SYNOPSIS

Hazel, on her way to New York for a job to help her family, doesn’t have enough to pay for a ticket on the Titanic, so she sneaks on board in someone’s luggage.

A kind porter Hazel’s age, Charlie, gives her lodging and teaches her about the ship’s inner workings, some of which worry Hazel quite a bit.

Determined to become a journalist by documenting the Titanic’s story, Hazel queries and records as many facts as she can find – the shortage of lifeboats, lack of emergency training, the fire in the coal compartments, the captain’s past nautical misjudgments, technical inability to see dark icebergs at night.

She makes many friends – a former governess who becomes her teacher and mentor; an aspiring engineer; a young heiress who wants to be her friend.

She also encounters enemies – a card swindler and his wife looking to bamboozle a passenger out of her savings – and reveals their scheme.

When disaster strikes, Hazel relentlessly fights to save friends’ and strangers’ lives before getting rescued herself. Not all of Hazel’s friends survive but her witness’s story will be told.

PERFECT AGE 11 – 15

We love

• The great combo of young-adult plot action, suspense and factual rigor woven into Hazel’s experiences.
• Quite the change of heart in the card swindler! After trying to sneak into a lifeboat disguised as a woman, he’s the one who saves Hazel’s life.
• Terrific to see a young female character investigate and study the science behind the Titanic, icebergs and maritime safety.
• A surprisingly palatable approach to a very tragic subject matter, with uplifting messages even.

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• Imagine being a passenger on the Titanic on the first day – how do you think it felt?
• Hazel is full of emotions about the trip to New York – describe some of them. How would you feel in her shoes?
• Why is Hazel so interested in everything happening on the ship? Do you think she was concerned to start with? What did her mom mean when she talked about premonitions?
• Mrs. Abelman seems very kind and caring toward Hazel. Why might that be? How will she change Hazel’s life?
• If you were captain of the Titanic, based on Hazel’s discoveries, what would you have done differently to prevent the disaster that took place?
• The back of the book includes a section on Titanic facts vs. fiction. Let’s look through it to see what we can learn together!