aravenclawlibraryx's review
adventurous
hopeful
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Title: Luck of the Titanic
Author: Stacy Lee
Genre: Historical Young Adult
Format: hardback library book
Star Rating: 2.5 stars
tw: parental death, alcoholism, racism, sexism, death, drowning, drug use
I feel so bad that I didn’t like this book. I’m also disappointed that I didn’t like this book. I have been kind of obsessed with all things relating to the Titanic. I’m not sure why. Sometimes, I get on these kicks. Like right now, it’s Pokemon. So I thought that I would like this book considering what it was about.
I had a pretty hard time relating to Val, the main character. She’s British Chinese, which I think is awesome. She just really grated on my nerves. I felt she was more of a child than 18 years old. Val very much wanted it to be her way or no way. I understood that she wanted to be with her twin, Jake, but at the same time, she has to realize that Jake wants to do his own thing. He’s allowed to have friends. That part really irritated me. She got upset that he had made friends while he was away on ships. Val just needed to grow up.
The plot also moved incredibly slowly. There were a lot of day-to-day activities and a lot of Val’s thoughts that took up a lot of page time. The main event, which you all know what it is, doesn’t happen until there are about 100 pages left. It felt super rushed and I was a little confused about what was going on for most of it. Plus the ending made me so mad. I won’t say what it is because of spoilers but let’s just say it’s not a great ending for me anyway.
Overall, this book left me frustrated. There were a couple of positives, though, that I’ll share. There was a map and diagrams of the Titanic along with a complete character list. This book was also dedicated to the six Chinese men that survived the sinking, so I thought that was nice. But overall, I wasn’t impressed.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Racism, Classism, Addiction, Racial slurs, Violence, Drug use, Death, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Death of parent, and Grief
Spoiler
at the end of the book, there is the sinking of the titanic.tahsintries's review
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, Xenophobia, and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Minor: Child abuse
quillify_'s review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
A vision of the shrewd-eyed Reverend Prigg, thundering on about how God saves the righteous, inserts itself into my head. But if that’s truly the case, why are those people—most lowly immigrants just like us—screaming so loud, I swear even the stars pale at the cry?
IN TEARS RIGHT NOW OH MY GOD. I’ve always considered Titanic to be one of the biggest, most heartbreaking tragedies of the real world, and the fact that so many people died to favour the rich boils my blood. So to get to know that there were Chinese passengers onboard too, and that their stories were completely erased due to typical white arrogance and racism was another big blow to my heart. I am so glad this book exists as one answer to that erasure of history.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Bullying, Death of parent, Grief, Blood, Alcoholism, and Sexual harassment
beautifulpaxielreads's review against another edition
emotional
informative
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racial slurs, and Death of parent
Moderate: Racism, Injury/injury detail, Xenophobia, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Addiction
Minor: Blood
Spoiler
Much of the events of this novel take place aboard the Titanic, and a good chunk of the novel deals with the events of its 1912 sinking, in which over 1500 people died due to drowning and hypothermia. Some anti-Asian (particularly Chinese and Japanese) racial abuse is directed towards the MC and the other Chinese people aboard the ship, and a major plot point deals with the Chinese Exclusion Act, a racist policy banning Chinese people from entering the United States of America.r1vana's review
emotional
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
“Life is a balancing act. You could be killed walking down the street, but you don't let that fear stop you. You just practice until the fear is no longer part of the equation.”
I knew that it was a Titanic retelling, but it doesn’t stop me to feel this pain. This is a story about an unconditional love between siblings whether they are blood or not.
-
The first half of the book pacing was slow. The story picks up around when the Titanic gets hit by the iceberg.
-
The ending kills me. Both twins were meant to survive but since the boat only has one seat, Valora sacrifice herself to save her twin brother Jamie. I genuinely taught that Val was gonna survive.
She could’ve have her dream come true: being part of a circus, in NYC and maybe be with Bo, her short lived love story or even reunite and live with Jamie.
