HISTORY SMASHERS: TITANIC

HISTORY SMASHERS: THE TITANIC by Kate Messner

Each of my older kids went through a time of wanting to know more about the Titanic. The excitement of launching such a grand ship with the thought that she was virtually unsinkable, only to have her go down in such a short amount of time, taking so many lives with her, is haunting. To know that she is resting on the bottom of the ocean, a luxurious sepulcher filled with the dead and their belongings as she calcifies, is a testimony to the fact that man does not always conquer. Now we have our own tragedy to add to this watery grave - more wreckage, more lives. Don't misunderstand me. I, in no way, fault the men for wanting a peek at what lies in those watery depths. I appreciate the pulling back of the ocean curtains to reveal the barnacle covered giant, my revealing just comes in picture form. All this to say, that a new group of children are hearing the name of the Titanic intermixed with the name Titan for the first time. I recently picked up a new book about the Titanic by Kate Messner entitled History Smashers: The Titanic. It's a fun mix of chapter book with real pictures and graphic novel depicting certain pivotal points in the Titanic journey. In this series Messner tries to ferret out the truth and myths surrounding this epic story. In doing so she "smashes" the myths and verifies the truth. If you have a child in your home asking questions, this book is a great starting spot.