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Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster
New York Public Library's "100 Best Books for Kids"
Kirkus Reviews' "Best Books of 2018"
2019 Society of Midland Authors Literary Award Honoree
2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List
2019 Cybils Literary Award Winner
A 2019 Cooperative Children's Book Center's Choice
Wisconsin Writers Contest 2018 Winner of the Tofte/Wright Children’s Literary Award
On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland , filled to capacity with 2,500 passengers and crew, capsized in the Chicago River while still moored to the pier. Happy picnic-goers headed for an employee outing across Lake Michigan suddenly found themselves in a struggle for their lives. Trapped belowdecks, crushed by the crowds attempting to escape the rising waters, or hurled into the river from the upper deck of the ship, roughly one-third of the passengers, mostly women and children, perished that day.
The Eastland disaster took more passenger lives than the Titanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the Great Lakes. Capsized! details the events leading up to the fateful day and provides a nail-biting, minute-by-minute account of the ship's capsizing. From the courage of the survivors to the despair of families who lost loved ones, author Patricia Sutton brings to light the stories of ordinary working people enduring the unthinkable.
Capsized! also raises critical-thinking questions for young Why do we know so much about the Titanic 's sinking yet so little about the Eastland disaster? What causes a tragedy to be forgotten and left out of society's collective memory? And what lessons from this disaster might we be able to apply today?
Kirkus Reviews' "Best Books of 2018"
2019 Society of Midland Authors Literary Award Honoree
2019 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People List
2019 Cybils Literary Award Winner
A 2019 Cooperative Children's Book Center's Choice
Wisconsin Writers Contest 2018 Winner of the Tofte/Wright Children’s Literary Award
On July 24, 1915, the SS Eastland , filled to capacity with 2,500 passengers and crew, capsized in the Chicago River while still moored to the pier. Happy picnic-goers headed for an employee outing across Lake Michigan suddenly found themselves in a struggle for their lives. Trapped belowdecks, crushed by the crowds attempting to escape the rising waters, or hurled into the river from the upper deck of the ship, roughly one-third of the passengers, mostly women and children, perished that day.
The Eastland disaster took more passenger lives than the Titanic and stands today as the greatest loss of life on the Great Lakes. Capsized! details the events leading up to the fateful day and provides a nail-biting, minute-by-minute account of the ship's capsizing. From the courage of the survivors to the despair of families who lost loved ones, author Patricia Sutton brings to light the stories of ordinary working people enduring the unthinkable.
Capsized! also raises critical-thinking questions for young Why do we know so much about the Titanic 's sinking yet so little about the Eastland disaster? What causes a tragedy to be forgotten and left out of society's collective memory? And what lessons from this disaster might we be able to apply today?
176 pages, Hardcover
First published July 1, 2018
31 people are currently reading
818 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
July 10, 2018
A great read for adults and kids alike. Lots of information and anecdotes about a little known tragedy. Loved it.
May 12, 2022
3.5 stars
January 24, 2023
I find it remarkable that if I had never read Scritch Scratch by Lindsay Currie, I probably never would have heard of this tragedy. It is a terrifying true story of a ship that capsized with 2500 passengers on board in the Chicago River in 1915. 844 Passengers perished within an hour and only half the boat was only 20 feet under water. How is it possible that this story has been so forgotten within history?
November 21, 2025
My 7 year old gives this 4.5 stars, it's probably more like 3.5 for me. I read this aloud to him, and while it's very well researched and well written and contains tons of useful and interesting photographs, it's REALLY sad. There is lot of discussion of death (of children in particular) and funeral services, and unclaimed bodies; it's probably at least a third of the book which yes, I understand this is a book about a tragedy where 844 people died, most of whom were women and children, it was just a lot for me as a read-aloud. My son seemed fine, actually, but I kept having to stop reading it and collect myself. We've read a lot of books about shipwrecks/maritime tragedies together, but this one was by far the most upsetting.
I was surprised how few people know about this, even here in Chicago. It definitely deserves more attention than it gets, but as the author points out, most of the victims were poor immigrants, unlike the rich and famous passengers on the Titanic, which is probably (and unfortunately) a major contributing factor. The nurse who seemed to be coordinating most of the medical triage definitely deserves more recognition, she sounds like an incredible woman. Absolutely insane to think they crammed 2500 people onto this thing; 2500 was the passenger capacity of the freaking Titanic. Apparently there's a plaque at the site of the disaster, we're going to go check it out when the weather is nicer.
