Call of the Titanic
It’s 1912, and Clara Scott is twelve years old. She lives in New York and is fascinated by her cousin, Harold Cottam’s new job as the wireless telegraph operator on the RMS Carpathia.
Prior to joining the ship, Harold comes to visit his cousins and, in a fury at what she feels is an unjust punishment, Clara hides in her late grandmother’s steamship trunk. This, it turns out, is going to be transported on the Carpathia, thus Clara is a stowaway. This reviewer found the premise a little incredible. Suspension of disbelief is required.
Clara is released from the trunk by a Newfoundland dog called Rigel. The two become inseparable on board the Carpathia. Although the relationship may have animal lovers besotted, again it is not entirely credible.
The narrative voice switches into reports made to the inquiry into the Titanic sinking. A young boy who, in the narrative is fourteen, but in reality, was eighteen, called Sidney Daniels, explains his role as a third-class steward on the Titanic and how he was the last survivor of the disaster.
Galvin’s use of mixed media including menus from the Titanic and Carpathia, copies of the Marconi messages between the ships, and court reports from the inquiry into the sinking, make for an immersive experience. The joins between the factual elements and Galvin’s fictional creations could be stronger at times. This book will be enjoyed by eleven and twelve-year-old children in particular.
