Hazel Rothbury stows aboard the Titanic and finds friendships in unexpected quarters before tragedy strikes in Nielsen's latest. When British 12-year-old Hazel, uneducated but resourceful, sneaks aboard the famous ship, it's with a promise that she'll repay her ticket upon publishing an article that "tell[s] the great story of this ship." Hazel befriends a companion in first class and, under the tutelage of an older passenger, is dogged in her pursuit of information about the ship's design and vulnerabilities, offering readers insights to many factors that contributed to the seafaring tragedy. During her journalistic research, Hazel stumbles upon a mystery involving the finances and identities of fellow passengers, and makes questionable if well-meaning efforts to unravel the truth. Some readers may find Hazel's timely eavesdropping and immediate mastery of Morse code a bit convenient, but this story of perseverance and survival should please readers who enjoy historical fiction with heroism and a heavy sense of foreboding. Includes images throughout, most being documents recreated by the author, and a note parsing facts from the story's fiction.

Ever since Hazel's father's death, it has been hard for the family to make ends meet. When her aunt, who lives in America and works in a garment factory, invites her to live and work with her, Hazel accepts the opportunity to help support the family. Preparing to leave England, she decides to seek passage on the Titanic but is forced to stow away when she doesn't have enough money to cover the fare. Once aboard, she befriends Charlie, a porter; Sylvia, a first-class passenger; and Mrs. ­Abelman, a teacher who nurtures her dream of becoming a ­journalist. The inquisitive Hazel investigates her surroundings quite thoroughly, from the ship's physical construction to the passengers and their secrets. This exploration allows Nielsen (The Shadow Throne, rev. 3/14) to weave historical research into her first-person narrative. If the foreshadowing of the impending tragedy is a bit clumsy, that can be forgiven: everybody knows how the Titanic's story unfolds. An author's note separates fact from fiction, while primary source documents (newspaper articles, photographs, and transcripts) are occasionally interspersed between chapters. ­Jonathan Hunt

Gr 5 Up— Nielsen weaves mystery and action in her newest historical fiction novel. Readers join Hazel as she boards the Titanic, heading to America for the opportunity to obtain a job with her aunt in a factory. Her journey is not by choice, but of necessity, as the income will help support her family who recently lost their father. From the beginning of the story, Hazel faces numerous difficulties because of her gender, age, and poverty. Yet Hazel's inquisitiveness introduces her to new friends, a few foes, and lands her in the middle of a big mystery that involves both. Layer on top the impending problems awaiting the Titanic, and readers will find themselves unable to stop turning pages to find out what happens to Hazel, her friends, and everyone aboard the doomed ship. Nielsen creates engaging, authentic characters who pull readers in, making the plot both compelling and believable. VERDICT Fans of historical fiction and Nielsen's other novels will be riveted by Hazel and her friends' plight across the Atlantic aboard the Titanic.— Jennifer Seebauer