Like many kids, I was fascinated by the story of the Titanic as I was growing up. But mostly I’d heard the romantic legends of the shipwreck instead of the more interesting, true details. And, of course, I’d seen some movies about the famous disaster, which often make for great storytelling but not-so-accurate history.

It was only when I was a grown-up writer doing research that I began to learn the real deal behind the famous disaster. I read pages and pages of historical documents, including news reports and testimony from passengers and crew members who survived. In some cases, these sources contradict one another in the exact numbers and details surrounding the disaster, so this book includes approximations from the most reliable sources. I also had the chance to explore Titanic Belfast, an amazing museum built on the site of the old Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast, Northern Ireland. I’m most grateful to the staff who answered my many questions about not only the shipwreck itself but the history of the shipyard and the process of building the Titanic and the Olympic.

If you’re interested in the Titanic and ever have an opportunity to visit the Belfast museum, you should jump at the chance. I also recommend the following books and websites for readers who would like to know more about the Titanic disaster, its discovery, and the later expeditions to locate the wreck.

BOOKS

882 ½ Amazing Answers to Your Questions About the Titanic by Hugh Brewster and Laurie Coulter (Firefly Books, 2018)

Discovering Titanic: The Story of the World’s Most Famous Shipwreck by Ben Hubbard (Carlton Kids, 2018)

Flying Deep: Climb Inside Deep-Sea Submersible Alvin by Michelle Cusolito, illustrated by Nicole Wong (Charlesbridge, 2018)

If You Were a Kid Aboard the Titanic by Josh Gregory, illustrated by Sebastià Serra (Scholastic, 2017)

Inside the Titanic by Hugh Brewster, illustrated by Ken Marschall (Little, Brown, 1997)

Titanic (National Geographic Readers) by Melissa Stewart (National Geographic, 2012)

Titanic: Voices from the Disaster by Deborah Hopkinson (Scholastic, 2014)

Titanic: Young Survivors (10 True Tales) by Allan Zullo (Scholastic, 2015)

WEBSITES

“Remembering the Titanic” from National Geographic tells the story of the Titanic’s voyage and wreck, along with a slideshow of historical images: kids.nationalgeographic.com/explore/history/a-titanic-anniversary

The Titanic Belfast website has information about the museum in Northern Ireland as well as online resources: titanicbelfast.com

“Twenty Top Titanic Facts” from National Geographic Kids shares some more surprising details about the famous ocean disaster: natgeokids.com/nz/discover/history/general-history/would-you-have-survived-the-titanic