Iceberg, Right Ahead!: The Tragedy of the Titanic

By Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

Only 160 minutes passed between the time a sailor on lookout duty uttered these chilling words and the moment when the mighty ocean liner Titanic totally disappeared into the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic. This century-old tragedy, which took the lives of more than 1,500 passengers, still captivates people today. Even the most avid Titanic fans will learn something new as McPherson brings the reader up to date on the efforts to preserve and memorialize the wreck—including what modern science has revealed about what really happened to the ship and what was at fault. Prepare to follow the never-ending story of the Titanic into its second century.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lerner Publishing
• Release date: Aug 1, 2015
• ISBN: 9781467759328

Stephanie Sammartino McPherson

Stephanie Sammartino McPherson wrote her first children's story in college. She enjoyed the process so much that she's never stopped writing. A former teacher and freelance newspaper writer, she has written more than thirty books and numerous magazine stories. Her recent books include Hothouse Earth: The Climate Crisis and the Importance of Carbon Neutrality, winner of the Green Earth Book Award for young adult nonfiction, and Breakthrough: Katalin Karikó and the mRNA Vaccine. Stephanie and her husband, Richard, live in Virginia.

Reviews for Iceberg, Right Ahead!

[thothj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent teen-aimed book on the Titanic

[beckymmoe_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What an amazing book! I received a digital ARC of it from NetGalley, and though it was absolutely gorgeous on my computer, I can't wait for the opportunity to be able to page through the actual book. It's the story of the Titanic disaster--before, during, and after--but it's also a collection of stories of people, companies, and even objects associated with the ship. My son was crazy about the Titanic when he was younger, so I've read countless books about it to and with him as well as watching several programs about it (we got Ghosts of the Abyss almost as soon as it came out) and even so there were so many pieces of information and stories in here that I'd never heard before. It's engagingly written so that both adults and young readers can enjoy it--a glossary a the back explains nautical terms, and throughout the book important vocabulary is defined in the reading so that the information makes sense. The amount of research that went into this book is incredible, and it really pays off--the latest information is in here, disproving some long-held beliefs about the sinking of the ship. With the 100th anniversary of the disaster right around the corner, this book will make an excellent addition to any library or Titanic enthusiast's collection.

[sullywriter_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thorough, informative chronicle of the Titanic. This book is notable for including chapters on the enquiries into the cirucmstances of the collision and sinking, what became of some of the survivors, exploration of the wreck site, and controversies surrounding the bringing up artifacts for exhibition.

[karenball_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

April 2012 will mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, one of the greatest ocean disasters of all time. This first class collection of Titanic information opens with the moment the iceberg was sighted in the starry darkness, and how that led to the terrifying rapid sinking. Details of the disaster from passengers of all classes, the rescue ship Carpathia, and the arrival in New York of the survivors make this a gripping read. McPherson includes a section about how steamship travel developed, and why luxury cruise liners were being built at increasingly enormous sizes for ocean travel. How did the disaster affect not just the survivors, but the travel and safety laws across the world? Investigations were held on both sides of the Atlantic and the results were mixed. Though there were many oddball ideas on how to raise the Titanic, the wreck wasn't located at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean until the mid-1980's by an international team led by Robert Ballard. Now, the debates are about recovering more artifacts before the wreckage deteriorates, or leaving the place as a hallowed grave for the 1500 people who died in the disaster. The book is filled with high-quality photos, sidebars and fascinating facts about the ship and its victims, the survivors, and the scientists and adventurers who have searched out and documented the wreck using incredible technology. For strong 6th grade readers and up. Review copy received from publisher.

[novelchatter_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson has written a fact filled account of the tragedy that was Titanic. Just about 100 pages in length, she easily shares accounts, photos, sketches and enough information about what happened after the survivors returned home, to engage a reader of any age. Iceberg, Right Ahead is directed at a YA audience and I think that's such a fabulous thing! There are many lessons to be learned and McPherson touches on the most important, that actions matter and lives and reputations can be ruined with false accounts and misinformation. She also tells of the great heroism, from so many people in all walks of life that night. The term "women and children first" bring a whole new concept to how life was a hundred years ago, both good and not-so-good. Iceberg, Right Ahead is an easy read and a gorgeous read thanks to the many photos and sketches. I especially like that she included the "unsinkable" Margaret Brown, Titanic's Captain Smith and also the recovery mission of Robert Ballard in 1985.Iceberg, Right Ahead is a great way to introduce readers of all ages to the human and the physical tragedy that was Titanic. I've always been mesmerized by the accounts of the Titanic and I hope this book will entice another generation to learn more about how the unsinkable Titanic when down in a few hours. 5 out of 5 stars. * This book was provided to me by the publisher through NetGalley and that, in no way, affected my honest review.

[marykate2345 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A short read at just over 100 photo-enhanced pages, Iceberg, Right Ahead! is an excellent account of the Titanic, from its conception through the 1985 discovery of its North Atlantic resting place. Author Stephanie Sammartino McPherson has done a stellar job of laying out the story, humanizing the facts with personal accounts and conveying the horror and tragedy of the great ship’s sinking – and all in a straightforward, highly readable manner. Even though much of the story of the sinking was familiar to me, I was absolutely riveted. Less familiar, but just as interesting, were the sections on the aftermath – the American and British inquiries into the disaster, the formation of the ice patrols in the hope of preventing future accidents and the stories of some of the survivors.While, because of the book’s short format, none are explored in great depth, Iceberg, Right Ahead! touches on many of the issues and controversies surrounding the Titanic – the insufficient number of lifeboats, the ship’s speed, the higher mortality rate of third class passengers and the failure of the Californian to render aid, among others. IMHO, Iceberg, Right Ahead! could well spur readers into further research on any or all of these issues. Fortunately, there is a wealth of material available for curious minds. Aimed at the younger end of the YA market, the text includes parenthetical definitions of terms that might be unfamiliar to readers. (Example: “boatswain” – supervisor of unlicensed deckhands.) The book design is appealing and the many photos and other artwork illuminate the text well, adding great visual appeal. A timeline, a brief glossary, source notes and a bibliography are included along with mention of the fate of other famous ships of the Titanic’s era. Iceberg, Right Ahead is concise, yes, but nonetheless, it’s a riveting telling of one of the most famous disasters of all time. I literally could not put it down.Highly recommended.