Shipwrecks: Exploring Sunken Cities Beneath the Sea

by Mary M. Cerullo

An exploration of two strikingly different shipwrecks For those who know how to interpret its secrets, a sunken ship has many tales to tell. The stories of the lives of those aboard its last voyage are revealed in the objects scattered around the shipwreck. Then there are the stories of the many ocean creatures that have found a home inside the broken hull. Two shipwrecks, separated by two thousand miles and two centuries, share a common history of life, death, and rebirth. The first is the Henrietta Marve, a slave trader that sunk off Florida in 1700. The second, an elegant steamer with crew members from a thriving middle-class black community in Maine. Each of their stories starts with underwater exploration, one a search for fabled gold, the other for families lost at sea. Find out what underwater explorers discovered in these sunken cities beneath the sea.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, History

64 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jackie Mccabe · Rating 4 out of 5]

SHIPWRECKS: Exploring Sunken Cities Beneath The Sea.
By Mary M. Cerullo
2009. 64p. Dutton’s Children’s Books, $18.99 (978052547968)
930.1028 Gr. 3-6

Playing detective. Solving mysteries. Children delight in this type of learning. Mary Cerullo’s informational book, SHIPWRECKS: Exploring Sunken Cities Beneath The Sea, appeals to their natural curiosity intertwining underwater archeology, history and environmentalism. The author successfully integrates the past and present in a nicely designed, clearly written volume. The narration concentrates on the discovery of two sunken vessels: the eighteenth century Henrietta Marie, “the only slave ship to have been found and documented in the Western Hemisphere,” and the Portland, a luxury steamship which famously gave its name to the 1898 nor’easter. The book is also a wonderful introduction to underwater archeology. Divers who easily retrieved artifacts from the shallow Florida Keys wreck need the latest technology in underwater exploration to reach the Portland which rests in over three hundred feet of dark New England waters. Stunning underwater photographs convey the archeological clues present at the sites and the vast array of sea life that has now made these wrecks “home.” The “sunken cities” of the subtitle are the colonies of coral, fish and crustaceans that have flourished in and about the shipwrecks. Young readers will appreciate the helpful glossary and the suggested environmental activities. The use of parchment edging to separate extra information from the main copy gives an historic feel to the design. It would be helpful if the photo captions were printed in a larger font. The author acknowledges experts in the field including well-known facilities as Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum. The author’s own commitment to the sea is obvious in that this is Cerullo’s “fourteenth children’s book on the ocean.” Perhaps the author should not editorialize in the “What Not To Do” suggestion. This reviewer is from Delaware where we find the creation of artificial reefs from old subway cars to be a win/win situation. That said, I would give this book a 4-star rating! I think any future shipwreck treasure hunter will happily benefit from this book! JACKIE MCCABE.

[Mary Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oceanographer Cerullo (The truth about great white sharks, Chronicle, 2000; Sea turtles: ocean nomads, Dutton, 2003) explores two strikingly different shipwrecks, looking at the path to discovering these shipwrecks, the clues to life aboard these ships and the ocean life that now makes these wrecks their home. Shipwrecks is an interesting combination of history, archaeology and science. The Henrietta Marie, a slave trader from 1700, was discovered in shallow waters off the coast of Florida by searchers working with renowned treasure hunter Mel Fisher, using a magnetometer to detect iron objects in the seafloor. Scientists and shipwreck hunters searched long and hard for the wreck of the Portland, a luxury steamship that sunk off the coast of Massachusetts in a fierce winter storm in 1898. This wreck is buried in over 300 feet of cold ocean water, and so can only be explored by a unmanned robot vehicle. The text is engaging and clearly written, supported by interesting side bars. Historical documents, full-color photographs and maps illustrate the story nicely. Resources for further investigation and suggestions what students can do to help protect marine sanctuaries will inspire students interested in the subject.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores two different shipwrecks on the coast of the United States. It is a nice mix of science, exploration, history and adventure. The first shipwreck discussed is the Henrietta Marie a slave trader that sunk off the Florida Keys in 1700 during a hurricane. The information gleaned from the wreck is from a dark period in our history when hundreds of slaves where crammed into the hold of a ship. Shackles and other artifacts from the slave ship are found among the wreckage. The Portland is a completely different ship. It was a large, luxurious paddle wheel ship that just made short trips along the Northeastern Coast. It went down in a Nor'easter. The wrecks are very different. The tropical wreck has been thoroughly explored and artifacts brought to the surface. The wreckage is home to tropical fish, coral, and other tropical sea life. The Portland hasn't been explored nearly as well; it is in very deep water and covered in fishing nets. The cold water means fewer fish and wildlife cover the wreckage.

Two very different shipwrecks but thorough research and information on each. Very interesting facts and photos. I really enjoyed the sidebars and the photos of the wreckage and artifacts.

[Erin Forson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shipwreck: exploring sunken cities beneath the sea
by Mary M. Cerullo
If you've ever wondered what happens to a shipwreck that has been on the ocean's floor for 300 plus years, then this is the non-fiction book for you. This slim little book has fantastic color graphics and tells about two ships that went down around the seas of the United States. The first, a slave ship named the Henrietta Marie sunk in 1700 and carried humans into a life of enslavement. And though now it is a refuge for coral and fish, the artifacts (like leg shackles) on it reveal an extremely bloody period of the past. The second ship,the Portland, wasn't even on an across-the-ocean journey. It sank while simply running up the New England coast with passengers. Carrying wealthy passengers and an racially integrated crew—the Portland suffered a similar fate on the ocean's floor. A glossary, suggested websites, and an index make this not only an easy, interesting read, but a reliable source for research.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book explores and compares two shipwrecks and shares stories about the Henrietta Marie, the slave ship, and The Portland, a steamer that carried many black crew members from a middle-class community in Maine. Two centuries were in between the time periods these ships are from, but each share common histories. The colorful photographs and illustrations will grab the attention of young readers and hopefully suck them into the text to learn about the ships. If nothing else, the pages are wonderful to flip through, appreciate, and hopefully spark an interest in shipwrecks and the ocean. I would recommend this, especially right now if any child wanted about book about shipwrecks while the history of the Titanic is upon us with the 100th anniversary being marked this coming weekend.

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've always enjoyed books about shipwrecks, and underwater exploration, and this book contains both, as well as information about they types of animals that inhabit wrecks. Cerullo writes about the wreck of the slave ship Henrietta Marie off the Florida keys and the wreck of the passenger steamer Portland in a snowstorm off the coast of Massachusetts in November 1898. Because the Henrietta Marie lies in warm waters and the Portland in cold, the author contrasts the different animal life that inhabits and attaches itself to each wreck. There are some gorgeous pictures of underwater life here. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in undersea life or in shipwrecks!

[Kassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Looked at this book with possible intention of adding a nonfiction to the Rappin Readers Book club.
I enjoyed the book, not sure the 9-12yrs would enjoy it.

[Erica Hendrickson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Author is an oceanographer and includes random tidbits of information about sealife and how it connects with the ships that sunk. There is a list of vocabulary words.