Titanic (Survival! Series, Book 1) [Paperback]

Kathleen Duey (Author), Karen A. Bale (Author)

Book Description

Series: Survival

The Titanic -- April 14, 1912 Gavin Reilly is working in the Titanic's galley to earn his passage from Ireland to America. He can't wait to join his brother in New York. He has big dreams and bigger ambitions. Karolina Green is returning home to the States with her Aunt Rose after the death of her parents in England. She wants, more than anything, to mend her shattered life in New York.

On a calm, clear April night their hopes and dreams turn into a nightmare -- like those of hundreds of other passengers on the Titanic. Rich and poor, famous and unknown, the people aboard the Titanic find themselves at the mercy of a cold seathat even the greatest ship ever built can't conquer. Few will live to remember the disaster the world still can't forget -- will Gavin and Karolina be among the survivors?

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-Each of the young characters in this action-based series experiences a natural disaster that requires courage and decisiveness. In Fire, readers are eyewitness to the devastating Chicago fire of 1871 through the perspectives of Nate Cooper, an orphan who lives with his aunt and helps out at her boardinghouse, and Julie Flynn, daughter of a wealthy merchant. Their paths cross as each child becomes caught up in the drama. The plot moves quickly describing both the heroic and evil events that arise from such a tragedy. Julie is portrayed as privileged, pampered, and unable to take care of herself without her father or Nate to help her. Her character and the pejorative use of a "Negro" character are disappointing, even given the historical context. The last hours of the Titanic are seen through the eyes of Gavin Reilly, who is working his way from Ireland to America as galley help aboard the ocean liner, and Karolina Green, who is returning to America with her aunt and mourning the death of her parents in England. Details that show the enormity of the ship and the elaborate lifestyle of its first-class passengers are woven throughout the story. The fast-paced plot and innocent friendship between the young characters will interest fans of the movie. It is important to note that this story has a much happier ending.
Joan Zaleski, Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Aladdin (January 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0689813112
• ISBN-13: 978-0689813115
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,180,413 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.

Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,

I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me

(writer's name)



Dear Ms. Duey,

I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.

LOVE , (writer's name)


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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:

I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!


I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.

If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.

I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!

Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com

YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net

The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.

You have no idea how happy that makes me.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A survival story about two kids on the Titanic., August 5, 2000

By 

Rebecca Herman (USA) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Titanic (Survival! Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

After her parents die in England, Karolina's aunt comes to take her home to America. Although she misses her parents terribly, she has resigned herself to the fact that they are never coming back, and she tries to enjoy the trip home on the Titanic, sad as she is. Gavin, who is twelve like Karolina, is earning his passage to America by working in the Titanic's galley. He misses his family back home in Ireland but is eager to join his older brother in New York. Gavin and Karolina meet by chance one night and become friends. On the night the ship sinks, they are thrown together, fighting to survive the terrible disaster. I reccomend this book if you like survival stories or books about the Titanic or shipwrecks.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Book, November 1, 2001

By 

Dwayne Martin (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Titanic (Survival! Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

I thought that this book was well written though it did take some times to get into the plot. At certain time I did think that it got a little dull but overall it was well written and quite interesting. If your wondering about the reading level it would be about right for grades 4-7. For forth graders it may be a little difficult and for seventh graders it may be a little easy. Overall, I would recomend this book to most people unless they need action 100% all of the time.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How Sad!!, October 31, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Titanic (Survival! Series, Book 1) (Paperback)

I love books on the Titanic, so I had to read this one. It wasn't as good as some I've read, but it was still very interesting and suspencful- Will Gavin amd Karolina survive? What about Aunt Rose? I must confess, I expected more to happen between Karolina and Gavin, but we can't have everything. Also I would like to point out a mistake: On the back cover when talking about Karolina, it says 'Karolina Green', but in the book it says 'Karolina Truman' what's with that?