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
tak_everlasting's review
adventurous
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Alcoholism, Racism, Death of parent, and Classism
Minor: Sexual assault, Abandonment, and Misogyny
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.teatimewtrisha's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Death of parent, and Racism
Moderate: Alcoholism, Confinement, and Grief
100acrewoodlibrary's review
adventurous
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Classism, and Death of parent
plumpaperbacks's review
challenging
emotional
sad
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
4.5
I knew a story about the Titanic wouldn’t have a happy ending, but cheese and rice, it was so much sadder than I imagined. It’s been over eight hours since I finished the book and my heart still hurts. ☹️
That aside, this was my first Stacey Lee book and it won’t be my last. Although it was a rather slow, very much character-driven story, I was never bored. It was so easy for me to become attached to the characters. I really liked Valora and admired her determination, and how she refused to let any of the numerous obstacles she faced stop her from doing what she wanted. And, though it took some time to warm up to some of them, I really liked the seamen crew too—Beau, Wink and Ollie in particular. What sweethearts. 🥺
I had actually planned to stop with about two hours left of the audiobook so I could go to sleep, and then finish it in the morning. But to say the story intensified when the Titanic hit the iceberg would be an understatement; I was nervous and I absolutely could not stop. So I was up until four a.m. finishing this, but honestly, I’m not even mad about it.
And speaking of the audiobook, props to the narrator, Rebecca Yeo. She did a brilliant job bringing the story to life. She did different voices for each character, but made it sound authentic and memorable rather than cringey. There were lines describing instrument sounds and a crowd cheering, and there was even a song at one point; she didn’t back down from any of it. It made the experience more entertaining, and she’s quite a good singer too. I’m impressed.
I was fully expecting either Jamie or Beau to sacrifice themselves so the others could get on a lifeboat, or something along that line. It would’ve been so painful for Val—hell, even for me—to lose either of them. I never expected Lee to pull the death trope card and have Val sacrifice herself for Jamie. Ouch. And the fact that the epilogue was a letter Jamie was writing to the sweetheart he’d met onboard, with a new narrator, detailing his and his friends’ lives after losing Val? Double ouch. Much sad, very pain.
I’m so glad Charlotte adopted Wink and Ollie, and that all of Jamie’s crew members are going to have relatively good lives. But I’m sad that Jamie lost his last biological family member, and more than anything, I feel bad for Beau. I was hoping that he and Val could try out a relationship, because their casual flirting on the ship was adorable and their kisses nearly ended me. I know this isn’t a romance, I get it, but my hopeless romantic heart was still hoping. And because I like hurting myself, I can’t help but wonder if Beau still has the carved whale figurine Val told him to keep safe… 🥲
I definitely recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a sad historical fiction story, and I definitely want to read more of Lee’s books in the future. Hopefully they aren’t all this painful. :))
Representation
That aside, this was my first Stacey Lee book and it won’t be my last. Although it was a rather slow, very much character-driven story, I was never bored. It was so easy for me to become attached to the characters. I really liked Valora and admired her determination, and how she refused to let any of the numerous obstacles she faced stop her from doing what she wanted. And, though it took some time to warm up to some of them, I really liked the seamen crew too—Beau, Wink and Ollie in particular. What sweethearts. 🥺
I had actually planned to stop with about two hours left of the audiobook so I could go to sleep, and then finish it in the morning. But to say the story intensified when the Titanic hit the iceberg would be an understatement; I was nervous and I absolutely could not stop. So I was up until four a.m. finishing this, but honestly, I’m not even mad about it.
And speaking of the audiobook, props to the narrator, Rebecca Yeo. She did a brilliant job bringing the story to life. She did different voices for each character, but made it sound authentic and memorable rather than cringey. There were lines describing instrument sounds and a crowd cheering, and there was even a song at one point; she didn’t back down from any of it. It made the experience more entertaining, and she’s quite a good singer too. I’m impressed.
Spoiler
I’ve gotta say something about the ending. In the beginning of the book, it was mentioned that only six of eight Chinese passengers aboard the ship survived, so I knew at least two people would die. I didn’t expect one to be Drummer, and while that was sad, it didn’t effect me much. Sorry not sorry.I was fully expecting either Jamie or Beau to sacrifice themselves so the others could get on a lifeboat, or something along that line. It would’ve been so painful for Val—hell, even for me—to lose either of them. I never expected Lee to pull the death trope card and have Val sacrifice herself for Jamie. Ouch. And the fact that the epilogue was a letter Jamie was writing to the sweetheart he’d met onboard, with a new narrator, detailing his and his friends’ lives after losing Val? Double ouch. Much sad, very pain.
I’m so glad Charlotte adopted Wink and Ollie, and that all of Jamie’s crew members are going to have relatively good lives. But I’m sad that Jamie lost his last biological family member, and more than anything, I feel bad for Beau. I was hoping that he and Val could try out a relationship, because their casual flirting on the ship was adorable and their kisses nearly ended me. I know this isn’t a romance, I get it, but my hopeless romantic heart was still hoping. And because I like hurting myself, I can’t help but wonder if Beau still has the carved whale figurine Val told him to keep safe… 🥲
I definitely recommend this book if you’re in the mood for a sad historical fiction story, and I definitely want to read more of Lee’s books in the future. Hopefully they aren’t all this painful. :))
Representation
- British-Chinese protagonists
- Chinese side characters
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Sexism
Moderate: Death, Death of parent, and Alcoholism
Obviously, given that the story involves the Titanic, there’s a lot of death in the final third. Parent death and alcoholism occurred prior to the story but are mentioned throughout, particularly the former.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
mollyanne624's review
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Death of parent
Minor: Grief