blended text with a great deal of non-narrative information towards the beginning of the book describing the physical features of the Titanic with all of its amenities. Hopkinson introduces people who worked on the ship and those who were passengers � only through what the people wrote in letters or said at some point after the tragedy � if they survived. So the text has the feel of a documentary. She doesn’t take license and assume what they must have been feeling or saying (like Bill O’Reilly does in Lincoln’s Last Days � ugh). The lives of the passengers and the crew are threaded together and then surfaced throughout the text � from the weeks of preparation before the departure of the Titanic from it’s home in Belfast, Ireland to the arrival of the survivors in New York on the Carpathia. The survivors� stories are pieced together to create suspense and then to dramatize the moments before and as the ship went down and then the hours spent waiting for rescue.
I’d recommend this for proficient readers � grades 5-8. I also think this could be read aloud to students. Putting all of the primary source images in the book on the document camera would add to the engagement. Or you could read excerpts with a “book talk� to interest independent readers.
CHALLENGES FOR some READERS (that you might need to be aware of and confer on)-
*Hopkinson jumps right into describing and chronicling the Titanic as though the reader knows a bit about the Titanic already. There's a short mention of "the largest and most luxurious ship the world had ever seen, a masterpiece of human engineering, class, and comfort" on the first page of Chapter One and then goes on as if you know what she's talking about - for me there wasn't an explicit enough introduction to this ship. That does not deter me from recommending. Just saying she's assuming you already know a bit about the Titanic!
*She refers to "decks" - D, E, F, etc. a lot throughout the book when discussing where events occurred (starting on page 36). While there's a two page illustration of the ship with a side view and labels for different areas on the ship like the Crew Quarters - there is no graphic that helps the reader visualize "decks." She has a glossary of terms - but not every term is there. She also uses "aft" and "astern" but these are not explained. Not a reason to avoid the book - but important to know if you are recommending to students and want to be aware of possible obstacles.
*There are a lot of people involved in Hopkinson's narrative - students might struggle a bit to keep up with who, when, where, why - but I just kept reading and the people started to feel familiar and recognizable each time they popped up.
I’d recommend this for proficient readers � grades 5-8. I also think this could be read aloud to students. Putting all of the primary source images in the book on the document camera would add to the engagement. Or you could read excerpts with a “book talk� to interest independent readers.
CHALLENGES FOR some READERS (that you might need to be aware of and confer on)-
*Hopkinson jumps right into describing and chronicling the Titanic as though the reader knows a bit about the Titanic already. There's a short mention of "the largest and most luxurious ship the world had ever seen, a masterpiece of human engineering, class, and comfort" on the first page of Chapter One and then goes on as if you know what she's talking about - for me there wasn't an explicit enough introduction to this ship. That does not deter me from recommending. Just saying she's assuming you already know a bit about the Titanic!
*She refers to "decks" - D, E, F, etc. a lot throughout the book when discussing where events occurred (starting on page 36). While there's a two page illustration of the ship with a side view and labels for different areas on the ship like the Crew Quarters - there is no graphic that helps the reader visualize "decks." She has a glossary of terms - but not every term is there. She also uses "aft" and "astern" but these are not explained. Not a reason to avoid the book - but important to know if you are recommending to students and want to be aware of possible obstacles.
*There are a lot of people involved in Hopkinson's narrative - students might struggle a bit to keep up with who, when, where, why - but I just kept reading and the people started to feel familiar and recognizable each time they popped up.
April 6, 2013
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster
Name: Danielle Autumn Shur
Hopkinson, D. (2012). Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
Genre: Informational
Award: YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
Format: Print Book
Selection Process: YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award list
Review:
Say the word ‘Titanic� and most everyone will know what you are referring to. Just over 100 years ago, the most famous maritime disasters occurred. Books have been written, movies have been filmed, and stories have been told, each differing in point of view but with the same result. The Titanic, the world’s largest passenger ship and one that was said to be unsinkable, hit an iceberg and sunk just a few hours later in the early morning hours on April 15, 1912. This book tells the story of what happened.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster steps into the world of the survivors with photos and interviews that have been collected over the past century. Each chapter details a certain point of the Titanic’s timeline of events ranging from the boarding of passengers to the arrival of the survivors in New York. The book contains additional information on the people mentioned throughout the telling. When one is reading, they are transported into this world, seeing the beauty of the new ship, hearing the laughter of joy, and feeling the steady sway of the ship. But on that night, all changed. With only enough lifeboats for about half, women and children were loaded and soon became widows and orphans. Seeing the great ship sinking, hearing the cries for help, and feeling the icy waters of the north Atlantic; the glory was gone.