Anyway, this was super informative but just be aware that it's not a fun read.
I was surprised how few people know about this, even here in Chicago. It definitely deserves more attention than it gets, but as the author points out, most of the victims were poor immigrants, unlike the rich and famous passengers on the Titanic, which is probably (and unfortunately) a major contributing factor. The nurse who seemed to be coordinating most of the medical triage definitely deserves more recognition, she sounds like an incredible woman. Absolutely insane to think they crammed 2500 people onto this thing; 2500 was the passenger capacity of the freaking Titanic. Apparently there's a plaque at the site of the disaster, we're going to go check it out when the weather is nicer.
Anyway, this was super informative but just be aware that it's not a fun read.
October 11, 2018
Sutton has written a compelling account of a tragic disaster that occurred on July 24, 1915. The SS Eastland, a steamship, was loading up for a trip across Lake Michigan to deliver over two thousand people to a Western Electric picnic celebration. The ship capsized sending hundreds of people into the water, and trapping hundreds more inside the ship. Sutton takes the reader through an account of this event, detailing both general events and specific experiences. The actions of both crew and passengers are explained as well as a general history of the ship. After reading about the previous stability problems the ship had, I found it appalling that the ship was still in use as a passenger vessel, when the ship had over and over again demonstrated that it was not suited to such use. Mistakes both old and new guaranteed that a disaster was bound to happen. This one occurred without the ship even leaving the dock. It's proximity to the dock allowed people nearby to come to their aid. Despite the hundreds of people who helped, over 800 people still died, many of them women and children. This compelling story demonstrates that so many accidents are caused by human error. And so often those responsible aren't held responsible, leaving the victims and their families to suffer the consequences. A little known historical tale full of tragedy and courage, loss and bravery, as an entire community faced a disaster that didn't need to happen.
December 30, 2019
In clear, straightforward prose appropriate for middle schoolers Sutton sets the scene for the excursion and then walks through the disaster, following both survivors and casualties. It's grim reading, especially for sensitive people like me (kids probably do better at this).
Sutton ends with a review of the aftereffects, both on the passengers and the crew and companies. No one was found guilty. Eventually the engineer was blamed after his death. She also looks at why this is so forgotten while other incidents like the Titanic are iconic.
Sutton ends with a review of the aftereffects, both on the passengers and the crew and companies. No one was found guilty. Eventually the engineer was blamed after his death. She also looks at why this is so forgotten while other incidents like the Titanic are iconic.
July 10, 2018
What a page turner. I literally could not put this book down. I live in the Chicago area and was glad to learn how and why the passengers of the Eastland met their fate that July day in 1915. Sutton's research made the characters jump off the page. I highly recommend this book.
May 10, 2018
If your child, students, or library patrons can’t get enough information on the Titanic, “Capsized” is a must read on a different nautical disaster with several similarities. However, due to the very intense descriptions of the victims as the Eastland keeled over, I would not recommend it to those younger than 11 or 12 or anyone whose heart is especially tender. The book does not contain anything gruesome, but the fear and loss is palpable. Author Patricia Sutton is incredibly thorough in her coverage of the almost never written about Eastland tragedy that occurred only a few years after the Titanic hit her iceberg. Primary source pictures and quotes are meticulously cited and a bibliography of additional readings is included in the back matter. Sutton tells the story of this preventable calamity from the perspective of actual survivors which further heightens the emotional investment of the reader. I will purchase “Capsized”for my 5th grade library, but probably won’t get it for my 4th grade kiddos. And regardless of where Dewey would place it in his library, I will shelve it right alongside all my Titanic books. Thanks, Edelweiss, for another great advance read.
August 21, 2019
I had not heard about the SS Eastland before reading this story. This book was an eye opener to the disaster that happened in 1915. This gripping story, full of real life photographs will be liked in my library.
October 9, 2019
Choice book #3
Quarter 1
Capsized is a realistic fiction book that is by Patrica Sutton
Spoiler Alert
Setting
The book takes place by or in the Chicago river which is surrounded by buildings at a time where people worked 6 days a week and so taking a day off was special. There were 2,500 people going to a company picnic when the boat they were riding in, made for just 500 people, capsized.
Main Characters
Bobbie Aanstad who was a girl headed to the Western Electric for the picnic with her mother Marianne, her sister and Uncle Olaf, also played a big part in the story because he saved 27 people.
