The Titanic

Survival Tails #1

by Katrina Charman

Pets face danger on the Titanic in the first thrilling installment of the Survival Tails, perfect for readers of the I Survived and Ranger in Time series!

When loyal dog Mutt discovers that his owner and best friend Alice is set to board the RMS Titanic without him, he is determined to follow her across the ocean. With the help of King Leon the rat, Mutt sneaks aboard, but it isn't long before the Captain's cat, Clara, discovers the stowaway. Reluctantly, Clara agrees to help Mutt find Alice, on the condition that he help her look after a trio of abandoned kittens she found in a lifeboat. But when the unthinkable happens and the so-called unsinkable ship hits an iceberg, Mutt and his new friends have to race against the clock to reunite with their humans--and to survive.

Survival The Titanic is the first in a series of heart-stopping, action-packed, animal-starring adventure stories that will captivate and educate young readers.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Dogs, Cats, Animals, Fiction, Adventure, Childrens

224 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2018

Reviews

[Becky · Rating 4 out of 5]

First sentence: The rain fell softly, swirling around the small garden to land on Mutt's wiry, dull brown fur. It was the kind of rain that seemed barely there at all when you looked out from the dry comfort of indoors--little more than a mist on the wind. But when you had no choice but to be out in it, it was almost as wet as a full-pelt downpour.

Premise/plot: Animal fantasy set during the voyage of the Titanic in April 1912. That is the premise--short and sweet. This novel is narrated by two animals: Mutt (the dog) and Clara (the cat). Plenty of other animals star in this historical animal fantasy as well. (Three kittens and a rat). Mutt is distraught that Alice (his girl) and Master (Alice's father) are leaving for America and sailing on the Titanic. Distraught that he's being left behind. It doesn't seem fair--not to Alice and not to Mutt. So he decides to stowaway on the ship. But it isn't easy to sneak aboard, and this requires help from a brand new friend, a rat, King Leon. Clara, meanwhile, belongs to the Captain. (Or perhaps the Captain belongs to her.) She discovers three kittens on board. They are wanting/needing/mewing for their mother--who is nowhere to be found. Clara is not a mama cat--never has been, never will be--but she takes an interest in these three. Not forever, but just for a few days. Clara and Mutt (and King Leon and the three kittens, Violet, Jack, Cosmo) do meet eventually. But the Titanic, well, it isn't smooth sailing to say the least...will ANY of these animals survive????

My thoughts: Sensitive readers should go with their instincts. This one doesn't just feature one dog on the cover--whose life could be in peril--but a cat, three kittens, and a rat. Definitely animal fantasy. These animal characters know a LOT. Not just animal-y things that you could easily imagine but a wide spectrum of knowledge that will conveniently come in useful when the Titanic runs into big trouble.

I definitely liked this one. I would have absolutely hated it as kid. But that would have been all pre-judgement on my part. I would have never picked this one up ever, ever, ever. I would have avoided it at all costs.

The story flows well. The pace is great. Plenty of will-they-or-won't-they suspense--will these animals (whom you've come to love) survive?????

I do think sensitive readers may be upset with how this one ends. But it isn't 100% happy or 100% tragic. It is a bittersweet ending that probably is about the best you can expect.

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun book, and an excellent way to introduce important historical events to young readers. This series opens the imagination (and your senses) as you experience history from the point of view of animals. The perfect way to hook kids into the story!

Mutt boards the Titanic as a stowaway... And just like the human passengers around him, he doesn't know he's going to have to fight the icy ocean if he wants to live. With him on board is a cat (who basically owns the ship), a trio of defenseless kittens who need looking after, and a rat who is actually a nice (enough) shipmate. Can they all survive the approaching tragedy?

As an adult reader, I thought it was a cute read mostly, though the author uses a lot of attention to detail. (I was pleasantly surprised by a few big vocabulary words!) It's not wholly historically accurate, but Charman explains that in the back of the book. Yes, the animals talk... I didn't think I'd like it when King Leon the rat struck up a conversation... but I grew accustomed to it in the end.

