REVIEW: I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912
Author: Lauren Tarshis

George Calder is 10 years old and just spent a fun time in England with his Aunt Daisy. Now George, his little sister, Phoebe, and Aunt Daisy are all steaming towards New York on board the Titanic. George is a bit rambunctious, getting into trouble for things like sliding down the main staircase railing, but he's just enjoying the trip. The Titanic is huge, very ornate and there is just so much to see and do. It's a bit overwhelming. They meet a nice Italian man, Mario, and his 4-year old son Enzo. Then the trip changes from joyful to frightening. The Titanic strikes an iceberg and begins to sink. There aren't enough lifeboats on board for everyone. What will happen to all the people on the doomed ship?

I love this middle-grade series. Each book is set during a historic event or disaster and tells a fictionalized eyewitness account of a child who survived the event. Many historical facts are mixed in with the fictional story. The stories have a lot of action and interesting facts and would be perfect for reluctant readers, supplemental reading for history units or just as part of a classroom or school library. While the stories do contain details about serious events that cause death, injuries and danger, the details are presented in age-appropriate language without giving too many grisly details.

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic is the 1st book in the I Survived series. There are 16 books currently with a new book coming out in September 2018. The series features a variety of events from modern times (9/11, the Joplin, MO tornado, Hurricane Katrina) to long-ago events (the destruction of Pompeii, the shark attacks of 1916). At just over 100 pages, the books are a good length for middle-grade students or a quick read for adults.