Titanic's passengers and crew by Alex Giannini

This is part of a recent series from Bearport called Titanica. Each book covers a different aspect of the Titanic, its construction, the great tragedy, and its rediscovery. This particular title is an overview of the passengers and crew.

The book begins dramatically, with a young man, Jack Thayer, leaping into the water as the Titanic sinks. He was one of the few survivors. The story then turns to the beginning of the fated voyage; the luxurious cabins and wealthy passengers of 1st and 2nd class and the more cramped quarters of 3rd class. There are statistics on the origins of the passengers and crews and brief biographies of famous passengers, from John Jacob Astor to Millvina Dean, the youngest passenger (and survivor) on the ship.

As well as dramatic stories of survivors and those who perished, the book also includes graphs and statistics on survivors, showing in bold detail the huge loss of life among the crew and 3rd class, as opposed to the 2nd and 1st class. It touches briefly on the aftermath of the disaster and some of the future lives of the survivors. Back matter includes a glossary, brief bibliography, and links for further information.

Verdict: The Titanic is always a popular topic and this is a great introduction for younger or struggling readers who aren't able or ready to read the many award-winning titles on the subject. As soon as I saw it I was sure it would be popular; we put them straight up onto a display with a model Titanic, along with the poster that came with them and they have been checking out regularly ever since. Recommended.

ISBN: 9781684024315; Published 2018 by Bearport; Review copy provided by publisher; Donated to the library; Purchased additional copy for the library