Scholastic Canada
ISBN: 978-1443104654
Published Sept 1, 2011
Hardcover, 208 pages
I have been wanting to read this book
in the I Am Canada series, because it explores a time or event
in Canada's history—this one being how a Canadian boy survived the
Titanic sinking during his voyage home to Montreal (my city!) with
his parents from London where he had attended Winchester College
boarding school. I thoroughly enjoyed this recounting through the
eyes of Jamie Laidlaw, a 14 year-old fictional character. It's a
story that made me smile and of course, tear up, as I read about that
tragic night. I had a lump in my throat through several scenes.
Although Jamie and his family are
fictional, the rest of the characters are not. Author Hugh Brewster,
who previously worked on books about the Titanic history--even
working with the explorer who discovered the Titanic, Dr. Robert
Ballard--has tried to describe these real people and their
experiences in relation to the Titanic as accurately as possible.
There were several things I liked about
this book, among them reading the perspective of a boy who saw his
mother get into a lifeboat but had to stay behind with his father
because men and boys were not permitted. I automatically thought of
my son and my husband. Would I have had the courage to leave them
behind? What a horrible situation. Jamie was such a likable teen, and
his honest view of what was happening was insightful to read. Because
he was a Montrealer, there were several references to my city and to
famous historical people from Montreal who died on the Titanic, such
as Mr. Molson and Charles Hays.
Once again, as in the previous I Am
Canada book I read, Blood and Iron, I found the themes in
this novel to be universal: friendships, losing a parent, not wanting
to be treated as a child, sibling rivalry, and dealing with feelings
of being on the brink of manhood. I think all Canadian schools should
include this series in their libraries. It brings history alive for
middle-graders with stories that are coming-of-age, full of
adventure, and poignant. Highly recommended.
Note: This book is rated C = clean read.
I will count this book toward the following challenges: TBR Pile Reading Challenge, YA Historical Fiction Reading Challenge
Reviewed by Laura
Disclosure: Thanks to Nikole Kritikos from Scholastic Canada for sending me this book for review. I was not compensated in any other way, nor told how to rate or review this product.
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