Helen Repa was a Western Electric nurse that was assigned to a hospital tent at the picnic but when the Eastland capsized, she helped many people that were injured and hurt and got blankets from the store and got a place for the bodies of dead people.
The Kelly kids,Jenny and Charlie were excited to go to the Western Electric picnic with there parents Mamie and Charles. Charles was a new employee at the electric company and was happy to get a day off work.Unfortunately, Charles and Jenny Kelly did not escape the tragedy like the rest of the family. At the end Mamie, the mother and Charlie, the son, are left very sad because of their loss.
The Goyette family had George a woodworking leader at Western Electric company who heroically helped a few women survive by pushing them up. His sons Frank, Charlie and Lyle were able to get to safety thankfully. But when the boat capsized there was sudden chaos and the sons almost died.
The problem
The problem was that the engineer did not make the boat safe, because he let too many people on and because of that the boat was top heavy which was the reason that it capsized. This resulted in so many people drowning and getting crushed by the stuff that was on the boat. Also, when people tried to help by throwing things in they hurt many people. After the event there was no list of people that had got on the boat and so they did not know who the dead bodies were. Lastly there was not enough first responders at the site so more people died.
Summary
The Eastland was a steam powered vessel that was supposed to be the fastest boat ever to go on the Great Lakes. Because of a huge electric company picnic there was a need for a boat that could get all of the people to the picnic quickly, so the Eastland was the boat to go on. But, it was only designed to hold 500 but 2,500 people boarded it so when the boat was leaving and people went to the top to get a good view of the departure it maid boat top heavy. So the captain tried to steady it with the ballard tanks but could not so it capsized and many people were drowned, and crushed by debris. After the event there were 844 people that died and not enough room for the bodies and people had to find their loved ones so it was very chaotic. Many people were left sad at the end because of their loses.
Analysis
A part that I liked in this book was when number 396 was identified.
I enjoyed this book because it was a topic that I had never heard of before and I did not know that so many people died and were injured.
If I was writing the book I would tell more about the character's feelings and how they felt after the disaster.
Quarter 1
Capsized is a realistic fiction book that is by Patrica Sutton
Spoiler Alert
Setting
The book takes place by or in the Chicago river which is surrounded by buildings at a time where people worked 6 days a week and so taking a day off was special. There were 2,500 people going to a company picnic when the boat they were riding in, made for just 500 people, capsized.
Main Characters
Bobbie Aanstad who was a girl headed to the Western Electric for the picnic with her mother Marianne, her sister and Uncle Olaf, also played a big part in the story because he saved 27 people.
Helen Repa was a Western Electric nurse that was assigned to a hospital tent at the picnic but when the Eastland capsized, she helped many people that were injured and hurt and got blankets from the store and got a place for the bodies of dead people.
The Kelly kids,Jenny and Charlie were excited to go to the Western Electric picnic with there parents Mamie and Charles. Charles was a new employee at the electric company and was happy to get a day off work.Unfortunately, Charles and Jenny Kelly did not escape the tragedy like the rest of the family. At the end Mamie, the mother and Charlie, the son, are left very sad because of their loss.
The Goyette family had George a woodworking leader at Western Electric company who heroically helped a few women survive by pushing them up. His sons Frank, Charlie and Lyle were able to get to safety thankfully. But when the boat capsized there was sudden chaos and the sons almost died.
The problem
The problem was that the engineer did not make the boat safe, because he let too many people on and because of that the boat was top heavy which was the reason that it capsized. This resulted in so many people drowning and getting crushed by the stuff that was on the boat. Also, when people tried to help by throwing things in they hurt many people. After the event there was no list of people that had got on the boat and so they did not know who the dead bodies were. Lastly there was not enough first responders at the site so more people died.
Summary
The Eastland was a steam powered vessel that was supposed to be the fastest boat ever to go on the Great Lakes. Because of a huge electric company picnic there was a need for a boat that could get all of the people to the picnic quickly, so the Eastland was the boat to go on. But, it was only designed to hold 500 but 2,500 people boarded it so when the boat was leaving and people went to the top to get a good view of the departure it maid boat top heavy. So the captain tried to steady it with the ballard tanks but could not so it capsized and many people were drowned, and crushed by debris. After the event there were 844 people that died and not enough room for the bodies and people had to find their loved ones so it was very chaotic. Many people were left sad at the end because of their loses.
