I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic 1912: The Graphic Novel
Written by Lauren Tarshis with Georgia Ball
Art by Huas Studio
Published by Graphix Scholastic
Pages: 160
Retail: $10.99
I Survived is based on the popular award-winning series of chapter books of the same name by Lauren Tarshis. Since 2010, her books have taken young readers back into the past to witness such disastrous events as the attack on Pearl Harbor, the great Chicago fire and hurricane Katrina. Tarshis combines real life events with fictional characters to present a narrative that invites readers into the drama without being too intense.
Like with Nathan Hale’s Hazardous Tales, the I Survived books do not sugar coat historical fact. People die in some very dramatic ways in these books. So it might be best for parents and guardians to stick to the recommended age range of 8-12 years old for these books. Adults, you might be comfortable with going a year or so younger. But I would greatly suggest that if you do, read the book with your child in order to field any intense feelings or anxieties that might arise when reading.
I was a huge fan of many elements of this book. I liked that Lauren Tarshis handled the adaptation of her book from chapter book to graphic novel. (Georgia Ball developed the script for the illustrators to follow.) I thought that the educational segment in the back of the book was great. But what I really fell in love with was the author’s letter to the reader which continued, albeit briefly, the story of main character George and his family after the sinking of Titanic.
Artwork for this book was done by the Argentine collective Haus Studio. The art was very good as was the coloring. My favorite aspect was the framing. The great Jack Kirby was known for taking comics characters out of static poses and instead re-positions the ‘camera’ angles into more dramatic poses. And the artists at Haus Studio developed some of the most breath-taking panels that I have seen in a very long time.
(See the very last panel on page 109 for a perfect example of this!)
The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 is the first of Lauren Tarshis’ I Survived books that will receive the graphic novel treatment. If your child becomes a fan of this book, not only are there dozens of age appropriate books out there about the Titanic, but a second graphic novel is due very soon. I Survived The Shark Attacks of 1916 is set for release in print and digital formats this June!
For a thrilling venture through one of the worst naval disasters in world history, this is an account not to be missed! Exciting. Tragic. And educational too! This is a new graphic novel series that the entire family will enjoy.
I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912: The Graphic Novel is currently available on Amazon in multiple formats.
If at all possible, during the COVID-19 crisis, support your local comic shop or favorite independent bookseller by ordering this book through them.
Worth Consuming!
Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.
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