The book raises the question of whether or not something could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The ship was going full speed in an area known to have ice. Would slowing down have made it easier to move its direction in time? Could the person steering have hit the iceberg head on rather than scraping the side and in turn giving the ship more time for rescue? Many have asked the question ‘what if?� but there is nothing to be done about it now, we have learned and because of this event maritime law has been updated to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring again.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
Name: Danielle Autumn Shur
Hopkinson, D. (2012). Titanic: Voices from the Disaster. New York, NY: Scholastic Press.
Genre: Informational
Award: YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award
Format: Print Book
Selection Process: YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award list
Review:
Say the word ‘Titanic� and most everyone will know what you are referring to. Just over 100 years ago, the most famous maritime disasters occurred. Books have been written, movies have been filmed, and stories have been told, each differing in point of view but with the same result. The Titanic, the world’s largest passenger ship and one that was said to be unsinkable, hit an iceberg and sunk just a few hours later in the early morning hours on April 15, 1912. This book tells the story of what happened.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster steps into the world of the survivors with photos and interviews that have been collected over the past century. Each chapter details a certain point of the Titanic’s timeline of events ranging from the boarding of passengers to the arrival of the survivors in New York. The book contains additional information on the people mentioned throughout the telling. When one is reading, they are transported into this world, seeing the beauty of the new ship, hearing the laughter of joy, and feeling the steady sway of the ship. But on that night, all changed. With only enough lifeboats for about half, women and children were loaded and soon became widows and orphans. Seeing the great ship sinking, hearing the cries for help, and feeling the icy waters of the north Atlantic; the glory was gone.
The book raises the question of whether or not something could have been done to prevent this tragedy. The ship was going full speed in an area known to have ice. Would slowing down have made it easier to move its direction in time? Could the person steering have hit the iceberg head on rather than scraping the side and in turn giving the ship more time for rescue? Many have asked the question ‘what if?� but there is nothing to be done about it now, we have learned and because of this event maritime law has been updated to prevent a tragedy like this from occurring again.
Recommendation: Highly Recommended
April 28, 2017
Read the full reivew and exclusive author guest post at
I have always been interested by the dramatic story of the sinking of the Titanic. And as a history buff,this book appealed to me on so many levels. I love that Deborah Hopkinson used real photos of the ship and it's passengers as well as first hand accounts. The narrative came alive for me in a way that it never has before thanks to a visually and historically rich account of that fateful night. There are so many new facts I had never heard, including he location of rescue ships in the area and the miscommunication or ignoring of warning messages from other ships nearby. Once again the tragedy of that event becomes crystal clear, but the author adds so many layers of new information that I found myself immersed from page one.
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster is an excellent non-fiction gem for both teens and adults alike. Teens will find it easy to read and interesting, chock full of well researched primary resources. I was so impressed by the amount of end notes and extras included. Deborah Hopkinson and Scholastic have given us a wonderful gift to commemorate 100 years since the Titanic's sinking.
I have always been interested by the dramatic story of the sinking of the Titanic. And as a history buff,this book appealed to me on so many levels. I love that Deborah Hopkinson used real photos of the ship and it's passengers as well as first hand accounts. The narrative came alive for me in a way that it never has before thanks to a visually and historically rich account of that fateful night. There are so many new facts I had never heard, including he location of rescue ships in the area and the miscommunication or ignoring of warning messages from other ships nearby. Once again the tragedy of that event becomes crystal clear, but the author adds so many layers of new information that I found myself immersed from page one.
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster is an excellent non-fiction gem for both teens and adults alike. Teens will find it easy to read and interesting, chock full of well researched primary resources. I was so impressed by the amount of end notes and extras included. Deborah Hopkinson and Scholastic have given us a wonderful gift to commemorate 100 years since the Titanic's sinking.
February 8, 2020
Although geared toward a young adult reading level, I still found this book mesmerizing. A retelling of the fateful sinking of the Titanic, it's succinct but relates moments I hadn't read about before, with pictures I also hadn't seen before. Nicely done.
