Blog Tour: Call of the Titanic

I love historical fiction and so was delighted to be invited to take part in the Blog Tour for ‘Call of the Titanic’. Having really enjoyed each of Lindsay’s other books (see reviews below!), I was really looking forward to this new one- and as you can tell from what follows, I was not disappointed!

Young cabin steward, Sid, is proud to be working on the Titanic, the greatest ship ever built.

Clara dreams of adventure too, but she's a stowaway in the hold of a much smaller boat, Carpathia. Here she meets the biggest, best dog she’s ever known: Rigel, who is on his way to be reunited with his owner.

None of them could have imagined how they would need each other one ice-cold terrible night – or that an extraordinary sea creature might also answer their call ...

(Blurb from book)

To my mind, an excellent historical novel is one which immerses the reader in the period, accurately depicting the time/events, making history come alive. In skilled hands, it (amongst other things) teaches about the past effortlessly, allowing the reader to absorb details almost without realising whilst thoroughly enjoying the story. Lindsay Galvin has captured all of this and more, adding her own characters and mingling folklore with the facts to create a unique and gripping story.

The tale is cleverly presented through a range of text types, allowing events to be seen from differing viewpoints. This adds the feeling that the story has been pieced together from various historical sources, gathering evidence to create a picture of the past, just as historians do. This alone offers much to discuss and consider!

Everyone has heard of the Titanic and there are many excellent books for children on this topic. ‘Call of the Titanic’, however, focuses on the part played by RMS ‘Carpathia’, a cruse ship working at the same time, which played a major role in the rescue of passengers from the sinking Titanic. Tension mounts as all the tragedy and horror of the events of that fateful occasion are played out with the brave Captain and crew of the Carpathia making heroic efforts to save as many as they could.

Accidental stowaway, Clara, finds herself aboard the Carpathia and is at the heart of the action. It is here she meets the wonderful Rigel, a giant Newfoundland dog, which is being shipped off to its new owner. The two form a deep connection and are central to the events surrounding the rescue. Clara is wonderfully feisty and impulsive, with a heart of gold, whose curiosity and kindness make readers fully invested in her story. Rigel is just adorable! Whilst they are entirely fictional, Sidney Daniels, another voice telling this story, was a real person. He was a young steward aboard the Titanic who escaped the disaster, but was never called to give evidence. The ‘testimony’ he gives here is fictionalised by Lindsay Galvin, adding much to the story. The author’s note at the end of the book makes it clear which of the characters are based on real people, giving more detail about them as well as giving more information about things such as Morse Code and radio codes.

The mysterious sea serpent adds yet another layer to the story, appealing to those fascinated by the mysteries of the deep and adding to the adventure. There is so much to recommend this story, which could easily be used as a key text for classwork or as a guided reading text as well as being enjoyed as a shared or individual story. It is both excellent and enjoyable!

Call of the Titanic Lindsay Galvin

Chicken House ISBN: 978-1913696696

Many thanks to Chicken House for asking me to take part in this Blog Tour. Make sure you catch the other posts listed on the banner at the top of this one- and make sure you read the book!

You can read my review of ‘Darwin’s Dragons’ here , ‘My Friend the Octopus’ here and ‘The Secret Deep’ here.

My Friend the Octopus

When her mother, a successful milliner, suddenly whisks Vinnie away from everything she knows in London to live in Brighton with her Aunt Bets, her world is turned upside down. The two have never been separated yet now her mother has travelled to Paris on business, leaving Vinnie to a very different life with far more freedom and many new experiences. Vinnie is particularly drawn to the aquarium where she is enchanted by the newest acquisition, a ‘rare gargantuan devil-fish’- a giant octopus. Through observation and patience, Vinnie gradually comes to know this creature, using her sketching skills to capture her unusual friend.

‘My Friend the Octopus’ is a fabulous, many layered story which is full of colour and historical detail. Set in Victorian times, the novel offers much to enjoy, both as a read aloud and as a key text to inspire work from a class, including the attitude of ‘collectors’ and animal well being, working conditions, the role of women and racism.

The aquarium shows the stark contrast between those who care for animals and are keen to learn about them and consider their well being and those who see them as possessions or as a way of making money. Along with Vinnie, Mr Lee, the aquarist in charge of the animals, and his nephew, Charlie, show patience and curiosity, a willingness to learn about the octopus whilst caring for it. For Captain Bickerstaff, the octopus is a ‘slippery beast’, a way to generate income for the aquarium. There is so much to discuss and explore here, considering how attitudes have (or have not) changed and no doubt inspiring a fascination for these amazing creatures to equal Vinnie’s.

Child labour during Victorian times is something children are regularly taught about, but which often focuses on chimney sweeps or factory workers. By introducing the girls caught in the fashion trade, Lindsay Galvin exposes the cruel conditions endured and the consequences of fulfilling the caprices for a certain style or trend. Parallels can be drawn with today’s ‘fast fashion’ and the exploitation of cheap labour to meet this demand.

The book is rich in historical details which make it a delight to read. The risqué nature of bathing and riding a bicycle show how women like Aunt Bets are enjoying new freedoms, but the story also exposes the frustrations of the rigid expectations for women at this time. Notes from the author at the end of the book allow the reader to learn more about some elements of the story and there is a recipe for ‘Petits Fours à thé’ which I have every intention of making when I have a moment!

At the heart of the story is Vinnie, who blossoms into believing in herself under the care and nurture of Aunt Bets who constantly encourages her to ‘get doing’- a positive message for all of us. Her friendships with Charlie and Temitayo are beautifully developed and each character has a fully developed personality and ‘story’ of their own. The ‘baddy’ is truly sinister- no one would want to meet him anywhere- making the twists of the plot full of tension.

I really enjoyed ‘Darwin’s Dragons’ (and ‘The Secret Deep’), but in ‘My Friend the Octopus’, Lindsay Galvin has written an absolute treasure! The cover is beautifully illustrated with fold out flaps to explore, making an enticing start to an excellent book.

My Friend the Octopus Lindsay Galvin

Chicken House ISBN: 978-1913696405

You can read my review of ‘Darwin’s Dragons’ here and ‘The Secret Deep’ here.