SOS Titanic

Eve Bunting

Apr 1996 · Sold by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

About this ebook

This tale of an Irish teenager aboard the doomed ship, from a Caldecott Medal winner, is a “taut disaster story . . . nearly impossible to put down” (Publishers Weekly).
 
Fifteen-year-old Barry O’Neill is journeying to New York to reunite with his parents on the maiden voyage of the great ship Titanic. He’s homesick, and worried about the Flynn boys traveling in steerage, who have threatened to throw him overboard. Little does Barry know that a struggle with the Flynns is the least of the dangers that await him.
 
This “fast-paced” and suspenseful young adult adventure story is based on the true and terrible events that occurred as the Titanic sank, and “immerses readers in the many human tragedies” (Booklist).

Ratings and reviews

The SOS Titanic is a heartwarming story based on the voyage of the ship Titanic. On April 10, 1912, the Titanic picked up voyagers from Queenstown, Ireland on its way to New York. Barry O'Neill, age 15, is the main character that will be reuniting with his parents in New York. On the voyage, Barry is watched over by Mr. Scollins, a jeweler who is opening a branch of his company in New York. The only other passengers that Barry knew were Jonnie, Frank, and Pegeen Flynn. Barry knew that Jonnie and Frank had been troublemakers in Queenstown, so in order for him to make it to New York safely that he must stay away from them. While on the ship, Barry met many new people. The most important of his new friends were Mr. Watley and Pegeen. Mr. Watley was Barry's and Mr. Scollins cabin steward. Throughout the story, he and Barry became close friends. Pegeen is also a new friend. They met one night when Barry was watching the steerage passengers dancing and having a party. He accidentally dropped his grandfather's glove down below so he went to retrieve it. Frank and Jonnie saw him while he was trying to get it and they and started a fight. Pegeen retrieved the glove for Barry and sent word through Mr. Watley for Barry to meet her so she could return it. From that point on, Barry and Pegeen were friends. One night, before Barry went to sleep, Mr. Watley confided in Barry that a disaster was going to happen during their voyage. As predicted, the Titanic collided with an iceberg in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean on April 15, 1912, just a few days after their voyage began. The crew immediately began to load the lifeboats, first class women and children first. After much reluctance, people began to realize that the "Unsinkable Ship", was actually going to sink. Barry was able to leave the frantic scene to find Pegeen. After much searching through the flooded ship, he was able to find her where all the rest of the steerage passengers were. Pegeen and Barry decided that the only way to live is to jump into the ice-cold water. After being separated for a moment, they manage to find each other and swim to an overturned lifeboat. They were exhausted, but just a few hours after the Titanic sank, the Carpathia came and rescued them. Pegeen and Barry both survive the journey to New York, each to start a new life. i hope people enjoy this book review of sos titanic by eve bunting

Did David Cameron steal from her? So many little details are the same.

What I wish is that peggen and Barry kissed at the ending instead of having a cliffhanger

About the author

Eve Bunting has written over two hundred books for children, including the Caldecott Medal-winning Smoky Night, illustrated by David Diaz, The Wall, Fly Away Home, and Train to Somewhere. She lives in Southern California.