Analysis
A part that I liked in this book was when number 396 was identified.
I enjoyed this book because it was a topic that I had never heard of before and I did not know that so many people died and were injured.
If I was writing the book I would tell more about the character's feelings and how they felt after the disaster.
January 29, 2020
Choice Book #1 Quarter 3
Capsized! By Patricia Sutton is a non-fiction book.
The book takes place in Chicago in 1915. The book does have some scenes from elsewhere, but the majority of the book tells us of the events on the Chicago River when the SS Eastland capsized.
This book has many different points of view, but one that I find interesting is Uncle Olaf's. He is portrayed as one of the more courageous characters in this story. He is passionate and determined as he struggles to help passengers. However, he always kept an eye on his family if anything happened to them. If somebody went underwater, Uncle Olaf would be right there to help them up.
I would consider the conflict in this book Person vs Nature. As the Eastland is listing over, it is a battle with gravity to help the ship stay upright and not capsize. When the Eastland does capsize, it becomes a battle between man and water to not get crushed or drown in the river. There is also some Person vs Person conflicts when people are fighting with each other on the ship and in the river not to drown.
The author believes that determination is the best way to get through hard times.
Text evidence:
1) After the Eastland capsized, many of the nurses and medical personnel were determined to save those they could and put the bad situation out of their minds.
2) Uncle Olaf and others trapped below were determined that they would make it out alive. Their determination to live played a key role in their survival.
3) The morgue workers were determined to reunite the bodies with their families and give them a proper burial.
This book was a very interesting read. I had never heard of the SS Eastland disaster before, so it was very cool to read about it. I'm surprised this book hasn't seen more attention, as it's written very well and is very informative. I liked hearing the story from several different perspectives. It was an emotional book, with sad parts and determined happy parts. Overall, I think it was a good book and would recommend it to anyone interested in exciting maritime adventures or Chicago history.
Capsized! By Patricia Sutton is a non-fiction book.
The book takes place in Chicago in 1915. The book does have some scenes from elsewhere, but the majority of the book tells us of the events on the Chicago River when the SS Eastland capsized.
This book has many different points of view, but one that I find interesting is Uncle Olaf's. He is portrayed as one of the more courageous characters in this story. He is passionate and determined as he struggles to help passengers. However, he always kept an eye on his family if anything happened to them. If somebody went underwater, Uncle Olaf would be right there to help them up.
I would consider the conflict in this book Person vs Nature. As the Eastland is listing over, it is a battle with gravity to help the ship stay upright and not capsize. When the Eastland does capsize, it becomes a battle between man and water to not get crushed or drown in the river. There is also some Person vs Person conflicts when people are fighting with each other on the ship and in the river not to drown.
The author believes that determination is the best way to get through hard times.
Text evidence:
1) After the Eastland capsized, many of the nurses and medical personnel were determined to save those they could and put the bad situation out of their minds.
2) Uncle Olaf and others trapped below were determined that they would make it out alive. Their determination to live played a key role in their survival.
3) The morgue workers were determined to reunite the bodies with their families and give them a proper burial.
This book was a very interesting read. I had never heard of the SS Eastland disaster before, so it was very cool to read about it. I'm surprised this book hasn't seen more attention, as it's written very well and is very informative. I liked hearing the story from several different perspectives. It was an emotional book, with sad parts and determined happy parts. Overall, I think it was a good book and would recommend it to anyone interested in exciting maritime adventures or Chicago history.
October 10, 2019
Choice book 4 Quarter 1
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster written by Patricia Sutton is a Historical Fiction book.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster is a book that takes place in the busy city of Chicago right on the river.
There are two main characters and they are Borghild "Bobbie" Anastad and, Helen Repa a nurse.
Bobbie Anastad lives in Chicago with her sister Solveig, Mother Marianne and her Uncle Olaf Ness. Bobbie is a 13-year-old girl that loves everything about her life. Just like almost every other girl in the town she works at Western Electric, a company that sells everything from vacuums and Boats. They make almost everything in the city, Bobbie is attending the picnic for girls leaving to go on the SS Eastland. If she doesn't go she will lose her job forever. She will miss her family but always knows that they are there for her.
