Iceberg Right Ahead!

Iceberg Right Ahead! The Tragedy of the Titanic
By Stephanie Sammarino McPherson
Twenty-First Century Books, c2012. 112 pages. Nonfiction.

This April marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. There are many wonderful books in our library, and lots more will be coming out this year. However, Iceberg Right Ahead stands out in the crowd. Author Stephanie McPherson has written a thoroughly-researched book that is a beautiful tribute to the tragedy. The original photographs featured are good quality and offer a glimpse into life on board. The cover is stunning, and the coloring throughout the book is black, white, gray, and a faint turquoise. The mood is haunting, but reverent of the victims and survivors. I like that, though this is a short read, there is a lot of new information to learn. My favorite fact: The cost of a first class stateroom was $4, 375. Today, it would cost $100,000!

McPherson doesn't shy away from questioning why this tragedy happened, and how it could have been avoided. I think this would be a good pick for a classroom unit, especially because it opens up a lot of questions about what happened then, and what we can do now. For example, what should be done about the wreckage? There have been efforts made over the years to bring the ship above water, but none have panned out. Also, people have fought these efforts because they wish to leave the ship undisturbed in honor of those who passed.

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