The watch that ends the night by Allan Wolf

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Candlewick Press, 2011. ISBN 9780763637033.
Poet and author, Allan Wolf, gives a fresh insight into the triumph and tragedy of the Titanic using the voices of twenty four passengers. The rats and the iceberg have their story to tell as well! The accounts, whilst fictional, are based on research of historical documents and give an intimate and personal perspective to this infamous episode of the past. The voices include those of the operators of the new, revolutionary Marconi wireless radio, the captain, the socialite, the undertaker, the refugee and the ship builder. The reader is able to gain an appreciation of all facets of ship life and the varied reasons passengers chose to undertake this ill fated journey.
2012 marks the centenary of the sinking of the Titanic ensuring this book will be a timely read for young adults. This book will make a great teaching aid. Every page contains a different voice telling just a small portion of their story. The momentum builds gradually as each character evolves. There is so much history, so beautifully told, that this book is guaranteed to engage the interest of even the most reluctant reader. All the sources used by the author are listed as is recommended further reading for the Titanic enthusiast.
Tina Cain
Editor's note: This was listed on the American Library's Association's Best Fiction for Young Adults 2012 list.

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