Overall, a good story for kids to enjoy.

[Heidi Stachek · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a third grader who is reluctant to read or even be read to anymore but since my son has shown recent interest in the Titanic I ordered this. I like to know what all my children are reading so usually I browse a chapter or two first. Three hours and half a box of cookies later I put this down. I can't say enough about how much I loved this book, it's exciting, engaging and absorbing but the real joy for me was when I started reading it again with my son and on the second night he actually begged me for one more chapter. Day three he picked it up himself to read. Today he took it to school.

[Nita · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't expect it to be so entertaining. It's a nice book and it's a short read.

[Dann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Survival Tails: The Titanic tells the story of the Titanic disaster in a fun and interesting new way. When a dog named Mutt is left behind by his girl and his Master, who are going to the New World, he follows them to the RMS Titanic and sneaks aboard with the help of a rat, but before long he’s discovered by the captain’s cat. Incredibly creative, author Katrina Charman does a wonderful job at telling the story from an animal point of view, and at working in historical people and events (except for the notable anachronism of Captain Smith being a cat owner instead of a dog owner). Additionally, a number of beautiful black and white illustrations are included that are quite evocative, and have rich detail and texture. An entertaining and exciting adventure, Survival Tails: The Titanic is a fantastic children’s book.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love animal stories and I am fascinated by the story of the Titanic, so this was a must-read for me. Because the story of the Titanic is ultimately a tragedy, I knew there was a better-than-average chance that I would find this story heartbreaking. Sure enough, I was in tears in several places, and I would recommend to any parents whose children are reading this book that they be prepared to discuss some of the harsher aspects of life. Of course, I would not have found the book to be so moving if Katrina Charman hadn't effectively created characters that I cared about, or described the action in ways that really felt like it was happening around me. While the focus is on the animals, she doesn't overlook the love and kindness of the humans, nor their casual cruelty. The tragedy of the Titanic really drives home the inequities of class, wealth, and power, and these are all issues that concern the world over 100 years later. If reading this story brings young readers to question the rightness of those inequities, and helps them love and care for animals and people alike, then this is an important book for young readers to read.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think children's books such as this, are excellent for getting children to learn about a period in history, that they may not learn about otherwise. I certainly don't remember being taught about the Titanic while I was at school - my interest started with the film and escalated from there.

This would be a great book for reading a chapter at a time during class, or a chapter before bedtime. I'm on the wrong side of 30 to be reading this, but I still found it easy to read, and suitably aimed at children. The animal characters are really well described, and there are a couple of really well done illustrations scattered throughout, for those too young to really properly imagine. I don't think the illustrations are too frequent, and I did like the ones included - they were almost realistic.

The story is led by "Mutt" who doesn't want his human Alice to leave him behind when she goes to the "New World". He follows her to the Titanic and manages to get stowed away through one of the mail sacks and on board the Titanic, with the help of a rat. Chaos obviously ensues when these animals start roaming the ship, followed along by the captain's cat, and three stowaway kittens.

Of course, some of the descriptions about the Titanic sinking and people being left in the water, are quite terrifying, and may not be for the younger children, or the faint hearted. This may need to be a book that is read prior to deciding if it's best to introduce it to the children.

There is more in this series (focused around World War II and Antarctica for instance), but as my interest lies at the bottom of the ocean, this will be the only one of the series I will read. For a classroom library though, getting the rest of the series may be beneficial.

[Worm of the Book · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay! Wow! There are no words to describe how good this book was. I have been in a Titanic mood. I had just finished reading The Second Mrs. Astor and getting to know their dog kitty.

I forgot that I had this book on my reading list so, of course I had to start this one. The fact that it was from a dog, a cat, and a rat’s point of view was eye opening. Even though the animals were fictional it made you think that in reality many animals did perish in the sinking.

My emotions were yanked out of my heart for the last half of the book. Especially the loyalty of Clara to her captain. I cried and cried and yes, cried some more. And then I cried happy tears when Mutt made it to the “New World” with his girl and master.

