Ghost Liners: Exploring the World's Greatest Lost Ships (64pp) (Hardcover)

~ (Author), (Author), Ken Marschall (Author) "Inside the cramped submarine, all I could hear was the steady pinging of the sonar and the regular breathing of the pilot and engineer..." (more)
Key Phrases: ghost liners, debris field, second explosion, Andrea Doria, Empress of Ireland, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9-The discoverer of this century's most sought after ship wreckage recounts his exploration of the Titanic. Photographs taken during those dangerous dives plus eerily realistic artwork support the awe and reverence Ballard reveals in his text. In additional chapters he examines other, equally sensational ship disasters of the 20th century. He tells of the Lusitania, the Britannic, the Andrea Doria's collision with the Stockholm, and the Empress of Ireland's sinking in the St. Lawrence River. Each story is accompanied by black-and-white and full-color archival and contemporary photographs, diagrams, and magnificent full-color illustrations. Photographs of the sunken ships and artifacts on the ocean floor and riverbeds add notes of sobering reality to seemingly mythic tales. A few well-chosen quotes from passengers and crew about their experiences add a measure of poignancy. Careful observation of the destroyed ships and historical records reveal the often preventable causes of these accidents. Ballard's Exploring the Titanic (Scholastic, 1988) details his development as an undersea explorer, the drama of the sinking, and the thrill of viewing the ship 70 years after her disappearance. Given the strength of Titanic fever that has gripped public imagination, the stories in Ghost Liners will be devoured by students, history buffs, and all who are fascinated by human tragedy.
Ann G. Brouse, Big Flats Branch Library, NY
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 4^-7. Best known for the undersea discovery of the Titanic, Ballard introduces readers to that shipwreck and four others of the twentieth century: the Empress of Ireland, the Lusitania, the Britannic, and the Andrea Doria, which collided with the Stockholm. Each chapter describes the exploration of one of the wrecks and offers information about the ship's origins, amenities, importance, and why it sank. In each chapter, one passenger is profiled in a sidebar, giving readers a personal story and a photograph to bring the experience more sharply into focus. Exceptionally detailed dramatic paintings by Ken Marschall, show the ships as they appeared on the water, while sinking, and beneath the sea. Many period photos, posters, and sketches set the scene; photographs of undersea exploration show the ships and their artifacts as they appear today. The large, attractive format and informative text combine to make this an appealing book on a subject that continues to fascinate young people. Add this to the Titanic bibliography in the March 15 issue of Booklist. Carolyn Phelan

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9-12
  
• Hardcover: 64 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers; 1st edition (September 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316080209
• ISBN-13: 978-0316080200
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #413,658 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #26 in	Books > Children's Books > History & Historical Fiction > Modern
  #61 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Transportation > Boats & Ships > Nonfiction
  #80 in	Books > Children's Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Heavy Machinery

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT!!!!, June 26, 1999

By A Customer

I would recommend this book to anyone who likes studing TITANIC, ANDREA DORIA, LUSITANIA, THE EMPRESS OF IRELAND, OR MY PERSONAL FAVORITE, BRITTANIC. I have studyed these ships most of my life and have found this is the book the best. Dr. Ballard gives a hands on look at these ships with actual photos and paintings by the well know artist, Ken Marshall. If you are in to TITANIC and have read this book, I would recomend that you purchace TITANIC: AN ILLUSTRATED HISTORY by Don Lynch for the most complete info and photos

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Pretty Good Little Book, March 22, 2000

By	[e-mail] (Louisville, KY) - See all my reviews

This was a pretty good little book for the money. However, it was largely a slimmed-down version of Lost Liners, which I highly recommend. Some new pictures were featured, but much of it was rehash.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great pictures and text, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

Awesome pictures! Ken Marschall did a wonderful job with the illustrations, and the photographs were nice, too. The text explained clealy what had happened to each ship, and the controversy about some of them. I really learned something from this book.