The Wreck of the Ethie [Paperback]

Hilary Hyland (Author), Paul Bachem (Illustrator)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and up

The tale of the ill-fated British luxury liner Titanic has been etched in people's minds through books, documentaries and major motion pictures about the tragedy. But, she was not the only passenger ship to be eaten up by the dangerous North Atlantic waters off the shores of Newfoundland in the early 1900s.

In 1919, just before Christmas, the S.S. Ethie departs Port Saunders, Newfoundland, for St. John's Harbor with 92 passengers and crew, all eager to be reunited with family for the holidays. After several difficult days at sea, a violent winter storm casts the coastal steamer Ethie onto rocks one-half mile off the jagged cliffs of northwest Newfoundland. Guided by his fisherman master, and following his own instincts, Skipper, a hardworking and courageous Newfoundland dog, braves the icy, dangerous waters to carry a lifeline from the sinking ship to shore. A seat is rigged to this cable, which carries each person onboard to safety. All 92 passengers and crew were saved from probable death in the icy Atlantic waters by the actions of this brave dog.

In this minute-by-minute fictionalized account of the S.S. Ethie's dramatic voyage, the author vividly brings the adventure to life, showing the spirit of survival amongst the passengers and crew, as well as the strength and determination of a poor fishing family and their courageous dog to save those 92 souls.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 4-7-This book is a novelization of an event that occurred in 1919 off the coast of Newfoundland. A sudden, violent winter storm wrecked the ship SS Ethie against rocks about 100 yards from shore. The ferocity of the wind and waves prevented residents on shore from reaching the stranded passengers. A Newfoundland dog came to the rescue, swimming out to the boat and then returning with a cable with which a rescue system was devised. All 92 people were safely evacuated. The dog was later given an official commendation by the Canadian government. The author dramatically re-creates these events through the eyes of Patrick, a teen crewman on board the ship, and Colleen, the dog's young owner, who lives near the scene of the wreck. The fast-paced action, easy reading level, and black-and-white drawings will appeal to reluctant readers. The author's note contains factual information about the storm, shipwreck, and ensuing rescue. It, along with the glossary of nautical terms and maps of the area, helps to authenticate the factual nature of the book.
William C. Schadt, Glacier Park Middle School, Maple Valley, WA
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"The fast-paced action, easy reading level, and black-and-white drawings will appeal to reluctant readers." --School Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Peachtree Publishers (October 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1561451983
• ISBN-13: 978-1561451982
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #557,220 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hilary Hyland is author of the historical fiction book, The Wreck of the Ethie. It won the Maxwell Medal for "Best Children's Book" and a finalist for the Virginia Literacy Award, the Georgia Children's Book Award and the Tennessee Volunteer Children Book Award.

She is a popular speaker for school visits and conferences. See her website for more information: www.hilaryhyland.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoroughly Enjoyable, December 8, 1999

By 

Gail M. Helms (Illinois) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Wreck of the Ethie (Paperback)

I read many of the books my children select so that we can discuss them. Many are disappointing but the Wreck of the Ethie was thoroughly enjoyable. Hilary Hyland has written a story that you can't put down. Her descriptions of the characters, events and Newfoundland dog are so well done that you feel you are on the shore watching the entire rescue take place. My 9 year old daughter read the book in one sitting and talked about it for days after. Ms. Hyland should be commended for her obviously painstaking research into the story. This kind of wholesome story depicting the good in humanity is what our children should be reading.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Driving account of Newfoundland's heroic rescue, November 15, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Wreck of the Ethie (Paperback)

From a December, 1919, incident, Hillary Hyland has woven a tale sure to warm the hearts of all Newfoundland fans. We follow the events leading to the wreck and the rescue from three perspectives: Collen, the schoolgirl of the dog's family; Patrick, the 16-year old ship's boy, and Skipper, our hero himself. Chapters give us a taste of the world of the rocky coast of Newfoundland in 1919 through the perceptions and reflections of each of these characters. We follow Skipper's work (placing nets for his master) and play (chasing a hare into a thicket, diving for rocks thrown in the surf by Collen) in order to acquaint us with the skills and traits he will later use in the rescue. It is primarily through Patrick's eyes that we see the building storm, the captain's struggle to keep control of a ship increasingly driven and then pummeled by monstrous seas. The terror is palpable as the crew fights to keep feeding the boiler with dry coal in the midst of acrid smoke, a lurching deck, incursions of seawater, and the growing risk of explosion should the water rising in the engine room reach the furnace. Even though we know better, doom seems inevitable as the surging seas impale the ship on rocks and begin to beat it apart. All watch from what is left of the top deck as Skipper fights the waves to retrieve a life line tangled under water in the rocks. The Wreck of the Ethie is a wonderful, heroic tale. I'll take Skipper over Rocky, Rambo, or Arnold any time. It doesn't hurt that all ends well for all the people on board and for Skipper.

Michael Marcus, Editor, Columbia River Newfoundland News.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Book for Children and Adults, February 10, 2001

By 

Courtney L. Lewis "Sassy Librarian" (Kingston, PA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Wreck of the Ethie (Paperback)

Hilary Hyland has done an incredible job of researching and then fictionalizing this incredible story of a shipwreck of the coast of Newfoundland in a blizzard during December 1919. Her depication of life on the island, as well as the loving relationship between a girl and her dog, offer readers two good reasons to read this book. Hyland tells the tale of Colleen and her dog, Skipper, while drawing the parallel story of a poor Irish boy, Patrick, who works on the SS Ethie. I think many young boys and girls will be able to put themselves in the place of Colleen and Patrick and live this harrowing adventure to the fullest. Since there is a happy ending for everyone, the story can be read by younger children (seven or eight) without fear of nightmares.