The Mystery of The Titanic: A Historical Investigation for Kids

Kelly Miler Halls has come up with a new take on the story of the Titanic’s sinking. Rather than focusing on the posh life of the privileged first-class passengers and the less-than-perfect life of the third-class passengers, Halls gives kids the information they need to help solve the mystery of the Titanic’s sinking for themselves.Halls’ book is a good example of an excellent STEM book (science, technology, engineering, math) that teachers can use in classrooms. She starts with the engineering of the Titanic during its construction and ends with the science of weather and how it contributed to the sinking (along with numerous examples of human error). Teachers could easily develop an intriguing STEM lesson plan based on this book.Numerous sidebars provide easily-understood definitions of terms, including horsepower, ship ‘gender’, how the new invention called the wireless worked, and what tidal force is. A clever little nautical-looking guy appears now and then when the text provides a clue about the sinking, encouraging young readers to figure out things themselves. Quotes from survivors are sprinkled throughout the book, providing a first-person look at the tragedy.If you want to know more about the Titanic – more than you’ve read before, more than you saw in the famous movie – pick up this book and take a look. You’ll be as caught up in the details of the Titanic’s life and death as I was!Connie Goldsmith

Do you think you know everything there is to know about the sinking of the Titanic? I thought I did until I read Kelly Milner-Halls book, The Mystery of the Titanic. It's chock-full of interesting tidbits of little known, and recently discovered facts about this very intriguing subject. Kids will be fascinated with this book! Perfect as a resource for school projects, or as a stand-alone entertaining read.

Ever since I was a child, I’ve been fascinated by the Titanic story and have tried to read everything I can get my hands on about the subject. This title is full of information about the ship and its workings, explains how the Marconi radiotelegraph works, why the iceberg wasn’t sighted earlier due to lack of binoculars, and why there weren’t more survivors. Color and b/w illustrations and sidebars bring interesting points to the readers attention.The text moves along and directs the reader to facts, former speculations proved wrong, and contemporary understanding of the exploration and discovery process, without being maudlin or too somber, honoring the dead. Useful Glossary and References. I will pass along my copy to a young person interested in true mysteries.

I bought this book for my niece who loves the Titanic story. She loves the book.

This book about the Titanic met all my expectations and more! It tells kids about the way the ship worked and allows them to discover why it sank. What a great nonfiction addition to my classroom library!

I honestly thought I wouldn't learn any new information because I've read so many books on the Titanic. Boy, was I wrong! I discovered many facts I didn't know. Fascinating!

Loved this book!! So informative and my students are excited to read it!

She found it useful for her research project.