September 10, 2020
When the Titanic left Queenstown, Ireland, on April 11, 1912, with over 2,200 passengers and crew members bound for New York, most of those on board almost certainly believed the universal myth that had been floating around for months: the Titanic was unsinkable.
Based upon news articles about the ship and advertisements from its owner, the White Star Line, it's apparent that those who built the ship had designed it to be unsinkable.
When it was built and launched, the Titanic was the largest ship afloat. At 882.5 feet long, 92.5 feet wide, 175 feet high, the ship displaced 66,000 tons of water. It was the largest movable object human hands had ever crafted.
With newly-designed watertight compartments and remotely-operated, electronic watertight doors, it's simple to see why engineers believed the ship was all but unsinkable.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, penned by Deborah Hopkinson recreates for the readers the anatomy of the disaster.
On April 15, 1912, the “most luxurious ship the world had ever seen� struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, and of the 2,208 people on board, only 712 of them survived.
This well-known story gets an updated interpretation in Deborah Hopkinson’s intertwining of the voices of passengers and crew members who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Although the ship had been designed to stay afloat even if four of its 16 watertight compartments were breached, the iceberg's glancing blow caused the ship's hull plates to buckle along its starboard (right) side, and water soon began to fill six of the watertight compartments. Less than three hours later, the ship would break apart and sink over two miles to the ocean floor.
Approximately 705 people survived by boarding lifeboats. Unfortunately, outdated maritime regulations had not forced the ship's designers to include enough lifeboats to ensure the survival of all passengers and crew members.
In fact, the Titanic had only enough lifeboats to save a little more than half of its passengers and crew, if properly loaded. The lifeboats weren't properly loaded and roughly 1,517 people perished in the disaster, making it one of the nastiest peacetime maritime disasters in history.
In enthralling detail and with a profusion of archival photographs and facts about the superb ship, the author describes how the tragedy unfolded. The material on the sinking of the ship, the rush for lifeboats, and the dreadful wait to be rescued is more informative and every bit as dramatic as the movie versions of this ill-fated voyage.
If the “unsinkable" Titanic had been able to stay afloat longer than a couple of hours, many more lives could have been saved. When it sent out its distress call, though, the first ship to respond � the Carpathia � was more than three hours away. By the time it arrived, the Titanic was on the ocean floor.
A must read for Titanic-buffs.
Based upon news articles about the ship and advertisements from its owner, the White Star Line, it's apparent that those who built the ship had designed it to be unsinkable.
When it was built and launched, the Titanic was the largest ship afloat. At 882.5 feet long, 92.5 feet wide, 175 feet high, the ship displaced 66,000 tons of water. It was the largest movable object human hands had ever crafted.
With newly-designed watertight compartments and remotely-operated, electronic watertight doors, it's simple to see why engineers believed the ship was all but unsinkable.
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster, penned by Deborah Hopkinson recreates for the readers the anatomy of the disaster.
On April 15, 1912, the “most luxurious ship the world had ever seen� struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, and of the 2,208 people on board, only 712 of them survived.
This well-known story gets an updated interpretation in Deborah Hopkinson’s intertwining of the voices of passengers and crew members who survived the sinking of the RMS Titanic.
Although the ship had been designed to stay afloat even if four of its 16 watertight compartments were breached, the iceberg's glancing blow caused the ship's hull plates to buckle along its starboard (right) side, and water soon began to fill six of the watertight compartments. Less than three hours later, the ship would break apart and sink over two miles to the ocean floor.
Approximately 705 people survived by boarding lifeboats. Unfortunately, outdated maritime regulations had not forced the ship's designers to include enough lifeboats to ensure the survival of all passengers and crew members.
In fact, the Titanic had only enough lifeboats to save a little more than half of its passengers and crew, if properly loaded. The lifeboats weren't properly loaded and roughly 1,517 people perished in the disaster, making it one of the nastiest peacetime maritime disasters in history.
In enthralling detail and with a profusion of archival photographs and facts about the superb ship, the author describes how the tragedy unfolded. The material on the sinking of the ship, the rush for lifeboats, and the dreadful wait to be rescued is more informative and every bit as dramatic as the movie versions of this ill-fated voyage.
If the “unsinkable" Titanic had been able to stay afloat longer than a couple of hours, many more lives could have been saved. When it sent out its distress call, though, the first ship to respond � the Carpathia � was more than three hours away. By the time it arrived, the Titanic was on the ocean floor.
