105. The Titanic (Survival Tails #1)

Survival Tails #1: The Titanic. Katrina Charman. Illustrated by Owen Richardson. 2018. 224 pages. [Source: Library]

First sentence: The rain fell softly, swirling around the small garden to land on Mutt's wiry, dull brown fur. It was the kind of rain that seemed barely there at all when you looked out from the dry comfort of indoors--little more than a mist on the wind. But when you had no choice but to be out in it, it was almost as wet as a full-pelt downpour.

Premise/plot: Animal fantasy set during the voyage of the Titanic in April 1912. That is the premise--short and sweet. This novel is narrated by two animals: Mutt (the dog) and Clara (the cat). Plenty of other animals star in this historical animal fantasy as well. (Three kittens and a rat). Mutt is distraught that Alice (his girl) and Master (Alice's father) are leaving for America and sailing on the Titanic. Distraught that he's being left behind. It doesn't seem fair--not to Alice and not to Mutt. So he decides to stowaway on the ship. But it isn't easy to sneak aboard, and this requires help from a brand new friend, a rat, King Leon. Clara, meanwhile, belongs to the Captain. (Or perhaps the Captain belongs to her.) She discovers three kittens on board. They are wanting/needing/mewing for their mother--who is nowhere to be found. Clara is not a mama cat--never has been, never will be--but she takes an interest in these three. Not forever, but just for a few days. Clara and Mutt (and King Leon and the three kittens, Violet, Jack, Cosmo) do meet eventually. But the Titanic, well, it isn't smooth sailing to say the least...will ANY of these animals survive????

My thoughts: Sensitive readers should go with their instincts. This one doesn't just feature one dog on the cover--whose life could be in peril--but a cat, three kittens, and a rat. Definitely animal fantasy. These animal characters know a LOT. Not just animal-y things that you could easily imagine but a wide spectrum of knowledge that will conveniently come in useful when the Titanic runs into big trouble. 

I definitely liked this one. I would have absolutely hated it as kid. But that would have been all pre-judgement on my part. I would have never picked this one up ever, ever, ever. I would have avoided it at all costs. 

The story flows well. The pace is great. Plenty of will-they-or-won't-they suspense--will these animals (whom you've come to love) survive?????  

I do think sensitive readers may be upset with how this one ends. But it isn't 100% happy or 100% tragic. It is a bittersweet ending that probably is about the best you can expect.

 

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