Titanic: Voices from the Disaster

Gr 6 Up—Hopkinson offers a thorough account (Scholastic, 2012) of the April 15, 1912 sinking of the Titantic. Background information is interspersed with stories of survivors and witnesses, including primary source quotes. The author weaves together the voices of children, passengers in all classes, the captain, and crew members to provide a unique account of the tragedy. What makes this chronicle of events unique is the direct quotes from survivors which are seamlessly inserted throughout and successfully handled by talented voice actors Mark Bramhall, Peter Altschuler, and others. Listeners will be enthralled by the effective use of personal details. Have the print version available so listeners can peruse the photos, art work, diagrams, and maps.—Mary Medinsky, Red Deer College, Alberta, Canada