The Story

When fourteen-year-old Louisa becomes the nursemaid to a wealthy British family, she doesn’t expect to have to take a trip with them to America. But when the Nanny has a terrible accident, and the family decides they want Louisa there in the Nanny’s place, she realizes this is an opportunity she can’t turn down, especially when the trip to America takes place on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

The Review

There are some children’s books that read just as well to adults as they do to children. This wasn’t one of them. The book was alright, the story had potential, but the writing itself didn’t do the story justice. It felt very juvenile. I’m certain that had I been a fair bit younger, I wouldn’t have been bothered by the writing style at all, but it felt choppy and almost too simplistic.

There were parts in this book where it felt like the author was more concerned with getting facts about the Titanic across to the reader, than she was concerned with telling the story. In those parts, the story got very dry for a few pages, and it didn’t seem like the narrative was coming from the main character anymore or how (for example) seeing the Titanic sink was having an effect on her.

Other than the main character, everyone else felt very flat and cardboard-like. There wasn’t any depth, and you never REALLY got to know any of the secondary characters – especially the other servants in the house that Louisa was working in. It was a little disappointing.

But the book wasn’t all bad – there were good things about it. I have no doubt that young girls would love Louisa and her tale of survival on the Titanic. Louisa is a character that would be easily empathizable. And I did enjoy the glimpse it gave us of an upper-class family at the beginning of 20th century England. It also showed the dynamics and drama between the household staff, which I thought was fun to see. So yes, while there were some good things, the good didn’t unfortunately outweigh the bad in this case.

The Bottom Line

It was alright – I can see how it would be enjoyable to young girls, and it’s certainly educational… but I didn’t particularly enjoy it.

Other Reviews

Have you reviewed this book on your blog? Let me know and I’ll add your link.