-
TW: xenophobia; racism; racial slurs; death of a parent(s); death; grief; survival guilt
I knew that it was a Titanic retelling, but it doesn’t stop me to feel this pain. This is a story about an unconditional love between siblings whether they are blood or not.
-
The first half of the book pacing was slow. The story picks up around when the Titanic gets hit by the iceberg.
-
The ending kills me. Both twins were meant to survive but since the boat only has one seat, Valora sacrifice herself to save her twin brother Jamie. I genuinely taught that Val was gonna survive.
She could’ve have her dream come true: being part of a circus, in NYC and maybe be with Bo, her short lived love story or even reunite and live with Jamie.
-
TW: xenophobia; racism; racial slurs; death of a parent(s); death; grief; survival guilt
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death of parent, Death, Xenophobia, and Racial slurs
mandkips's review
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Death, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Sexual assault, Confinement, and Death of parent
thenovelmaura's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Thank you to Penguin Teen for the eARC of this book! I enjoyed this one and I see why Stacey Lee has such an enthusiastic fanbase. It was fascinating to get a glimpse into what could have been the lives of the eight Chinese passengers who were on the Titanic. It was definitely more of a character-driven novel than a plot-heavy one (I understand why people thought the beginning was slow, and I too grew weary of Valora's many costume changes), with most of the tension coming from the inevitable sinking of the ship. The book's setting is a microcosm of society in the 1910's, with racial and class disparities on full display in the different cabins, treatment from the crew, and seating arrangements at mealtimes.
The relationship between Valora and Jamie was complex and is really what drew me into the story. As twins, they had a deep bond that could be both comforting and painful. They each matured a lot as they struggled to reconcile the sibling they had known growing up with the one that boarded the Titanic. I admired the way Lee chose to end the book, as well as her graceful and informative author's note. While I don't read a lot of YA historical fiction, this author is added to my list of ones to watch!
The relationship between Valora and Jamie was complex and is really what drew me into the story. As twins, they had a deep bond that could be both comforting and painful. They each matured a lot as they struggled to reconcile the sibling they had known growing up with the one that boarded the Titanic. I admired the way Lee chose to end the book, as well as her graceful and informative author's note. While I don't read a lot of YA historical fiction, this author is added to my list of ones to watch!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Racial slurs, and Death
Moderate: Death of parent and Grief
Minor: Confinement and Sexual assault
elderflower's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
My second Stacey Lee book and it did not disappoint!
Likes:
Likes:
- TITANIC!!!! I love Titanic books but there are so few… :(
- I love Stacey Lee’s metaphors and similes. They always make me pause and think because they’re so fresh and clever.
- Got emotionally attached to the characters
- I just love Stacey Lee’s romances. They’re very innocent and simple, but so sweet 🥰
- Such a gorgeous cover. It makes me even more in love with Valora.
Dislikes:
- I honestly can’t think of any 🤷
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Death
Moderate: Sexual assault, Misogyny, Racial slurs, and Violence
Minor: Homophobia, Murder, and Death of parent
betweentheshelves's review
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
You can tell that a lot of research went into this, and I appreciated the different perspective this offered on the Titanic. Especially in the context of the author's note at the end, this whole story is facsinating. The characters are great and you're really immersed in this time period. You know how it's going to end, but you kind of hope something else will happen anyway. I feel like that with basically every historical fiction that I read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Death of parent, Confinement, Sexual assault, and Xenophobia
Minor: Grief
sidbookreviews's review
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Wow, did this book emotionally destroy me. I absolutely loved this, especially as a former Titanic history kid™️. The characters were amazing, and I loved the exploration of Jamie and Valora's familial love and relationship with each other and their parents. It was so interesting to read about the so often neglected stories of Chinese passengers on the Titanic and I think Stacey Lee really brought the Titanic to life with this story. Full of heart and emotion, this one will definitely stay with me!
Full review to come on my blog!
Full review to come on my blog!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Xenophobia
Moderate: Death of parent, Sexual assault, Alcoholism, Alcohol, and Confinement