Helen Repa is a nurse that works at the hospital, but not today. Why do you ask? she will be helping out at the dock in case anything goes wrong but, what she doesn't know is she will have to work way into the night helping people. The day the SS Eastland was going to ship to the Southeast Helen got up and went to the hospital tent. She loves to help people which caused her to be a nurse and loves to help kids too.
When the SS Eastland gets let off into the lake, it tips so hard to the right that everyone gets nervous. Soon enough everything is OK but, then as most people thought that it was done it leans to the other side. Most of the passengers don't care and get on anyway, as the passenger counter counts he realizes he has gone over the limit and notifies the captain immediately. All of the passengers get on and it falls capsizing into the deep lake.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster follows many characters through their point of view during the disaster. During the book, all of the characters learned that everything in life is priceless. You have to really appreciate everything even the bad things. Some of the characters in the book have no kindness to give because they are so rude to people.
My favorite part of the book was when the ship capsized. Even though it was the saddest part of the book it was the best part. I really liked it because there was so much description, I love historical Fiction books because of the sad parts. Most authors want the reader to like that part especially because authors make it just so descriptive.
One reason I enjoyed the book was that there it was going into many points of view and I think that is a key part in a book. Patricia Sutton did an amazing job on everything, I loved this book also because there were pictures and that is something kids like so they get a description of what everything looks like. One more thing I liked about the book was that everything was short but descriptive, I love description but not when a book drags out a ton. Patricia did an amazing job on everything because it was not short but not long, just right.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster written by Patricia Sutton is a Historical Fiction book.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster is a book that takes place in the busy city of Chicago right on the river.
There are two main characters and they are Borghild "Bobbie" Anastad and, Helen Repa a nurse.
Bobbie Anastad lives in Chicago with her sister Solveig, Mother Marianne and her Uncle Olaf Ness. Bobbie is a 13-year-old girl that loves everything about her life. Just like almost every other girl in the town she works at Western Electric, a company that sells everything from vacuums and Boats. They make almost everything in the city, Bobbie is attending the picnic for girls leaving to go on the SS Eastland. If she doesn't go she will lose her job forever. She will miss her family but always knows that they are there for her.
Helen Repa is a nurse that works at the hospital, but not today. Why do you ask? she will be helping out at the dock in case anything goes wrong but, what she doesn't know is she will have to work way into the night helping people. The day the SS Eastland was going to ship to the Southeast Helen got up and went to the hospital tent. She loves to help people which caused her to be a nurse and loves to help kids too.
When the SS Eastland gets let off into the lake, it tips so hard to the right that everyone gets nervous. Soon enough everything is OK but, then as most people thought that it was done it leans to the other side. Most of the passengers don't care and get on anyway, as the passenger counter counts he realizes he has gone over the limit and notifies the captain immediately. All of the passengers get on and it falls capsizing into the deep lake.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster follows many characters through their point of view during the disaster. During the book, all of the characters learned that everything in life is priceless. You have to really appreciate everything even the bad things. Some of the characters in the book have no kindness to give because they are so rude to people.
My favorite part of the book was when the ship capsized. Even though it was the saddest part of the book it was the best part. I really liked it because there was so much description, I love historical Fiction books because of the sad parts. Most authors want the reader to like that part especially because authors make it just so descriptive.
One reason I enjoyed the book was that there it was going into many points of view and I think that is a key part in a book. Patricia Sutton did an amazing job on everything, I loved this book also because there were pictures and that is something kids like so they get a description of what everything looks like. One more thing I liked about the book was that everything was short but descriptive, I love description but not when a book drags out a ton. Patricia did an amazing job on everything because it was not short but not long, just right.
August 21, 2019
When authors research and write about previously unknown or "forgotten" people and events from history, I'm in. When a book is written as well as this one, I'm all in. Sutton makes use of individuals (identified as "main characters" in the beginning) aboard the SS Eastland to tell this story. Consequently, the book reads like a well done bit of historical fiction rather than a dry text disseminating the facts of the disaster. This is how nonfiction writing should be done. The reader is cast into the culture and time period. The excitement surrounding Western Electric's annual picnic to be held in Michigan City, IN is clearly understood. The perspectives of various Western Electric workers and their families is shared. Sutton's research is substantial, gleaning information from newspapers and magazines from the time, the Eastland Disaster Historical Society, and an assortment of books on the topic. As the Titanic was dubbed, "unsinkable;" the SS Eastland, ("the fastest steamship to sail the Great Lakes"), was deemed to be "steady as a church" by its shipbuilder. The passenger death count exceeded that of the Titanic by 29; yet I had never heard of this disaster. Sutton's account does a splendid job of bringing this tragedy to light. It is more than an interesting read. Her end notes, bibliography, and index make this a valuable tool for upper elementary research assignments. I would highly recommend this to young students of history.
