Sinks

By: Barry Denenberg Publisher: Viking, Penguin Group Copyright: November 10, 2011 Genre: Historical Fiction Setting: 1912

SUMMARY: To commemorate the 100th year of the Titanic’s sinking Denenberg has created a unique blend of research into a fictionalized account in a magazine and reporter’s journal format that makes the reader feel as if “You are there”. Titanic Sinks immerses the reader through period phrases, photos, typewriter font, and even the color of aged pages. The book’s unique format unearths facts from the time the Titanic is built until the hearings that follow the sinking, yet the reader will be pulled into the emotional throngs of a tragic event wanting to read on to discover what has happened to several of the individuals onboard. Who survived? Could this tragedy been averted?

AUTHOR’S BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH: Denenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York and was always a “serious” reader. He attended Boston University majoring in history while working in a bookstore at night. He then became a book buyer and a marketing executive in publishing. At the age of forty he began his writing career.

Before writing history books for young adults, Dennenberg was a ghostwriter for NPR. In 2009, he founded a manuscript-development company called BD/A where he works with innovative writers. Denenberg’s history background allows him to create an extensive bibliography on each topic he writes. “I think there’s an art to both writing and research. I’m a good writer but a better researcher.”

Barry is married to a publisher and lives in Westchester, New York. They have a daughter who attends NYU and own a rescued, chocolate Newf.

Author website: http://barrydenenberg.com/pw_titanic_sinks.php This has a wonderful author’s note about the writing of the book and its unique format. “My objective is to remove the distorting curtain of time and eliminate the dubious benefits of hindsight to make history come alive—to create a sense of being there.”

Author Q & A for Titanic Sinks (Publishers Weekly) http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/authors/interviews/article/49286-q- -a-with-barry-denenberg.html

NPR Interview Podcast – 15:10 minutes long http://wamc.org/post/100th-anniversary-rms-titanic-barry-denenberg

Author blog: http://barrydenenberg.blogspot.com

Other books written by the author:  Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered Feiwel & Friends, 2008  Shadow Life: A Portrait of Anne Frank and Her Family Scholastic, 2005.  All Shook Up: The Life and Death of Elvis Presley Scholastic, 2001.  An American Hero: The True Story of Charles A. Lindbergh Scholastic, 1998.  Stealing Home: The Story of Jackie Robinson Scholastic, 1990.  Nelson Mandela: No Easy Walk To Freedom Scholastic, 1991.  Voices from Vietnam Scholastic, 1997.

Denenberg has also written several books in the Dear America, My Name is America, and Royal Diaries series. Several of these books have been named NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. Titles from these series include:  When Will This Cruel War Be Over?: The Civil War Diary of Emma Simpson  So Far From Home: The Diary of Mary Driscoll, An Irish Mill Girl  One Eye Laughing, The Other Weeping  The Journal of Ben Uchida: Citizen 13559 Mirror Lake Internment Camp  The Journal of William Thom Emerson: A Revolutionary War Patriot  Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii 1941  Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: The Diary of Bess Brennan, The Perkins School for the Blind, 1932

SIMILAR BOOKS/BOOKS WITH A SIMILAR THEME:  Lincoln Shot: A President's Life Remembered by Denenberg (similar format on historical theme)  Titanic: Voices From the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson  Explore Titanic: Breathtaking New Pictures, Recreated with Digital Technology by Peter Chrisp  882 1/2 Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic by Hugh Brewster  101 Things You Thought You Knew About the Titanic . . . but Didn't by Tim Maltin

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Musicians, restaurant staff, pages, postal clerks, and other crew members stayed at their stations assisting passengers and did not attempt to get into lifeboats. Are these people heroes? Why or why not? (page 64)

2. In the afterword, page 68, Denenberg quotes James Cameron, “"Basic human nature was the same in 1912.... Cover-up, lies, corporate denial of guilt or responsibility, these are not new concepts.” Discuss some of the ethical issues of the choices made that affected who survived or did not survive. (Also see page 1 for other questions.)

* Was the ship’s crew irresponsible in the way they filled and sent out lifeboats, especially early in the event? * What responsibility did the , captain, or crew have to the second and third class passengers? * Do you agree with the philosophy of “women and children” first? If so, how did so many men, including the White Star chairman survive?

3. , an Australian billionaire, has announced that he is building a Titanic II. http://travel.usatoday.com/cruises/story/2012-04-30/Australian- billionaire-to-build-new-Titanic/54636986/1 He called the project "a tribute to the spirit of the men and women who worked on the original Titanic." Would you book passage on that ship? Why or why not?

4. What do you think was the biggest motivator for Lord William James Pirrie, controlling director of (a ship builder) and J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of White Star, in developing the concept for and building two luxury liners (pg 2-5)?

