Titanic; Book One; Unsinkable

Korman, G. (2011). Titanic; Book one: Unsinkable. USA: Scholastic.

            A modern historical fiction chapter book for readers in the middle grades, Titanic is the first in a series of three.  The primary character is Paddy Burns, a 14 year-old orphan in Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic was built in 1912.  Paddy and his best friend, Daniel, are street smart pickpockets and thieves of food who make their home in an abandoned building.  Their adventures and misadventures lead to their lives becoming entwined with those of Mr. Andrews, the Titanic’s builder, Gilhooley, a notoriously ruthless gangster, Sophie, the daughter of an American suffragist, Julie, the daughter of an English Earl, and Alphie, who claimed to be older in order to become a junior steward aboard the Titanic.  Paddy’s conflict is multifaceted with his fighting for survival against others, against society, and at times against himself.  Believing that Daniel has been murdered by the gangster because of something he did, Paddy escapes as a stowaway aboard the Titanic, where he progressively encounters the other characters, including the gangster who boards the ship at its stop in Queenstown.  Paddy’s only possession is one of Daniel’s drawings, from when Daniel had been challenged by Mr. Andrews to think of a way the Titanic could be sunk.  Daniel’s drawing shows the ship with a long gash down its side, foreshadowing the actual event.  Paddy often flashes back to memories of Daniel and he carries the drawing next to his heart.  In the integral setting of the magnificent ship, which is described in detail, there is great suspense at every turn, including the discovery of a scrapbook that leads to the prospect that Jack the Ripper is aboard.  Managing many narrow escapes, through luck, his wits, and help from others, Paddy eludes the authorities (and stays alive) through this first book.  The final chapter leaves the reader in hopeful anticipation for the next volume.

            The third-person-sympathetic writing style is fast-paced, with 24 chapters averaging about six pages each.  In the Prologue, there is foreshadowing of coming events as Titanic survivors, now passengers aboard the Carpathia, stare out at the dark water.  The Epilog has the ship’s captain carelessly slipping into his pocket the note from the wireless operator containing the message that ice had been reported ahead. 

            Some terms that might merit further examination are: cravat, klaxons, cacophony, suffragist, truncheon, shillelagh, and Marconi room.  An ongoing theme of the story is friendship--relying on others, while simultaneously being resourceful, self-confident and capable.  The story provides many glimpses into contrasting social classes through scenarios that reveal the characters’ humanity, often transcending their differences.  This engaging book is recommended for readers of both genders around the ages of its main characters, 13-15 years.  Sample question: Can you recall a situation in your life when a friend (or a stranger) made all the difference for a positive outcome?