Time Voyage

February 20, 2012
In the first of four titles launching the Return to Titanic time-travel series, spring break takes an unexpected turn for seventh-graders Tucker Paulsen and Maya Cho. While helping Tucker’s museum curator mother process artifacts from the Titanic for an exhibit, the two friends discover a crate marked “Special Collection,” and one of the objects inside, a ticket aboard the ship, sends them back to 1912 Queenstown, where the final group of passengers is boarding the ship before it sets out to sea; Tucker and Maya attempt (unsuccessfully) to warn passengers of the impending danger. Though entertaining, this series launch mainly sets up the later books—most of the action takes place on the Queenstown harbor; character development and historical detail are on the light side, though appended materials provide further information. Murphy’s impressively detailed monochromatic illustrations (not all seen by PW) appear throughout and do a nice job of bringing to life the characters and setting. Simultaneously available: Stowaways, Overboard and An Unsinkable Ship. Ages 8–11.

June 1, 2012

Gr 4-6-Middle schoolers Tucker Paulson and Maya Cho are in for quite a surprise when they simultaneously grab a ticket from a special collection at a history museum and find themselves transported back in time to the actual embarkation of the Titanic voyage at Queenstown, Ireland. They try desperately to warn others boarding the ship that the journey is doomed but no one will heed them. They meet a young passenger, Liam, but even he can't be convinced to avoid the launch. In book two, the eighth graders are transported directly onto the Titanic. After unsuccessfully attempting to convince Liam and his family not to board the ship, the two friends are anxious to continue their efforts to save him. They determine their method of time travel by the artifact. They choose a teacup and are transported to the dining room of the Titanic, on the actual date that the vessel sank. They don't have much time! Unfortunately, the teacup accidentally breaks, sending them back to their own time without saving the passengers. Excellent-quality illustrations appear throughout and capture many of the period details. These two easy-to-read books will appeal to reluctant reads and are a fun way to tie into a unit on the Titanic.-Julie Shatterly, W.A. Bess Elementary School, Gastonia, NC

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