A must read for Titanic-buffs.
Read
April 16, 2018Deborah Hopkinson’s award winning informational text, “Titanic: Voices From the Disaster� explores the tragic sinking of the RMS Titanic in a way that accurately captures both human and historical elements of the event. Hopkinson’s Sibert Medal winner describes the 1912 voyage of the Titanic from the perspectives of multiple different passengers that were aboard the “unsinkable� ship when she struck ice and descended to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean. “Titanic: Voices From the Disaster� is a captivating read that emulates the horrible disaster that occurred on April 15th, 1912.
When I was young, I developed a deep fascination with the nautical mechanics of the RMS Titanic. I found it so interesting to study the events that led up to the disaster that changed mankind and our relationship with the naval world. This past summer, my dad and I visited the Titanic Artifact Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vegas’s exhibition is home to the largest recovered artifact from the ship - a fifteen ton piece of the ship’s hull called “The Big Piece�. Standing just feet away from the artifact was surreal. I imagined how many people had stared at the piece over one hundred years prior, unaware of what was to come. In trying to share the facts and information behind historical events, many museums and works of nonfiction lose the human aspect of the event. However, Hopkinson’s informative text accurately depicted the emotion and life that the RMS Titanic carried with her on her journey. Hopkinson’s vivid personal accounts allow readers to imagine and memorialize the real people who were passengers aboard the ship.
In addition to being able to share the tales of the unique men, women, and children aboard, “Titanic: Voices From the Disaster� also provides readers with interesting and important information about the ship and her people. Hopkinson’s choice of narrative subjects, pictures, and supplemental facts together make her book an informative and interesting read. Hopkinson’s book would be very useful in the elementary classroom because it allows young readers to expand their knowledge on the historic event of the sinking of the RMS Titanic while also challenging them to make sense of a society that existed before them.
When I was young, I developed a deep fascination with the nautical mechanics of the RMS Titanic. I found it so interesting to study the events that led up to the disaster that changed mankind and our relationship with the naval world. This past summer, my dad and I visited the Titanic Artifact Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Vegas’s exhibition is home to the largest recovered artifact from the ship - a fifteen ton piece of the ship’s hull called “The Big Piece�. Standing just feet away from the artifact was surreal. I imagined how many people had stared at the piece over one hundred years prior, unaware of what was to come. In trying to share the facts and information behind historical events, many museums and works of nonfiction lose the human aspect of the event. However, Hopkinson’s informative text accurately depicted the emotion and life that the RMS Titanic carried with her on her journey. Hopkinson’s vivid personal accounts allow readers to imagine and memorialize the real people who were passengers aboard the ship.
In addition to being able to share the tales of the unique men, women, and children aboard, “Titanic: Voices From the Disaster� also provides readers with interesting and important information about the ship and her people. Hopkinson’s choice of narrative subjects, pictures, and supplemental facts together make her book an informative and interesting read. Hopkinson’s book would be very useful in the elementary classroom because it allows young readers to expand their knowledge on the historic event of the sinking of the RMS Titanic while also challenging them to make sense of a society that existed before them.
June 17, 2017
Titanic: Voices from the Disaster is a great book for young readers wanting to learn about what happened on the Titanic. The voices of the people make the book come to life and the information is accurate and authentic. It makes the book more interesting and gives the facts without making it seem like a history lesson. I really liked how the people were from all different classes, cultures, and had different backgrounds. It gave the reader a full view of what is was like on the ship from many different views. It was amazing to me to read about the lives of people that were involved with the Titanic and I really think young readers would enjoy it as well.
The timeline, statistics, and damage report at the end were great. At 22, I learned many new things from those pieces in the book and I have read so many books about the Titanic. They give a lot of information without it sounding boring. The letters from the survivors were touching and really brought the book together. The pictures were very interesting as well. It gave the reader a little break and made it easier to see who or what was on the Titanic.
I would definitely recommend this book for readers wanting to learn about the Titanic. It is not like any other book I have read involving the event because it has pictures and different points of view. Other books are more of a boring history lesson, but this book gives accurate information through the people involved.
The timeline, statistics, and damage report at the end were great. At 22, I learned many new things from those pieces in the book and I have read so many books about the Titanic. They give a lot of information without it sounding boring. The letters from the survivors were touching and really brought the book together. The pictures were very interesting as well. It gave the reader a little break and made it easier to see who or what was on the Titanic.