5. White Star described the Titanic as “practically unsinkable.” At the time, do you think they were sincere in this description (pg 6)?

6. After learning about Captain Smith, do you think he was the best choice to be captain of the Titanic? Why or why not? (pg 9-10)

7. After reading about the luxurious accommodations on the Titanic (pg 11-17), what feature would you most look forward to as a passenger? Why?

8. How does the complete, unedited journal of S. F. Vanni (pg 24-47) enhance the story, even though it is fictional?

9. What lessons were learned from the Titanic disaster?

LITERARY LINKS or ACTIVITIES:

1. Research and Write a “You Are There” article of a Historic Event Denenberg states in the NPR interview that the first step in writing is research. Consider another modern day tragic event such as the Hindenburg, Pearl Harbor, the JFK assassination, or 9/11. Research three primary sources such as articles, journal entries, or personal interviews. Combine these to write your own “You Are There” article in the Denneberg format of a reporter’s journal. Add primary source images and quotations. Be sure to cite your sources.

Social Studies 6-8.RH.1 Cite specific textual evidence to support analysis of primary and secondary sources. 6-8.RH.2 Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary source; provide an accurate summary of the source distinct from prior knowledge or opinions. 6-8.RH.7 Integrate visual information (e.g., charts, graphs, photographs, videos, or maps) with other information in print and digital texts. 6-8.WH.2 Write informative/explanatory texts, including the narration of historical events. 6-8.WH.7 Conduct short research projects to answer a question (including a self- generated question), drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions that allow for multiple avenues of exploration. 6-8.WH.8 Gather relevant information from multiple print and digital sources, using search terms effectively; assess the credibility and accuracy of each source; and quote or paraphrase the data and conclusions of others while avoiding plagiarism and following a standard format for citation. 6-8.WH.9 Draw evidence from informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research. 6-8.WH.4 Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

2. How is Mr. Andrews introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in throughout the course of the novel? 6.RI.3 Analyze in detail how a key individual, event, or idea is introduced, illustrated, and elaborated in a text (e.g., through examples or anecdotes).

3. How does the fictional journal of S. F. Vanni, which was rescued from the wreckage, add to the story? What does the journal contribute to the feeling of the passengers on the Titanic both before it hit the iceberg and after the ship began to sink? (pg 24-47) 6.RI.5 Analyze how a particular sentence, paragraph, chapter, or section fits into the overall structure of a text and contributes to the development of ideas.

History

4. How does this text present information about the Titanic? Is this format effective? Why or why not? 6.RH.5 Describe how a text presents information (e.g., sequentially, comparatively, casually).

Challenging Words meticulous p. 1 lavishness p. 13 breached p. 35 unprecedented p.1 unparalleled p. 13 stoically p.36 arrogance p. 1 opulence p. 13 implication p.36 initiated p.2 pristine p. 14 inundated p.36 daunting p. 3 immensity p. 14 inadvisable p. 37 emphatically p. 3 configurations p. 15 dishevelment p. 37 alluding p. 3 au courant p. 15 sans p. 37 unsurpassable p. 3 tres p. 15 precariously p.37 behemoths p. 3 a la carte p. 15 dire p. 37 simultaneously p. 3 promenade p. 15 gallantly p. 37 hydraulically p. 3 masseuse p. 16 davits, p. 38 brazier p. 4 bejeweled p. 17 placid p. 43 deftly p. 4 justifiably p. 17 incomprehensive 44 wielding p. 4 amenities p. 17 reverie p. 46 arduous p. 4 luminous p. 19 delirious p. 47 accompanied p. 4 estranged p. 20 summoning p. 47 gantry p. 6 unconventional p. 20 salvageable p. 47 exquisite p. 6 eccentric p. 20 militated p. 52 christenings p.7 mogul p. 21 predicament p. 52 tallow p.7 prestigious p. 21 transcendent p 54 contusions p.7 nattily p. 21 agonizing p. 53 demeanor p.9 unfettered p. 21 abhors p. 62 illustrious p.7 ominously p. 21 veritable p. 62 flounder p.7 personage p. 26 flotilla p. 62 maneuvering p.10 scrutinizes p 28 disembarking p. 63 affable p.10 consensus p. 30 vilified p. 64 conscientious p. 10 engendered p. 30 cowering p. 64 reciprocating p. 11 calve p. 30 ignominy p. 66 spartan p. 12 indestructible p. 30 unbeknownst p. 66 accommodating p. 13 sotto p. 32 despondent p. 66 scrutinized p. 13 accentuates p. 33 folly p. 68 unsurpassed p. 13 uncharacteristically 34

Battle of the Book questions are available from a link on the Young Hoosier Book Award page.