January 20, 2024
I read this with my son for his school book club. I am astonished-I had no idea anything like this had happened. I am so disappointed because I was in Chicago 3 months ago and would have liked to have visited the plaque in honor of those who were killed and survived…
2500 passengers had excitedly boarded the SS Eastland to enjoy a ride across Lake Michigan to a picnic. When the ship teetered back and forth and finally capsized just off the pier in the Chicago River, 844 people were killed-more than in the titanic. This mostly consisted of women and children.
The book follows a few different people’s experience and tells of the big electric company that employed the passengers to the details of what occurred afterward. I was intrigued by the work of Helen, a nurse, who helped to organize both things at the pier to the hospital to the morgue where people identified their loved ones. What a horrific thing to be part of, seeing do much loss and heartache. I still cannot believe this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this!
2500 passengers had excitedly boarded the SS Eastland to enjoy a ride across Lake Michigan to a picnic. When the ship teetered back and forth and finally capsized just off the pier in the Chicago River, 844 people were killed-more than in the titanic. This mostly consisted of women and children.
The book follows a few different people’s experience and tells of the big electric company that employed the passengers to the details of what occurred afterward. I was intrigued by the work of Helen, a nurse, who helped to organize both things at the pier to the hospital to the morgue where people identified their loved ones. What a horrific thing to be part of, seeing do much loss and heartache. I still cannot believe this is the first time I’ve ever heard of this!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2019
A fascinating glimpse into one of Chicago’s most deadly disasters. While stilled moored to the dock, the passenger ship, The SS Eastland capsized killing 844 passengers, mostly women and children. While it claimed more passenger deaths than The Titanic, its history is not well-known.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster should be a ‘must-read’ for Chicago history buffs and for those who like to uncover buried disaster stories. We get a sense of place and time while reading about the families who were impacted by this tragedy. Could it have been avoided? Why is it forgotten? Who really was to blame? All good questions to ask and good ones for young people to ponder over.
Includes Author’s Note, Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography, Image Credits, and Index.
Capsized!: The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster should be a ‘must-read’ for Chicago history buffs and for those who like to uncover buried disaster stories. We get a sense of place and time while reading about the families who were impacted by this tragedy. Could it have been avoided? Why is it forgotten? Who really was to blame? All good questions to ask and good ones for young people to ponder over.
Includes Author’s Note, Acknowledgements, Notes, Bibliography, Image Credits, and Index.
August 20, 2018
Really well researched and presented book on the SS Eastland Disaster, a ship disaster that I had never heard of. The book is very well laid out, with a great image-text ratio, and a well-paced movement through the day. Works well for 4th-5th grade+, if the kids are ok with a very high mortality rate, especially when the dead are children. I also really like how Sutton explores what the life of a Western Electric employee was like, and talks a little bit about why this tragic occasion has not really been remembered. It's very interesting to consider what daily life was like, how employers responded to and cultivated their employees at the time, and how regulation of industry has changed our landscape.
October 27, 2019
Ms. Sutton’s ability to build the context, bring the historical characters quickly and vividly to life, and put her readers in medias res is something that readers young and old should get to experience. She dramatizes this overlooked tragedy deftly without overindulging in its characters’ fates, and the narrative pace never feels overburdened by its well researched historicity. Most impressively and instructively for its target audience, Capsized! Lays bear its method in an afterword that is a model for young readers of history and old. Here’s hoping this is just the beginning of Sutton’s stories.
March 11, 2020
Definitely an appropriate look at the SS Eastland disaster for 5th grade and older I've lived in the Chicago land area for a few decades and happened across the memorial plaque last year. A few months later I ran across the book at a bookstore and had to pick it up because it seemed crazy to me that that many people died so close to shore. I appreciated the author's diligence with telling the stories of families affected by the disaster. I feel the book was just enough to understand what happened and why without being too graphic. I also appreciate the pictures being included as it make it even more interesting.
