Unsinkable (Titanic Series #1)

by Gordon Korman

Overview

The ultimate action/adventure trilogy begins, with #1 bestselling author Gordon Korman plunging readers into the heart of the Titanic.The Titanic is meant to be unsinkable, but as it begins its maiden voyage, there's plenty of danger waiting for four of its young passengers. Paddy is a stowaway, escaping a deadly past. Sophie's mother is delivered to the ship by police - after she and Sophie have been arrested. Juliana's father is an eccentric whose riches can barely hide his madness. And Alfie is hiding a secret that could get him kicked off the ship immediately. The lives of these four passengers will be forever linked with the fate of Titanic. And the farther they get from shore, the more the danger looms. . . .

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780545388481
Publisher:	Scholastic, Inc.
Publication date:	05/01/2011
Series:	Titanic Series , #1
Sold by:	Scholastic, Inc.
Format:	eBook
Pages:	176
Lexile:	820L (what's this?)
File size:	2 MB
Age Range:	9 - 12 Years

About the Author

Gordon Korman is the beloved author of over one hundred novels for young readers, including hilarious middle-grade classics such as the Macdonald Hall series, I Want to Go Home, and Slacker. Born in Montreal, Quebec, Gordon grew up in Thornhill, Ontario, and now lives in New York with his family. Visit him online at www.gordonkorman.com.

Read an Excerpt

From Titanic Book One: Unsinkable

RMS CARPATHIA

Monday, April 15, 1912, 9:30 A.M.

They stood four deep on the afterdeck of the Carpathia, chilled to the bone, staring out at nothing. Dark water, light swells—no evidence that barely seven hours before, the largest and most magnificent ship the world had ever seen had sailed there in all her glory. The truth was nearly impossible to believe: The RMS Titanic lay at the bottom of the sea, along with everyone who sailed in her, save the 706 souls rescued and now aboard the Carpathia.

"Look!"

The cry energized the exhausted throng. A flash of color among the endless waves.

A survivor?

And then the swell turned over the item that stirred their frozen hearts with momentary hope. A deck chair. Nothing more.

Editorial Reviews

Praise for Gordon Korman's Titanic series:

"Though best known and loved for his humorous books, Korman has proven here, as he has with the other adventure series he's penned, that he is far from a one-trick pony." — Quill & Quire

"[Korman] knows how to spin a lively and engaging tale. Hanging it on an already fascinating, albeit tragic, slice of history means it wins on all levels: a thrilling account of a heart-stopping disaster, and a set of fictional characters seamlessly intertwined with real life." — The Montreal Gazette

"Korman manages to tell the story of the Titanic smoothly while also introducing other elements of the early twentieth century...Altogether an enjoyable read that makes this tragic story come alive with personal narratives." — Resource Links

"Highly Recommended" — Canadian Review of Materials

From the Publisher

Gr 5–8—Circumstances bring four youths from different backgrounds together on the maiden voyage of the RMS Titanic in the first title in a trilogy by Gordon Korman (Scholastic, 2011). Paddy is a stowaway, on the run from gangsters in Belfast. Sophie is the beleaguered daughter of a prominent American suffragette. Alfie has lied about his age in order to secure a job as a steward on the same ship where his father works. Juliana is on a business trip with her father, an eccentric English aristocrat with a gambling problem. The lives of the four become embroiled in adventure and mystery as the great ship embarks on its ill-fated voyage across the Atlantic. Michael Page delivers a strong performance, deftly shifting between characters, and giving each a unique voice by altering accent, pacing, and tone. From Paddy's Irish brogue to Sophie's American accent to Juliana's aristocratic tone and Alfie's working class voice, Page brings the characters to life. Listeners will eagerly await the next installment of this fast-paced story.—Amanda Raklovits, Champaign Public Library, IL

School Library Journal

For those avid listeners who can never take enough voyages on the ill-fated TITANIC, Michael Page’s dramatic narration will not disappoint. In Irish, English, and American accents, Page begins the first book in Korman’s trilogy by introducing four teens whose fates become intertwined aboard ship. Page’s authoritative tone is well matched to the factual material Korman has deftly inserted into this adventure story. Page emphasizes the inevitability of the TITANIC’s fate with crisp speech and a reading pace that is thrillingly deliberate in places. His voice drives listeners forward as inescapably as the TITANIC’s course. The rest of the trilogy can’t come too soon to satisfy listener curiosity about UNSINKABLE's cliff-hanging ending. C.A. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

AUGUST 2011 - AudioFile