I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912

I Survived Graphix #1

by Georgia Ball, Gervasio & Jok (Illustrator), Lauren Tarshis

Ten-year-old George Calder can't wait to explore every inch of the Titanic, even if his little sister, Phoebe, has to tag along. But when George sneaks away without her and ventures into the first class baggage room, a terrible boom shakes the entire boat. Suddenly, water is everywhere, and George's life changes forever...

Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I Survived series takes on vivid new life in full-color graphic novel editions. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep any reader turning the pages.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Fiction, Historical, Comics

160 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 4, 2020

About the author

Georgia Ball is a writer and developer living in Orlando, Florida. She launched her first webcomic in 2004, Scooter and Ferret, with her husband, artist Scott Ball. The strip ran until 2010 when she landed her first gig writing for licensed comic books. Since then she's written for Transformers, Scooby-Doo, My Little Pony, and Disney Princesses. Her horror credits include four issues of Evil Dead 2.

Recent projects have included Disney's Frozen Comic Collection from Joe Books, three Strawberry Shortcake graphic novels from IDW Publishing and a WWII graphic novel on Guadalcanal for Osprey Publishing. She lives with her husband and daughter with their dog and two cats.

Reviews

[Darla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reintroducing the I Survived books as graphic novels is brilliant. The text to illustration ratio is not as dense as the Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales. That means more historical facts in the hands of a wider range of kids. I can see kids moving from the I Survived novels to discovering the graphix and vice versa. They will also be pleased to read the Nathan Hale series. I have no doubt that this title and others to come will circ well in my branch.

A big thank you to Graphix and Edelweiss for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Laura Gardner · Rating 4 out of 5]

The graphic novels and I Survived books are the most popular books in our middle school library and now there’s going to be an I Survived graphic novel series!? Better buy this for sure! Kids are going to EAT. THIS. UP. Thanks to the publisher for an ARC to share with Kidlitexchange.

[M.L. Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

@kidlitexchange partner: I Survived The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912 GRAPHIC NOVEL EDITION by @laurentarshis and Haus Studio. Releases February 4, 2020 through @scholasticinc.
—————*
I have never read an I Survived book before, and while I find valid the question asked by another reviewer -“with the books so short, is a graphic novel edition necessary?”- I do actually think this was necessary. There are kids who will literally only read graphic novels. Period. So why not use them to get in history and education in a colorful, exciting way?
I loved the story and the thoughts and emotions of 10-year-old George were very real to me. The artwork in this ARC edition is not complete; more than half the pages are black and white, but it already looks great and I can’t wait to see it finished!
As a 9-year-old obsessed with the Titanic after a school museum trip, I would have loved this book, and the Titanic facts at the end make it even more real for kids and classrooms.
The first-ever I Survived graphic novel releases February 4! Thank you Kid Lit Exchange for the review copy—all opinions are my own.

[Matti Karjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Tarshis on erikoistunut erilaisista historiallisista katastrofeista kertoviin lastenromaaneihin, joista olen aiemmin lukenut I Survived Hurricane Katrina, 2005- ja I Survived the Shark Attacks of 1916 -kirjat. Ihan hyviä olivat molemmat. Nyt kirjasarjan pohjalta on tehty sarjakuvasovituksia, joista ensimmäinen on "I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" (Scholastic, 2020).

Sarjakuva kertoo George-nimisestä pojasta, jolla on vilkkaan luonteensa vuoksi paha tapa joutua vaikeuksiin. Nyt hän matkustaa tätinsä ja pikkusiskonsa kanssa Titanicilla kohti uutta maailmaa, eikä ongelmilta voida välttyä tälläkään kertaa. Mutta vähänpä Georgekaan arvaa millaisiin ongelmiin hän vielä ajautuukaan kun laiva törmää jäävuoreen...

Sarjakuvan piirrosjälki on hieman staattista, mutta silti ihan tyylikästä.

Titanicin tarina kiehtoo vuosikymmenestä toiseen, joten kyllä uskon tällä olevan tilausta myös meidän kirjastossamme - mutta voi kun tämmöisiä julkaistaisiin suomeksikin!

[Jenbebookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read 08/12/2020

This was Titanic JR. Except instead of a romance between Kate and Leo, there was the love between a young brother and sister, Georgie and Phoebe. This little graphic novel novella so closely mirrored that of the movie Titanic that there was even a door used as a floating device at the end. Except here in Titanic Jr. at least the companion wasn’t forced to dangle unnecessarily in the freezing cold water, dropping precious degrees by the minute when there was plenty of room for him on the door as well. In this, Marko has his own floatation device.

3.5 stars. Cute for what it was despite there being nothing original about this whatsoever. But I don’t judge them too harshly on that fact considering Titanic is a topic that has been romanticized and revisited countless times, there’s only so much that can be expanded on. That wasn’t even the point, the point was to make this relatable to a younger audience, a feat which Lauren Tarshis undertook and accomplished successfully. Woot woot. It was a little young for me, but I enjoyed it nonetheless.

<3

[Johnnysbookreviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many kids books are turning to graphic novels. Honestly, I wonder if the Harry Potter books would ever turn into a graphic novel. That would be cool. Anyway, I got into this book because it's been a top seller and many of the I Survived novel books have sold off the shelves. The titanic event has always been a mystery to me and always fascinated me. This book provides a great story behind kids and family surviving the event of the titanic. Many people died and they did mention that in the book. At the end of the book, Lauren provides more facts about the titanic.

[Sarah B · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is of the ARC.

This graphic novel is very well written and I was pulled into the world of young George and his sister Phoebe right away. They are traveling with their Aunt on the Titanic. The story is tense and scary in many spots, long before the sinking of the ship even starts. There's plenty here to fascinate young readers and give them the opportunity to learn history in an exciting way. It really comes alive, especially when you can see through the art what the ship actually looked like. And George explores many different parts of the ship, including the cargo area, the crew quarters, engine room...so readers get a good idea of the entire ship. The only place actually left out is the bridge.

I really enjoyed the art in this book. I'm amazed at how the ship looks. For example I had no idea that a first class cabin came with three rooms. The art has nice details and colors. Good facial expressions. The details like the clothing and lamps on the hallway wall (gas lamps maybe?) is great too..these details make the time period alive to the reader.

The very back of the book contains facts about the Titanic.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first I Survived book I have read – and, naturally, given my fascination with Titanic, it was this one. Not only did I enjoy the story, I found it a really good introduction to an intriguing bit of history. Because it is in graphic novel form, it is bound to be more accessible for those who prefer the graphic format, find themselves reluctant to read, or are a struggling reader.

After the main story, the book included two pages of Titanic facts, two pages about real-life passengers, one page on finding the sunken ship, a selected bibliography, and a list of other books about the Titanic.

[Mateen Mahboubi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I never read the I Survived books before but I understand that this is a fairly faithful adaptation. An enjoyable, fast-paced story of a loving family going through one of the most famous historic disasters.

[jamie · Rating 5 out of 5]

my brother: i rated it 5 stars because i liked how in the first page- i liked how like the boat snapped and also because i like how that one guy fell into the water and the other guy pulled him out and he like- survived and i also like the title of it

[vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I gotta stay hip with the kids who love the I Survived series. I really liked the pace, action, and historical facts at the end. I don't love the illustrations but that's just a personal preference.

[Emma · Rating 2 out of 5]

I think it was good but I would have changed the end to when the boat they built was done

[Jessica Tungett · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book on the class Wakelet, specifically on Imagination Soup 99+ Outstanding Historical Fiction Books for Kids. I was excited to see this book on the list because it's a series that my third graders love, and the fact that it was in graphic novel format caught my eye, as they also love graphic novels. I read the print version as I wanted to see the illustrations. The illustrations are bold and capture the drama and tension of the Titanic sinking. This story follows George, a young boy aboard the Titanic, as he faces the terror and chaos of the ship sinking.

Much like the original I Survived novels, the graphic novel version does an amazing job of blending historical facts with a suspenseful, character-told narrative. Readers get to experience George’s fear, courage, and determination firsthand while also learning about the details of the Titanic, the passengers, and the iceberg disaster.

I recommend this book for grades 3-6. There are numerous ways this book can be utilized in the classroom. For example, students can compare the events told in this story to historical accounts of the event and analyze which elements from the graphic novel are true and which, if any, are fiction. This teaches students the importance of analyzing sources and using multiple sources when researching or learning about a topic. Students could also conduct a character analysis and track George’s emotional growth through the story, especially through his acts of bravery. Lastly, a creative writing extension could be writing diary entries or letters from George or another passenger’s point of view, imagining what it felt like to be part of the disaster.

