S.O.S. Titanic

by Eve Bunting

Overview

This tale of an Irish teenager aboard the doomed ship, from a Caldecott Medal winner, is a “taut disaster story . . . nearly impossible to put down” (Publishers Weekly).
 
Fifteen-year-old Barry O’Neill is journeying to New York to reunite with his parents on the maiden voyage of the great ship Titanic. He’s homesick, and worried about the Flynn boys traveling in steerage, who have threatened to throw him overboard. Little does Barry know that a struggle with the Flynns is the least of the dangers that await him.
 
This “fast-paced” and suspenseful young adult adventure story is based on the true and terrible events that occurred as the Titanic sank, and “immerses readers in the many human tragedies” (Booklist).

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780547351261
Publisher:	Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication date:	12/15/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	268
Lexile:	690L (what's this?)
File size:	467 KB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

Eve Bunting has written over two hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. She lives in Southern California.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“A dread sense of the inevitable drives this taut disaster story-and makes it nearly impossible to put down.”  —Publishers Weekly 

"Readers fascinated by the lore surrounding the sinking of the Titanic will likely enjoy this exciting, suspenseful, and romantic version of the tragedy."—School Library Journal  

"Bunting accurately and dramatically describes the ship's sinking and, at the same time, immerses readers in the many human tragedies. . . . this fast-paced story will satisfy readers looking for the human element in the Titanic's history."—Booklist

Editorial Reviews

Gr 6-9Readers fascinated by the lore surrounding the sinking of the Titanic will likely enjoy this exciting, suspenseful, and romantic version of the tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Barry, a privileged, upper-class Irishman raised by his grandparents while his parents were off in China, is bound for America to join them at last. Class conflict comes aboard, too, in the form of Frank and Jonnie Flynn, who blame Barry's grandfather for their forced departure from Ireland via steerage. Frank's threats of revenge add a layer of fear to Barry's on-again, off-again relationship with their sister, Pegeen, as the plot steams steadily toward its inevitably icy climax. The final hundred pages of the book describe post-collision confusion that escalates toward chaos, including Barry's gallant attempt (in vain) to save Frank's life. He does succeed in saving Pegeen, and the two of them end up on the overturned inflatable life raft and are among those few rescued the next morning by the Carpathia. Lots of foreshadowing and hints of the supernatural (Watley, Barry's first-class steward, was born in a caul, which is said to have given him second sight) add interest, as does an interesting range of supporting characters.Joel Shoemaker, Southeast Jr. High School, Iowa City, IA

School Library Journal

Fifteen-year-old Barry O'Neill is traveling from Ireland to New York on the "Titanic". He is heartsick about leaving the beloved grandparents who raised him for the last 10 years and apprehensive about rejoining his parents, who have been in China. He's also worried about the Flynn brothers, arch enemies traveling in steerage who have threatened to throw him overboard. Foreshadowing of impending disaster winds through the early narrative: a psychic steward tells Barry of visions, and a superstitious passenger counts and re-counts the lifeboats. What sets this tale apart from other recent novels about the disaster (for example, "Titanic Crossing" ) is Barry's growing awareness of the injustice of the class system that ultimately doomed most of the steerage passengers. With so many characters, most are reduced to a few identifying quirks, but Bunting accurately and dramatically describes the ship's sinking and, at the same time, immerses readers in the many human tragedies. Perfect for middle school, this fast-paced story will satisfy readers looking for the human element in the "Titanic"'s history.

Debbie Carton

A dread sense of the inevitable drives this taut disaster story-and makes it nearly impossible to put down.”  —Publishers Weekly 

"Readers fascinated by the lore surrounding the sinking of the Titanic will likely enjoy this exciting, suspenseful, and romantic version of the tragedy."—School Library Journal  

"Bunting accurately and dramatically describes the ship's sinking and, at the same time, immerses readers in the many human tragedies. . . . this fast-paced story will satisfy readers looking for the human element in the Titanic's history."—Booklist —

From the Publisher