I would definitely recommend this book for readers wanting to learn about the Titanic. It is not like any other book I have read involving the event because it has pictures and different points of view. Other books are more of a boring history lesson, but this book gives accurate information through the people involved.
April 16, 2018
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson is a good informational text for those interested in learning what happened on the ship. This book allows people to understand what happen during the night the Titanic sank but those who have survived it. The Titanic occurred in 1912 and still one of the talked about events in history, people what to know how the ‘unsinkable� ship sank early that morning and why more people weren’t saved throughout this event. I feel this is a great book to read if you have little to no knowledge on the event because it starts from the beginning of it all. It informs readers the process of building the ship and the amount of time and effort in to it to it sinking in the freezing ocean. I enjoyed this book because it allowed you to hear stories from the survivors but also the people who almost boarded the ship. The stories are incorporated in the text about the ship, that makes the reading flow together and easier for those interested in reading the whole story. Growing up I have always learned about the Titanic and I’ve even watched the movie based on the event but this book places you on the Titanic and allows you to envision everything that’s going on as it begins to sink into the water.
April 9, 2013
Name: Kim Deniker
APA Citation: Hopkinson, D. (2012). "Titanic: Voices from the disaster". New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Genre: Historical Fiction and YALSA Choice
The awards received include Booklist, 12/01/2011; Publisher’s Weekly, 2/20/2012; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 4/1/2012; Horn Book, 11/1/2012 and 3/1/2012; School Library Journal, 2/1/2012; Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 4/1/2012; Kirkus Reviews starred 1/1/2012; Wilson's Children, 10/1/12; Library Media Connection, 5/1/2012; Wilson's Junior High School, 10/1/12; Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, 2013; Robert F. Silbert Informational Book Medal Honor, 2013; and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Notable Children’s Book for Middle Readers, 2013; CYBILS Top 5 Finalist, 2012.
Format: Print
Selection Process: "Titanic: Voices from the disaster" was chosen for the ALSC and YALSA list for Notable Children’s Books for middle readers in March of 2013 along with the Titanic subject matter and historical fiction genre, this title was added to the reading list for seventh grade social studies at Wilmington Area. The Horn Book (2013) listed the Titanic: Voices from the Disaster as an honor book named by the 2013 Robert F. Silbert Informational Award. It is also the recipient of the YALSA award and the School Library Journal (2012) highly recommends this title which provides “a unique account of this tragedy� (77). Reluctant readers will find interest in this book due to the topic and format of the readily available and simplistic plot, short sentences, believability of characters, and uncomplicated dialog. It is considered a high interest- low reading level book at the seventh grade reading level.
Review: Gr 6 Up - This epic story shares the dramatic chronology of the RMS Titanic which happened on the fateful day of Monday, April 15, 1912. Hopkinson tells this story in “third-person narrative voice to tell the story while incorporating eyewitness accounts of people on the "most luxurious ship the world had ever seen."�(Kirkus Review, 2012). Details explain the creation, maiden voyage with 2,208 people on board, and description of the collision with an iceberg which ultimately caused the demise of this great “unsinkable� ship along with personal accounts and memories from the crew, children, surviving passengers, and witnesses of varying accounts which truly are the "voices from the disaster". This story is complimented by the inclusion of actual archival photographs including charts and reproductions to provide a clear picture as to the unfolding of events. The emotional impact is shared with this tragedy through direct quotes and personal detail which provided support for the retelling from the three class designations and the crew. One quote was from Violet Jessop who was a stewardess on the Olympic, the Titanic, and the Britannic who spoke with the Captain Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia, who was in charge of the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors. Others accounts were from a science teacher named Lawrence Beesley, on his way to Canada to visit with his brother; a nine year old, third class boy named Frank Goldsmith who saw the ship as a fun-filled adventure; and Margaret Brown, better known as the “Unsinkable Molly Brown�, who later became an avid women’s rights supporter and ran for the U.S. Senate. Scholastic explains this story as being “packed with heart stopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details…this gripping story, which follows the Titanic and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers�. School Library Journal states that “students looking for real-life drama will find this an absorbing and richly satisfying read� (142). This basic introduction is presented without overdramatizing the facts while depicting the true spirit of