Overall, this graphic novel makes history accessible and engaging. It is great for reluctant readers as the graphic novel format is very appealing to students in this grade range.

[Kristin Flor · Rating 5 out of 5]

*spoilers
I love the Titanic and just started getting into graphic novels. When I saw this at the library I had to check it out. I loved the “Hansel and Gretel” idea and how it played a main part in the story. I wish the mummy would have been a mummy and that’s what they could have held onto while they were floating in the water. That would have been a hecka twist. Although the aunt and the kids dad at the end was a far fetch, but cute touch.

[ariana. · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s in the title “I survived” and yet as I was reading it, the suspense kept telling me “there is no way this kid is gonna survive”
This is my first book in the I Survived series and it will not be my last. I’m excited to check out the chapter book version to compare and contrast it to the graphic novel. Definitely a book series I will be recommending to my students.

[eleanor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Once again recommended by one of my reluctant readers and i couldn't not follow through and read it. such an engaging and gorgeously illustrated graphic novel, with great text to graphic ratios! i will be discussing this with him in length

[Sierra Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

glad to see some mention of the class differences on board. the fun facts at the end were fascinating to me

[Anabel Harrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book.Good for people that don’t have a lot of time to read and loves the titanic.

[tony dillard jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Sandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m enjoying this series. There’s nothing like getting some education while reading a graphic novel and if we can get our young readers to pick up this series and read them, they’ll acquire some historical information along with a great story. With text boxes that are easy to follow, colorful illustrations, and a story that grabs your attention and moves quickly, the I Survived the Sinking of The Titanic, 1912 graphic novel, is a book that you’ll finish once you pick it up.

The story begins with the sinking of the Titanic and we’re witnesses individuals falling into the Atlantic Ocean. We hear a few comments from the passengers as they begin to realize what lies ahead for them. We now flashback to the previous day, nineteen hours earlier, when a young girl and her brother awake inside their cabin. Their aunt has taken them on this voyage. Sister is easily entertained but brother likes to have some excitement in his life, hence his ability for trouble to follow him. Their idea to check out the ship wouldn’t seem like such a bad idea but it’s what happens along the way and the timing of their inquiry that turns their little excursion into something big.

I enjoyed the use of the different sized text boxes in this graphic novel and the illustrations. The illustrator was able to add more details and provide more emphasis by varying the sizes of the text boxes. The illustration’s attention to detail and the use of color added to the story and helped to create a mood within the story. The author states that this is more of a historical fiction book with the characters of the book being fictional but the facts about the Titanic being factual. I thought the story was entertaining and there wasn’t a lot of characters to keep track of. At the back of the book, the author writes to her readers a personal note pertaining to the book and she also includes various information about the Titanic on a few pages

[Alyson Stone · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book: I Survived: The Sinking of the Titanic, 1912: Graphic Novel
Author: Lauren Tarshis
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars

I am going to be honest here. I didn’t know how much I was going to enjoy this one. I feel like these stories are hit and miss for me. I did have a great time with this one though.

I loved the illustrations and how they brought the story to life. If you don’t know, these books follow a young person who is a witness to some kind of historical event. In this case, we follow George and his family as they make their way across the Atlantic Ocean on the Titanic. I do not think I would have enjoyed this title as much had I not read the graphic novel. The way everything is shown and presented in the graphic novel makes it seem all that much more real. You get to experience the drama and heartbreak right along with the characters.

With the graphic format, you are there with the characters. Now, keep in mind that this is written for the elementary grade level, so things are going to be presented in an elementary way. Still, though this does not take away from the root of the story. You still get to learn about the Titanic and see the different class systems. There are still things in here that you talk about. If I had read this when I was younger, I would have eaten it up. I would have been all about this book.

Overall, I did enjoy this one and I will be picking up more of these graphic novels in the near future.

[Cindy Mitchell *Kiss the Book* · Rating 5 out of 5]

I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912: The Graphic Novel by Lauren Tarshis, illustrated by Haus Studio, 160 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Graphix (Scholastic), 2020. $25. 9781338120912

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Told through the point of view of a 10yo boy, Georgie, this is the story of one family’s experience the night the Titanic hit the iceberg. Georgie has a sister and an aunt with him and they make friends with a man and his son. Each survives in different ways - some in lifeboats, and some in the water. The story is woven in with the superstitious idea that a mummy on board was bad luck.

