Teaser: Most people know the story of the Titanic and its tragic ending, but not the stories of the passengers. This book gives the reader a front row seat into the voices of the Titanic.
Plot Summary: In this book, Allan Wolf tells the tale of the Titanic and its maiden voyage through the use of poetry. He writes with the voices of 25 characters. The characters are based on real life people that where aboard the Titanic. He weaves the story of first class passengers, John Jacob Astor and Margaret Brown, and third class passengers Jamila Nicola-Yarred along with Titanic workers such as Thomas Hart a Stoker and E.J. Smith the Captain. Throughout the stories the reader can feel the tension that the Caption feels to make good time across the Atlantic. Then the reader feels the passengers' fear as they watch the Titanic sink and shout for help in the icy cold water.
Critical Evaluation: This is a beautifully written book. Wolf uses lyrical verse as he tells the story of 25 first-person accounts. The reader feels as though they are actually a part of history, as it reads like an oral history. Each voice has a unique poetry style. His writing style make this an engaging read. Wolf even writes as the "the Iceberg" and "the Ship Rat". For example on page 23 (Wolf, 2011) the voice of the Ship Rat:
Critical Evaluation: This is a beautifully written book. Wolf uses lyrical verse as he tells the story of 25 first-person accounts. The reader feels as though they are actually a part of history, as it reads like an oral history. Each voice has a unique poetry style. His writing style make this an engaging read. Wolf even writes as the "the Iceberg" and "the Ship Rat". For example on page 23 (Wolf, 2011) the voice of the Ship Rat:
scuttle scuttle
sniff sniff . . . rats?
scuttle scuttle
sniff sniff . . . food?
scuttle scuttle
sniff sniff . . . food
scuttle scuttle scuttle
scuttlescuttlescuttle
follow the food
follow the food
follow the food
In the end of the book Wolf tells some history of the 25 passengers he wrote about, gives historical information about the RMS Titanic and he has an extensive bibliography, showing he did his research. He notes that "But my aim in writing The Watch That Ends the Night was not to present history. My aim was to present humanity. The people represented in this book lived and breathed and loved. They were as real as you or me. They could have been any one of us. And that is why, after a century, the Titanic still fascinates," (Wolf, p. 435).
Author Information: Allan Wolf was born on February 26, 1963. He was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. He has 3 children. He officially began his writing career in 1975, after turning 12 years old. It started by him writing on his bedroom walls. He wrote everyday and eventually his wall was covered with writing. He earned a master's degree in English from Virginia Tech. He taught college courses for a while before joining a traveling group called Poetry Alive! His experience at Poetry Alive! made him want to become a writer for children and young adults.
According to his website,http://www.allanwolf.com/ "Allan's published works include 2 books for teachers, an illustrated book of poems for kids, a how-to-book for aspiring poets, a poetry chapbook, and a historical novel in verse. His seventh book, a verse novel for young adults, is due out soon. Allan's writing has earned many honors, including a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an IRA Children's Book Award Notable. His books of poetry have been selected by Scholastic Book Club, Scholastic Book Fair, and the CHildren's Book of the Month Club. Wolf was also a finalist for the Southeastern Booksellers' Association Poetry Award."
Genre: Poetry/Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Poetry or History unit
Booktalking Ideas: Talk about what it would have been like to be aboard the Titanic and the differences in the social classes.
Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+
Challenge Issues: N/A
Why included? I wanted to include a poetry book because many teenagers like to write poetry and I noticed this book on display in the teen section of my library.
In the end of the book Wolf tells some history of the 25 passengers he wrote about, gives historical information about the RMS Titanic and he has an extensive bibliography, showing he did his research. He notes that "But my aim in writing The Watch That Ends the Night was not to present history. My aim was to present humanity. The people represented in this book lived and breathed and loved. They were as real as you or me. They could have been any one of us. And that is why, after a century, the Titanic still fascinates," (Wolf, p. 435).
Author Information: Allan Wolf was born on February 26, 1963. He was raised in the Blue Ridge Mountains and now lives in Asheville, North Carolina. He has 3 children. He officially began his writing career in 1975, after turning 12 years old. It started by him writing on his bedroom walls. He wrote everyday and eventually his wall was covered with writing. He earned a master's degree in English from Virginia Tech. He taught college courses for a while before joining a traveling group called Poetry Alive! His experience at Poetry Alive! made him want to become a writer for children and young adults.
According to his website,http://www.allanwolf.com/ "Allan's published works include 2 books for teachers, an illustrated book of poems for kids, a how-to-book for aspiring poets, a poetry chapbook, and a historical novel in verse. His seventh book, a verse novel for young adults, is due out soon. Allan's writing has earned many honors, including a School Library Journal Best Book, an ALA Best Book for Young Adults, and an IRA Children's Book Award Notable. His books of poetry have been selected by Scholastic Book Club, Scholastic Book Fair, and the CHildren's Book of the Month Club. Wolf was also a finalist for the Southeastern Booksellers' Association Poetry Award."
Genre: Poetry/Historical Fiction
Curriculum Ties: Poetry or History unit
Booktalking Ideas: Talk about what it would have been like to be aboard the Titanic and the differences in the social classes.
Reading Level/Interest Age: 15+
Challenge Issues: N/A
Why included? I wanted to include a poetry book because many teenagers like to write poetry and I noticed this book on display in the teen section of my library.
