"The Titanic Lost...and Found" by Judy Donnelly

The Titanic Lost...and Found is a great introduction to this piece of history. The book has the facts but doesn't go into long explanations that could bore beginning researchers. Though depicting a tragedy, the illustrations were absolutely gorgeous and I liked that one showed what the inside of the ship looked like and another showed the size of a ship in relationship to the number of blocks long (abstract measurements like this never quite made sense when I was a kid so this would have cleared some things up for me at the time). My only complaint with this book was that it was a little outdated (published in 1987). Since I was reading an e-copy, I was a little surprised that some more recent information hadn't been added to this copy. But the basic facts of the Titanic were there so I guess that is enough.

Even as an adult, I love these basic accounts of history. When I need to do research, I still start in with books aimed at youth because I know I can get most of the basic information I need to start and then go about tracking down the more obscure information. Besides, books with pictures make researching so much more fun and interesting. Kids wanting to learn about the Titanic will get a lot out of this book and are in luck if they want to learn more since so much has been written about this majestic ship.


Happy Reading!
-Melly

"What's in Your Closet?" by Rhonda Gibson and Stacy Baron

*Part of my Local Author Spotlight!*

What's in Your Closet? by Rhonda Gibson and Stacy Baron is absolutely perfect for fans of historical fiction and romance.  Personally, I am not a huge fan of romance novels, but the history element of this novel kept me very engaged.  I don't want to spoil the part of this book that took me completely by surprise (let's just say that I didn't take the book's description very literally) but I am pleased with the way the story evolved.  Emily and David are the kind of characters you root for from the beginning.  Over the course of the novel, the two are tracking down clues to solve a mystery about the past occupants of  David's home. As expected, they start to fall in love, but I felt that the characters were realistic about this.  I have found that some writers can't handle this situation very well and everything feels a little too easy, a little too convenient.  That is not the case in this book!

Fans of historical romance must read this book!


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Happy Reading!
-Melly

"I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" by Lauren Tarshis

I came across this series on accident, but it's exactly the kind of series that I just love!  When I was younger, I was always drawn to historical fiction (oddly, I much prefer that written for elementary school age over than for teens and adults).  One of my favorite series was the Travelers Through Time.  Though there were only three, I read them often.  The I Survived books by Lauren Tarshis, remind me quite a bit.  I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912, the first in the series, George is traveling back home with his sister Phoebe and their Aunt Daisy.  Though they have only been on board a short time, he has already met Mr. Andrews and found out about the layout of the ship and discovered a secret- there is the mummy of an Egyptian princess on board the Titanic!  Naturally George decides he wants to get a glimpse of the mummy before they land in New York but a man with a scarred face has the same idea.  Just as the man opens the crate containing the mummy, something happens and the ship begins to sink!  Can George survive?

This book is more or less what you would expect with the subject matter (there sure are a LOT of books about the Titanic) but since it is the first in the series, I think it is a good introduction to these books.  It's great to see how real elements of history are reflected in the pages.  Kids reading this book for fun will still learn something from George's adventure.  I also enjoyed that the book ends with a list of facts (I always appreciate these sort of things because I remember them helping me out with school reports).  I am anxious to read more books in this series (at the time of writing this review there are seven, but I suspect that there will be more).  I also like that fact that it is a series since it's always nice to be able to direct kids to books like the ones they just read.  If you read this book, you will not be disappointed!



Happy Reading!
-Melly

Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic's Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact and Fiction by Barry Denenberg

Titanic Sinks!: Experience the Titanic's Doomed Voyage in this Unique Presentation of Fact

I was really into this book upon the initial reading of it.  I had no idea  that someone had kept a detailed journal of their voyage aboard the Titanic and that the journal had survived!  So imagine my disappointment when I found out that the account was fictionalized despite the author’s note explaining that is was taped to a man that was rescued but did not survive.  I felt a little betrayed.  Even worse, I looked at it from the perspective of children reading this.  I am willing to bet to that most of them are not going to spend their time reading the final author’s note at the end of the book and because this book was classified as non-fiction…well, let’s just say that there are going to be many history reports with false information.

Aside from this flaw, I really enjoyed this book.  It had been awhile since I had come across a new Titanic book and I enjoyed the lists of items that were aboard the famous ship (number of sheets, and types of food for example).  It was clear that Denenberg did his research and does present the information in a unique format I just would have preferred to be informed up front what parts of the book were fictionalized and which parts were not.  Overall, this is a great book for this interested in the Titanic but young readers should have a clear explanation of the differences between fact and fiction before reading it.

Happy Reading!
-Melly

"Timeriders" by Alex Scarrow

I could not put this book down! Timeriders by Alex Scarrow follows three teens that were barely rescued from death (Liam was saved from the Titanic in 1912, Maddy from a plane crash in 2010 and Sal from a fire in 2026) and brought to Manhattan in 2001. They then discover that they are now part of a secret organization called The Agency and are assigned with the task of keeping the world safe from time travel. Each has an assigned task: Maddy, the team leader takes care of all computer tasks, Sal's job is to monitor daily events, taking care to note any changes sparked by time travel, and Liam is sent back in time to resolve any changes made by time travelers. The Agency is housed in an archway in New York City which exists in a time bubble, where the three relive the days of September 10 and September 11. Sal ventures around the city daily, noting a woman who picks up her child's toy, the various advertisements for Shrek and Mamma Mia and, sadly, the World Trade Center attacks.

During a training exercise, Liam is taken back to Dallas, Texas where he encounters Lee Harvey Oswald and prevents the assassination of John F. Kennedy. By doing so, Sal notices changes in 2001 and Maddy's research concludes that Kennedy survived leading to further space advances. However, back in 1963, history is once again altered as another assassin takes the president's life and the future changes back.

During her daily walk, Sal avoids making eye contact with the Twin Towers, as she has seen the attack and lived through the events more than she can bear. But it never comes. She looks up to find that New York has completely changed. Cars have suddenly become old fashioned and cell phone ads have disappeared. The team quickly discovers that the past has changed and Germany won World War II. Liam and support unit Bob travel back Washington D.C. 1956 and find themselves in the middle of a Nazi invasion on the White House. The plot continues with the two sets of Agency members trying to help each other across the timeline and get everything back to the way it should be.

I picked up this book because it involves several areas of history that have always interested me (the Titanic and WWII among others). I read it quickly over two nights and was completely absorbed in the book. Fans of history and science fiction will likely be engulfed in this fast paced read. I felt that the various historical elements were well researched and that the characters and their experiences were believable. I am very much looking forward to reading the rest of the books (nine total are planned).

Happy Reading!
-Melly