I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

[Nadina · Rating 3 out of 5]

So torn on how to rate this. It took me forever to get into it and it felt slow, despite spanning the course of a few days/hours, I think some of it was detail that was included but it was also just generally slow to me. I did like the main characters and that it focused on the animals. We barely saw the humans. I also like that we basically know what happened (probably) to every animal that was encountered in the book.
The premise of the book was cool, I also found the ending to be satisfactory. I did cry a bit though at certain parts of the ending.
Average book over all, I am probably rounding up because I could imagine kids enjoying it.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost everyone knows the story of the Titanic, the so-called “unsinkable ship” which struck an iceberg and sank in the early morning of April 15, 1912. However, did you know there were animals on board? Though those animals couldn’t tell us their stories, Katrina Charman will tell you the story of three specific animals who were on the Titanic and who COULD talk. Read the rest of my review on my blog to learn more about these talking animals: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Little, Brown and Company for the advance copy.

Animals telling the story is not my favorite but I picked it up because we have lots of kids at the library who like these types of stories. There is plenty of exciting action that really drives the story, and the historical details are well-researched. If kids like the I Survived series and like animals, they will likely enjoy this series.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m all about suspending disbelief when the story is following animals that are animals but think and act like humans. But this was just too much for me. I think the line that really just was what put it over the top for me was as follows:

“He had to make a decision. He couldn’t stay on the ship much longer. As soon as it went down, he would be pulled beneath the surface.”

He, Mutt, is a dog that repeatedly said how he hated water. How he always refused to get on boats. How in the world would he know that about sinking boats? He wouldn’t.

Plus, there were over 2,000 people on that boat. So the ending.....completely unrealistic (and yes, it can be unrealistic even in a book with talking animals).

[Kikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good book, emotional and a great and interesting new insight into the Titanic. People often think about the humans whose lives ended that day, and its easy to forget that a lot of animals lost their lives too. That there was more than people on the boat, there were pets and livestock for the people who were working to change their entire lives around. It really left some food for thought, and there were some very poignant scenes that made me very emotional.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this story! It's a sobering subject that I know is fascinating to adults and kids alike. I thought the author would sugarcoat such a horrific event, as this book has a 3-7 grade reading level, but it's very appropriately told and has a bittersweet, honest ending.

[Haley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have been reading the Sunshine State book list with my daughter. She liked this book and really started to get into in the end.
I think it’s a good intro for kids to learn a bit about the Titanic. But it moved slow for me.

[Dione · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction recount of the sinking of the Titanic as told by a stowaway dog and the captain's cat. Engaging and packed with facts from the event. A bit sad, too, so bring tissues. I think the kids will enjoy this tale.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story line. Not a new idea...seems like another way to share the misfortune of the Titanic. Kids/students will enjoy the story. I recommend it for reluctant readers that are ready to move from Magic Tree House.

Nothing beats the love of a dog and his people. :).

[J · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another “buddy read” with one of my two best buddies, my son. It’s also another Sunshine State Young Readers selections. It’s a good introduction to the Titanic disaster through the eyes of a few animals on board.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

cried like 4 timez while reading this book 🤠 had to read it for an assignment in dr davis’s class & the vibe is that these wholesome animals are trying to survive the titanic😔
10 / 10 would recommend :)

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story they encouraged me and my daughter to look up more about the Titanic. She loved learning about it. I liked the animal perspective of this boook.

[Jaden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with a lot of action, courage and bravery.

[Brielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book I love how it's based of titanic but not exactly

[Hayley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75 rip king Leon and the cat (blanking out on her name rn)

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

[Peg O'Connor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good titanic story-interesting with animal point of view!

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fast-paced survival story set on the Titanic. Spoiler for sensitive readers: not all of the animals survive!

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I for some reason like stories about the titanic

[gwayle · Rating 5 out of 5]

First chapter book, very few pictures! Made me hoarse.

[Brittany]

Why is it called SURVIVAL Tails if the cat dies?!?

[Betsy Webb]

fun book to read.