the maiden voyage of the Titanic until the unyielding iceberg ripped a three hundred foot hole into the side of the ship that was going over twenty knots and immediately began to take on water. It took less than three hours for the magnitude of the situation to set in. Women and children being the first passengers to occupy the limited number of life boats were considered fortunate and unfortunate in that their lives were saved but often at the cost of losing someone dear and/or all of their possessions. One of the viewpoints was from an immigrant mother, Charlotte Collyer who lost her husband and all of their possessions and ended up moving to America and starting a new life with her eight year old daughter. While the 712 survivors witnessed the sinking of the great Titanic, many saw their families or loved one for the last time as the life boats lowered into the dark, still, freezing North Atlantic Ocean, without any help coming for almost two hours, over the Titanic’s final resting place. Kirkus Reviews (2012) shares this thought “Best of all is the author's spirit: She encourages readers to think like historians and wonder what it would have been like on the Titanic and imagine each character's story�. Even though this nonfiction historical story is based on facts, the reader will find him/herself emotionally saddened by such unnecessary loss of life and possible disregard for safety due to overconfidence. This incident has forever changed how ships operate concerning safety protocol. “A thorough and absorbing recreation of the ill-fated voyage� (Kirkus Review, 2012). This book also includes charts, maps, photos, reproductions, bibliographic reference, chronology of events; further reading list, index, notes, glossary, and Web sites. Recommend.
APA Citation: Hopkinson, D. (2012). "Titanic: Voices from the disaster". New York: Scholastic, Inc.
Genre: Historical Fiction and YALSA Choice
The awards received include Booklist, 12/01/2011; Publisher’s Weekly, 2/20/2012; Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, 4/1/2012; Horn Book, 11/1/2012 and 3/1/2012; School Library Journal, 2/1/2012; Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA), 4/1/2012; Kirkus Reviews starred 1/1/2012; Wilson's Children, 10/1/12; Library Media Connection, 5/1/2012; Wilson's Junior High School, 10/1/12; Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults Award, 2013; Robert F. Silbert Informational Book Medal Honor, 2013; and the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) and Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) Notable Children’s Book for Middle Readers, 2013; CYBILS Top 5 Finalist, 2012.
Format: Print
Selection Process: "Titanic: Voices from the disaster" was chosen for the ALSC and YALSA list for Notable Children’s Books for middle readers in March of 2013 along with the Titanic subject matter and historical fiction genre, this title was added to the reading list for seventh grade social studies at Wilmington Area. The Horn Book (2013) listed the Titanic: Voices from the Disaster as an honor book named by the 2013 Robert F. Silbert Informational Award. It is also the recipient of the YALSA award and the School Library Journal (2012) highly recommends this title which provides “a unique account of this tragedy� (77). Reluctant readers will find interest in this book due to the topic and format of the readily available and simplistic plot, short sentences, believability of characters, and uncomplicated dialog. It is considered a high interest- low reading level book at the seventh grade reading level.
Review: Gr 6 Up - This epic story shares the dramatic chronology of the RMS Titanic which happened on the fateful day of Monday, April 15, 1912. Hopkinson tells this story in “third-person narrative voice to tell the story while incorporating eyewitness accounts of people on the "most luxurious ship the world had ever seen."�(Kirkus Review, 2012). Details explain the creation, maiden voyage with 2,208 people on board, and description of the collision with an iceberg which ultimately caused the demise of this great “unsinkable� ship along with personal accounts and memories from the crew, children, surviving passengers, and witnesses of varying accounts which truly are the "voices from the disaster". This story is complimented by the inclusion of actual archival photographs including charts and reproductions to provide a clear picture as to the unfolding of events. The emotional impact is shared with this tragedy through direct quotes and personal detail which provided support for the retelling from the three class designations and the crew. One quote was from Violet Jessop who was a stewardess on the Olympic, the Titanic, and the Britannic who spoke with the Captain Arthur Rostron of the Carpathia, who was in charge of the ship that rescued the Titanic survivors. Others accounts were from a science teacher named Lawrence Beesley, on his way to Canada to visit with his brother; a nine year old, third class boy named Frank Goldsmith who saw the ship as a fun-filled adventure; and Margaret Brown, better known as the “Unsinkable Molly Brown�, who later became an avid women’s rights supporter and ran for the U.S. Senate. Scholastic explains this story as being “packed with heart stopping action, devastating drama, fascinating historical details…this gripping story, which follows the Titanic and its passengers from the ship's celebrated launch at Belfast to her cataclysmic icy end, is sure to thrill and move readers�. School