Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen

Twelve-year-old Hazel Rothbury had plans for her life, but a letter from her aunt in New York City changed everything. Her papa died at sea two years ago, leaving Hazel and her family struggling and in debt. Her aunt invited Hazel to come to America and work with her in a garment factory. Hazel would board for free and send the money she earned home to help. So Hazel set out for Southampton with just over two pounds in her purse. 

Now in Southhampton, Hazel discovers that this is not enough to purchase a third-class ticket on the Titanic. She has to board the ship, but how? On the dock, Hazel meets the wealthy young daughter of a millionaire, Sylvia Thorngood. Sylvia is looking for her governess, Miss Gruber. Although Sylvia is eager to befriend Hazel, Miss Gruber recognizes that Hazel is not from the same social class as her charge, and strongly disapproves.

Hazel manages to sneak aboard Titanic by hiding in a trunk. On board she is helped by a young porter named Charlie Blight who takes her to the first-class deck to watch the ship's departure. While watching from Titanic's deck, Hazel overhears a couple, the Mollison's talking about trying to get money from someone on the ship and about cheating at cards. Hazel decides she will write about her experience on Titanic and questions Charlie after hearing that there is a fire in a coal bin in Boiler Room Six. As she wanders around the ship, Hazel meets Mrs.Ruth Ableman, a widow and former governess who encourages Hazel in her determination to become a journalist.

Eventually Charlie recognizes that Hazel is a stowaway but decides against reporting her when she promises to pay for her ticket once she sells her story to a newspaper. Charlie finds Hazel a small third-class cabin, making her appear to be a legitimate passenger.

Hazel begins to learn as much as she can about Titanic, quizzing some of the ship's crew and officers. Charlie reassures her that the ship is not in danger from the fire and explains what a double hull is. He tells Hazel if the Titanic is damaged on the sides, that might be a problem, foreshadowing what is to come.

She sees the Mollisons speaking with Miss Gruber and wonders if it is Sylvia's money they are after.  When Sylvia invites Hazel to dinner in the Cafe Parisien, she meets Clyve and Letha Mollison. Also in attendance is Mr. Emerson Waddington, who is studying ship design. He fields Hazel's thoughtful questions, much to the dislike of Mrs. Mollison who knows that Hazel is not a first class passenger. 

However, Hazel remains undaunted and even manages to question Captain Smith about Titanic's speed. Embarrassed by the commotion her questions have caused, Hazel abruptly leaves the café and encounters Mrs. Ableman who encourages Hazel to continue investigating and researching, and offers to teach her about icebergs.

As Titanic continues to journey across the Atlantic, Hazel uncovers more potential problems with the ship while becoming caught up in the intrigue that involves the Mollisons, Miss Gruber, Mrs. Ableman, and Sylvia. When Sylvia and Charlie are caught below deck after the ship strikes an iceberg, Hazel must decide whether she should save herself or find her new friends and help them.

Discussion

In Iceberg, historical fiction is combined with intrigue to create an engaging survival story involving the sinking of Titanic.

Twelve-year-old Hazel Rothbury stows away on Titanic and her curiosity is immediately piqued when she overhears about a fire aboard the new ship! Her intention to uncover the secrets of Titanic so she can use it to launch her journalism career ( a weak premise)  leads her to learn that the ship is not so unsinkable as claimed. Nielsen uses Hazel to inform readers about Titanic, how its design was flawed, and how a series of decisions all combine to lead to the sinking of the ship.

Set against the backdrop of the impending disaster, is the intrigue that develops between the Mollisons, Miss Gruber and Mrs. Ableman. Eventually Hazel solves this mystery and her integrity and resourcefulness is rewarded in the end.

Aiding in the telling of the story are the numerous historical images added to the novel such as a copy of Titanic's menu for first and third class passengers, newspaper articles of the launch of Titanic and a similar marine disaster, weather reports and the wireless messages between ships. Nielsen's story also touches on the class division that existed at that time, how this was a part of life on Titanic, even to the point of making some of the third class passengers initially reluctant to flee through first class to safety.

Nielsen has crafted a set of believable characters, the resourceful, intelligent and caring Hazel, kind Charlie Blight, sweet Sylvia Thorngood, and the honorable Ruth Ableman.

At the back of the novel, Nielsen includes an interesting Author's Note Titanic Fact vs. Fiction which sorts out where the author has deviated a bit from history. 

In her Acknowledgements, Nielsen writes, "Ultimately, any story about Titanic will be a survival story. It will speak of courage, heroism, honor, and trust. Perhaps what appeals most to us about Titanic is that life itself is a survival story. At some point, we much each face our icebergs. Some are more difficult than others, but the solution is always the same: Get on the lifeboat." In Iceberg, it is friends who help one another, Hazel looking for Sylvia and determined to find Charlie, Mrs. Ableman deciding that with most of her life behind her, she could do more good helping people to safety. 

It's always a difficult task to write a story about an historical event in which we know the outcome, but Nielsen has crafted a mostly believable story that both informs and engages young readers. 

Book Details:

Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen
New York: Scholastic Press    2023
339 pp.