about the book
She was magnificent! She was indestructible! She was the world’s largest ship and Titanic was her name.
Made of tons of steel and hundreds of rivets, the ship included beautiful rooms fit for a king, several restaurants, and a swimming pool. Over two thousand people were on the Titanic for her first voyage from England to New York.
But on April 14, 1912, the unthinkable happened! The Titanic struck an iceberg!
People have many questions about this night. Why did this “unsinkable” ship sink only four hours after the collision? Why weren’t there enough lifeboats for everyone? And why did so many of the poorer passengers not survive?
Faced with icy water, some people acted bravely and calmly while others were panicked and selfish. Many people died, and those lucky ones in the lifeboats watched the last horrifying moments before the ship dived beneath the icy waters.
And who survived to tell the tale of the beautiful Titanic?
about the author
The sinking of the great Titanic has always fascinated Don Brown. While researching this book, author Don Brown said, “It’s been the only book I’ve written whose research gave me nightmares. I kept dreaming I was on the Titanic the night of its sinking and felt the dread and panic its passengers must have felt.”
Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Don’s love of history stems back to his younger days. He received his Bachelor of Arts in History from St. Lawrence University. Most of Mr. Brown’s characters are people who shaped history in some way, but were lesser-known subjects. He often centers a book on a single day.
Don always keeps a quote in mind as he starts to write and tries to use it in the book. He creates the text for the book first, and only after the text is set thinks of the art. He does feel the text and the art are equally important.
Don has held various careers throughout his lifetime: clam digger, washer-dryer repairman, waiter, and movie theater manager. Currently a full-time author and illustrator, he resides in Merrick, Long Island with his wife, Debra, and their two children.
Sources:
Author website
Author interview : Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast
Also by Don Brown:
America Is Under Attack : September 11, 2001 : The Day the Towers Fell. Flash Point. 2011.
Gold! Gold from the American River! : January 24, 1848 : The Day the Gold Rush Began. Flash Point. 2011.
Kid Blink Beats the World. Square Fish. 2008.
Let It Begin Here!: April 19, 1775: The Day the American Revolution Began. Roaring Brook Press. 2008.
The Train Jumper. Roaring Brook Press. 2007.
The Notorious Izzy Fink. Roaring Brook Press. 2006.
Bright Path: Young Jim Thorpe. Roaring Brook Press. 2006.
Mack Made Movies. Roaring Brook Press. 2005.
Odd Boy Out: Young Albert Einstein. Houghton Mifflin. 2004.
American Boy: The Adventures of Mark Twain. Houghton Mifflin. 2003.
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