Library Journal states that “students looking for real-life drama will find this an absorbing and richly satisfying read� (142). This basic introduction is presented without overdramatizing the facts while depicting the true spirit of the maiden voyage of the Titanic until the unyielding iceberg ripped a three hundred foot hole into the side of the ship that was going over twenty knots and immediately began to take on water. It took less than three hours for the magnitude of the situation to set in. Women and children being the first passengers to occupy the limited number of life boats were considered fortunate and unfortunate in that their lives were saved but often at the cost of losing someone dear and/or all of their possessions. One of the viewpoints was from an immigrant mother, Charlotte Collyer who lost her husband and all of their possessions and ended up moving to America and starting a new life with her eight year old daughter. While the 712 survivors witnessed the sinking of the great Titanic, many saw their families or loved one for the last time as the life boats lowered into the dark, still, freezing North Atlantic Ocean, without any help coming for almost two hours, over the Titanic’s final resting place. Kirkus Reviews (2012) shares this thought “Best of all is the author's spirit: She encourages readers to think like historians and wonder what it would have been like on the Titanic and imagine each character's story�. Even though this nonfiction historical story is based on facts, the reader will find him/herself emotionally saddened by such unnecessary loss of life and possible disregard for safety due to overconfidence. This incident has forever changed how ships operate concerning safety protocol. “A thorough and absorbing recreation of the ill-fated voyage� (Kirkus Review, 2012). This book also includes charts, maps, photos, reproductions, bibliographic reference, chronology of events; further reading list, index, notes, glossary, and Web sites. Recommend.
June 3, 2022
This book is very informative and entertaining. I enjoyed learning much more about the Titanic disaster than I ever knew before. Unlike most, I have not watched the famous Titanic movie, but I knew basic information about the disaster. Hearing the personal stories of many survivors and those who lost their lives gave the entire event a whole new meaning to me. I knew that the sinking could have been avoided, but before checking out this book I never knew how many factors played into the disaster being possible and how tons more lives could have been saved by just a few changes with what happened that fateful night.
The book is a nonfiction, but it reads like a great narrative with multiple viewpoints of the event. The audiobook is fantastic, because multiple people told accounts from different passengers and crew from the ship. I highly recommend this book.
The book is a nonfiction, but it reads like a great narrative with multiple viewpoints of the event. The audiobook is fantastic, because multiple people told accounts from different passengers and crew from the ship. I highly recommend this book.
June 18, 2017
I have always been interested in the Titanic and her fateful maiden voyage. I love finding random facts regarding historical events that not everyone may know. I enjoyed this book because of the way Deborah Hopkinson presented the information from the photographs of the ship and the facts regarding the passengers, crew, food, etc. I found that the information presented and how it was presented did make me feel excited to read more about the Titanic and had me wanting to read more into the deep details regarding the sinking and the people who died and survived. The quotes from the survivors really added to the overall emotion to the book. It added humanity to information, making sure that we did not forget that this was real, people survived and people died and we are reading what happened to those people over a century ago.
June 16, 2019
Titanic: Voices From the Disaster recounts multiple travelers experiences on the Titanic. Through these recounts, readers are able to hear about the luxurious ship, the divide in classes, and the sinking of the Titanic. The text effectively uses text features such as photographs, drawings, and extra information boxes to help readers learn even more information about the Titanic and why it played out the way it did.
March 20, 2023
Meant for a younger audience than myself, but still a great book about survivor stories. I did learn a couple new things. 1. Mr. Bruce Ismay had a mental collapse on the Carpathia, never leaving his bunk. 2. Most of the survivors, having just lost all their worldly possessions, still thought about what they could do to help those who also lost so much (like sewing clothes from blankets for those who had none).
March 25, 2021
This book was unputdownable for me. I started it yesterday morning and finished tonight. What struck me most is the emotion thag stems from every page. I’ve read about the Titanic before, but this is by far the best book I’ve come across on this topic.
August 22, 2024
This book takes you into the lives of some of the survivors of the Titanic and telling their stories. These personal stories told by minutes, hours of that night are moving and brought to life. Must read for those fascinated by the Titanic.
February 8, 2019
A "simple" overview with several first-hand accounts from the survivors of the disaster.
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