It’s Monday! What Are You Reading? From Picture Books to YA!
It’s Monday! What are you Reading? is a meme hosted by Kathryn at Book Date. It is a great way to recap what you read and/or reviewed the previous week and to plan out your reading and reviews for the upcoming week. It’s also a great chance to see what others are reading right now…you just might discover your next “must-read” book!
Jen Vincent (stole the above paragraph from her) at Teach Mentor Texts rounds up the kidlit version of IMWAYR each week.
Capsized! The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster, by Patricia Sutton
W
ow. This gripping nonfiction story of the most deadly disaster on the Great Lakes is awesome! I tend to read picture book nonfiction (or adult nonfiction), but not a lot of middle grade nonfiction. I’m so glad I made an exception in this case. Sutton follows the stories of nine individuals or families on July 24, 1915, the day of the annual Western Electric picnic. The SS Eastland is one of several ships scheduled to take employees and their families from Chicago to the picnic site across Lake Michigan. But then disaster strikes, and 844 people die.
My husband and I love Chicago, and I’m usually there at least once a year, if not twice. We also love ships and watch the iron ore freighters come and go from Duluth, Minnesota (on Lake Superior), whenever we have the chance. Yet I’d never heard of the Eastland disaster.
Once I picked up the book, I couldn’t put it down. I knew death was coming, but I didn’t know which characters would survive and which wouldn’t. It was like watching a tragedy in slow motion–there was time to recognize every poor decision, every bit of good or bad luck that was going to change characters’ fate. I couldn’t look away, and it felt like one small way to honor those lost, by learning about this disaster–by witnessing their story.
Sutton provides excellent citations, and it’s clear that extensive, meticulous research was done. I found not only the human story fascinating, but also the engineering story–and even the history story. Why did the Eastland capsize while still moored to a pier? Who were the 2,500 people crowding her decks? What were their lives–and, in some cases, deaths–like? Sutton answers all these questions in an excellent nonfiction book that’s as gripping as a novel. Highly recommended.
Review copy obtained from my local library.
W
ow. This gripping nonfiction story of the most deadly disaster on the Great Lakes is awesome! I tend to read picture book nonfiction (or adult nonfiction), but not a lot of middle grade nonfiction. I’m so glad I made an exception in this case. Sutton follows the stories of nine individuals or families on July 24, 1915, the day of the annual Western Electric picnic. The SS Eastland is one of several ships scheduled to take employees and their families from Chicago to the picnic site across Lake Michigan. But then disaster strikes, and 844 people die.My husband and I love Chicago, and I’m usually there at least once a year, if not twice. We also love ships and watch the iron ore freighters come and go from Duluth, Minnesota (on Lake Superior), whenever we have the chance. Yet I’d never heard of the Eastland disaster.
Once I picked up the book, I couldn’t put it down. I knew death was coming, but I didn’t know which characters would survive and which wouldn’t. It was like watching a tragedy in slow motion–there was time to recognize every poor decision, every bit of good or bad luck that was going to change characters’ fate. I couldn’t look away, and it felt like one small way to honor those lost, by learning about this disaster–by witnessing their story.
Sutton provides excellent citations, and it’s clear that extensive, meticulous research was done. I found not only the human story fascinating, but also the engineering story–and even the history story. Why did the Eastland capsize while still moored to a pier? Who were the 2,500 people crowding her decks? What were their lives–and, in some cases, deaths–like? Sutton answers all these questions in an excellent nonfiction book that’s as gripping as a novel. Highly recommended.
Review copy obtained from my local library.
I saw that you shared this on FB, Laura & immediately got it from my library. Thanks for the review, will read it soon!
I have Capsized! The Forgotten Story of the SS Eastland Disaster on my TBR list — thanks for sharing the wonderful review. Hoping to get my hands on this one soon. Have a great reading week, Laura!
Wow, I actually didn’t know about this historical event. I will definitely be adding this book to my TBR
Here’s my Monday post: https://bookloaner.wordpress.com/2018/10/28/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-october-29-2018/
Thanks for the heads up about this. It’s now on my list. Unfortunately it’s not in my library system yet:(
Aw, I hope you can find it. Maybe interlibrary loan?
So grateful for this post about Capsized! Thanks to many of your followers for taking a look. When your publisher is on the smaller side, authors count on this “word of mouth” publicity that can make all the difference! Thanks, Laura.
You’re welcome, Patricia–congratulations on your fabulous book!
I also do not read as much middle school non-fiction as I should. I will add this to my list.
I hope you enjoy it!