September 21, 2018
Through meticulous research and vivid prose, Sutton brings to life the little-known story of the Eastland ship disaster. Based on firsthand accounts of passengers, ship workers and bystanders, readers can experience firsthand the unfolding events that led to the sinking of the fastest steamship on the Great Lakes and its tragic aftermath that lingers still today. This is riveting true story with appeal for readers, ages ten-adult. This tragic story is long overdue to be told and Sutton's research and riveting writing do it justice.
February 13, 2019
I don't usually read middle grade books, but I've been trying to find some good nonfiction to showcase in a YA book presentation, and the premise of this book was appealing. Since this book is right on the edge (for those 10 and up) I thought I'd give it a chance. The story of the SS Eastland is fascinating, and I thought Sutton did a great job of trying to add a human element to the story without overwhelming the reader with characters (although they were still hard to keep straight). I stayed up late at night, gasping at each turn of events.
December 1, 2019
4.5- This one is going to stick with me for a while. The Eastland Disaster happened only three years after the Titanic, had even more loss of life, happened right on the Great Lakes! yet hardly anyone knows about it/remembers it. The author's research and caring has created a book that tells the whole story in an easy-to-read way appropriate for middle grade audiences. There are photos (not gruesome) and quotes from survivors and information from before/during/after the sinking. It was a horrible disaster that should be remembered.
December 10, 2018
Like many, I had never heard of this ship disaster. I found this on the new shelf at our library. The vintage-style cover of the book caught my eye immediately and I wasn't disappointed. This is not a long book, but it packs a good punch. The eyewitness accounts, along with the black and white pictures made this sad news real, to me. The "notes and Bibliography" really added to this books testament of the disaster. I will be doing more research on the people involved!
February 5, 2019
Really a high middle grade book, which I didn't realize when I picked it up. But it involved a disaster on Lake Michigan that killed more people than the Titanic disaster, and I had never even heard about it. Very good, though heart-wrenching. I think this is the author's first book (she is/was a teacher) and I think it's a great first effort at history for tweens, young teens. I learned a lot from it and it would spark good discussion with that age kid. I'm not sorry I read it at all!
February 24, 2019
This book is an excellent source of information regarding a horrible accident which took place in Chicago over 100 years ago that, compared to the Titanic, is fairly unknown. Patricia Sutton provides lots of interesting facts that I had never heard of before, including the reason why the Titanic disaster 3 years earlier was an ironic contributing factor to the tragic series of events that led to the Eastland disaster. Two thumbs up!
October 4, 2018
A clear, sobering account of a forgotten American tragedy. Written for a young adult audience, the book may not go into quite the detail that a fully realized study would, but the story is clear and the emotional impact is strong. Putting focus on a half-dozen people and families affected draws us into the account and keeps us connected throughout.
December 1, 2018
This is a bit of a middle grade/chapter book crossover in terms of the language and content. It is fairly upsetting, although not hugely graphic, so parents really want to be sure their kids are up for it. There's a good selection of photographs as well, which may add to the disturbing factor for some readers.
September 7, 2019
EXCELLENT book of forgotten history - adults would appreciate this as much as young readers (this book is marketed as juvenile history). Another one of those lost stories that need to be remembered. More than 840 passengers died in this disaster, all while the ship was still tied to the pier...in 20 feet of water. Tragic story...excellent book.
May 5, 2021
Interesting
I first learned about the Eastland Disaster in a book I read last year and wanted to learn more. The story is so heart breaking, but very well told. This book puts this event into perspective and helps us to see it through the eyes of those that were there all those years ago.
I first learned about the Eastland Disaster in a book I read last year and wanted to learn more. The story is so heart breaking, but very well told. This book puts this event into perspective and helps us to see it through the eyes of those that were there all those years ago.
August 18, 2025
Gripping and unforgettable
Capsized! shines a light on a heartbreaking yet little-known tragedy the Eastland disaster of 1915. Patricia Sutton brings history alive with vivid storytelling that pulls readers into the fear, courage, and heartbreak of that day. Both educational and deeply moving, it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
Capsized! shines a light on a heartbreaking yet little-known tragedy the Eastland disaster of 1915. Patricia Sutton brings history alive with vivid storytelling that pulls readers into the fear, courage, and heartbreak of that day. Both educational and deeply moving, it’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.
September 29, 2018
At port on the Chicago River, July 24, 1915, just loaded with 2,500 passengers from Western Electric ready for a celebration picnic day, this ship built for the Great Lakes lists and capsizes before pulling away from the dock. Includes photos and diagrams.
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