Students are already drawn to the “I Survived” series and the new graphic novels will engage even more readers. There was a good balance of words to images, providing plenty of opportunities for readers to practice their skills. I found the illustrations tasteful, given it is built around a tragedy, and they made it come alive without making it too scary to be accessible for a wide audience.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher
https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2020...

[Melanie Dulaney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lauren Tarshis has been teaching while entertaining students for a number of years with her historical fiction “I Survived” books. That series now comes to readers in the hugely popular graphic novel format and with its bold illustrations and succinct text will be just as successful as the traditional format. The characters of George, Phoebe, Daisy, Marco and Enzo are surprisingly well-developed considering the small amount of text and their excitement over the voyage and fears during the sinking and after are clearly expressed. Included in this graphic novel is back matter on real passengers and interesting facts about the ship. Highly recommended for students in grades 3-7. Thanks for the dARC, Edelweiss.

Reread this one in anticipation of it being at Scholastic book fair and available purchase in a library bound edition. My kids are super excited and I am hoping that it leads to the reading of the standard format book.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my introduction to the much-lauded I Survived series. I was looking for graphic novels to read with my 7-year-old and this one jumped out because they've been really interested in the Titanic recently. They were very invested in the story and were even game to alternate reading pages with me, since the text was briefer than in a traditional chapter book. The plot parallels the movie Titanic in some ways, but since my 7-year-old isn't familiar with the movie, it was all fresh for them. The seriousness of the disaster was conveyed without excessive gore, and we were able to have a conversation about things like people with less money being treated poorly, whether it made sense to only let women and children on the lifeboats, and the fact that children were among the hundreds of people who died and that all of that was due to human choices. I'd definitely be interested in reading more of this series, especially the graphic novels.

[Diana Flores · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another well done graphic adaptation of the I Survived series, this time following young George, his sister, and his aunt on the maiden voyage of the Titanic.

The sinking of the Titanic has been written about more than any other disaster in modern history (p. 150, author's note). And I've read a lot, including the official transcripts from the hearings after the disaster, so there wasn't much new to me in this story. However for young readers just discovering the tragic events of 1912, this graphic novel would be a good starting point.

Likeable characters, thoroughly researched, exciting action. Plus, I do like that in the I Survived stories, the characters we've come to know are survivors. (Hence, the title!!!) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Lindsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son has begun his solo reading adventure. His favorite thing in the world is the Titanic and its story. It is one of the few books he will still let me read aloud to him and I have read this so many times out loud to him. I had to enter it into Goodreads. I recommend that I survived series to anyone with children. It is a good historical fiction whether in book or graphic novel form for children to submerge themselves into important events that have happened long ago. It has made up characters that are easy to relate to but goes over actual events. Do I have to say that is a good conversation starter. With each reading we have different topics that we talk about.

[Olivia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this was an awesome book and had great details of the actual event. It had great drawings and was so cool to see. I totally recommend this book to someone how likes the "I survived series" or likes history. I think that these new comic series are super good and impressive, because now you get to see actual pictures that were the exact same thing that they were talking about from the original chapter book. Now instead of imaging it in your head it's right here on paper! I really love this and can't wait for more of these "I survived series" to come out!

[Jessie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am enjoying these historical fiction graphic novels. They certainly give a new perspective of historical events. I've never thought of the children's view of the sinking of the Titanic - how terrifying it would've been for them, more so than the adults I think. Tarshi has done another wonderful job at telling the story of a major event in a way that kids can connect with it and come to understand it.

[Kara Koether · Rating 3 out of 5]

I hadn't read the non-graphic novel version of the book before, and probably would have liked it better. My students love graphic novels and the I Survived series, so I gave it a shot. The illustrations were great, but the story felt a little lacking in density—likely not the case in the original version, as it would have had more to say. Overall, a good story for young readers, and one that would get them interested in the tragic incident.

[Christy Broderick⁷ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my first read out of the I Survived series and being that it was in GN format, it was really good. Today is National #TitanicRemembranceDay and I thought I’d finally pick this book up - I’m so glad that I did. You even get a few pages at the very end that talks about some of the real people on board the Titanic, along with some facts about the ship and what happened.