On Board the Titanic: What It Was Like When the Great Liner Sank
by Shelley Tanaka
I Was There Books (1)
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Description
Seventeen-year-old Jack Thayer explores the Titanic and forms a brief friendship with another passenger before experiencing the wreck of the giant ocean liner.Tags
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Member Reviews
This well written book about the sinking of the Titanic will give children a vivid account of the vastness and greatness of the ship, and how an iceberg still managed to sink her. Illustrated with many photographs and drawings, the narrative describes how the iceberg struck the ship, how she filled with water and then broke in two. The story is told through the voices of two young men, a passenger and a telegraph operator. Though filled details, it is not too graphic for young readers, and it gives a good overview of the disaster.
I did not realize this was a children's book when I put it in my audiobook cart to check out. It moved quickly, but gave a decent amount of information about the events from the perspective of a first class passenger and a radio operator. The story shared enough information to describe the tragedy, but without being traumatic for younger readers. The author also provided more background information after the story was over. Even I learned a few new things from this book.
This book combines real information about the Titanic with the story of its sinking from the point of view of two real passengers-Jack Thayer and Harold McBride. Jack Thayer was a first-class passenger, and Harold McBride was a radio operator. As you read their stories, you want to keep reading to find out whether they survive. While this part is a fictional account, it is adapted from these two passengers' memories of the disaster.
The non-fiction part of the story gives context to the disaster and relies on historical research. This style helps children learn about what actually happened, but also understand the personal experiences of the people involved. Every page includes historic photos, diagrams by Jack McMaster, and detailed show more paintings by Ken Marschall. On one page readers can see a painting of the ship hitting the iceberg and a diagram showing where the iceberg damaged the ship. show less
The non-fiction part of the story gives context to the disaster and relies on historical research. This style helps children learn about what actually happened, but also understand the personal experiences of the people involved. Every page includes historic photos, diagrams by Jack McMaster, and detailed show more paintings by Ken Marschall. On one page readers can see a painting of the ship hitting the iceberg and a diagram showing where the iceberg damaged the ship. show less
Another excellent example of a book geared towards both teaching children about significant moments in history, and in exciting their thirst for knowledge.
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Cristian 3/18 returned
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RMS Titanic -- children's/young adult fiction and non-fiction
69 works; 3 members
Author Information
Awards and Honors
Awards
Series
Common Knowledge
- Original publication date
- 1996
- Important places
- Atlantic Ocean; North Atlantic Ocean; Titanic
- Important events
- Sinking of the Titanic (1912-04-14 | 1912-04-15)
Classifications
- Genre
- Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 910.91634 — History & geography Geography & travel modified standard subdivisions of Geography and travel History, geographic treatment, biography - Discovery. exploration Geography of and travel in areas, regions, places in general Air And Water Atlantic Ocean
- LCC
- PZ7 .T16135 .O — Language and Literature Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Fiction and juvenile belles lettres Juvenile belles lettres
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 791
- Popularity
- 35,033
- Reviews
- 7
- Rating
- (3.89)
- Languages
- English, German
- Media
- Paper, Audiobook
- ISBNs
- 23
- ASINs
- 4






























































