Review by Booklist Review
While some may question the need for yet another title on the Titanic, this new release from the Everyone Can Be a Reader series deserves consideration. Specially designed for challenged readers (dyslexia-friendly fonts on tinted paper), this high/low entry assumes no previous knowledge, offers accessible technical information, and provides sufficient background to build context, whether creating a big-picture overview or filling in details (e.g., the youngest survivor was a two-month-old baby girl from third class). The action begins when the ship sets sail and describes the various accommodations for all passengers, continues through the collision with the iceberg and rescue efforts, and summarizes the lasting impact of the disaster, including the new maritime safety regulations that went into effect almost immediately, and briefly mentions the discovery of the ship on the ocean floor in 1985. Very effective, simple black-and-white line drawings appear every few pages, including maps and cutaways. There are no notes, references, or bibliography, but this easygoing account of a perennially popular subject is sure to be in demand.
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
A concise look at the perennially fascinating Titanic disaster. Providing context for the sinking, Long discusses increasing trans-Atlantic travel and competition between steamship lines. In a chapter devoted to the Titanic's construction, comparisons make the incredible statistics more intelligible: For example, each propeller weighed as much as six adult elephants. Long also details safety measures and examines the luxuries available to passengers in first class, such as lavish facilities, foods, and decor. The author then succinctly explores the unfolding of the disaster, the Carpathia's heroic rescue response, and the aftermath of the sinking, which left many with a greater respect for the power of nature. The book omits reference to the theory that an uncontrolled belowdecks fire played a role in the sinking and doesn't mention the intrepid band members, a last-minute attempt to avert the collision, or the recent implosion of the submersible Titan during an expedition to view the Titanic's wreckage. But this gripping work clearly conveys major events as well as the improvements in ship safety that followed. An opening graphic explains the parts of a ship. Many small grayscale vignettes follow, some showing passengers and crew; others, like those of the gantry and the iceberg's terrible spur, are invaluable in understanding the technical aspects of the Titanic's construction--and destruction. Dyslexic readers will appreciate the use of the serif font. Dramatic data, engaging illustrations, and a poignant narrative make for an appealing account. (Illustrated nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
