‘It’s Titanic – aren’t you curious? No one alive today has seen it like that.’
Emmie & Jack are on a school trip with a difference. Visiting Belfast to see where Titanic was built, they step back to 1912 and discover the great ship itself. All too soon, they find out that the way home is blocked, and Jack gets dragged off to work by one of the crew. Who is the mysterious stranger lurking in the shadows, and can they solve his time riddle to escape from the doomed ship before it is too late…?
Written for 9-12 readers, and set 6 months after The Blitz Bus, The Titanic Tunnel aims to show what life was like above and below decks on this most famous of ships. Intended both for pleasure and to support primary learning, this sequel compels our modern characters to confront the challenge of literally being trapped on a sinking ship, whilst trying to help new friends survive too.
I love fiction that brings historical events to life for children and The Titanic Tunnel certainly does transport the reader back to the days of class segregation and the search for a better life as Emmie and Jack head back in time to the maiden voyage of Titanic. Now I haven’t actually read the first time travelling adventure featuring Emmie and Jack but I didn’t feel I was missing anything in respect to what happens here as this can definitely be read as a stand-alone. But it’s certainly now on my radar as I’d love to see how Emmie and Jack coped with their WW2 adventure too!
Anyway, back to The Titanic Tunnel and when Emmie and Jack head off on their school trip to see where Titanic was built, once again they end up going back in time to experience the opulence of one of the most famous ships in the world. They quickly make friends and realise they are there to save a particular passenger but when their path home is blocked, they realise they are in a dangerous situation that they may not be able to escape…
The Titanic Tunnel is a gripping read for younger readers with a fascinating setting onboard the infamous Titanic. Emmie and Jack are relatable characters and both myself and the 11 year old really enjoyed their adventures here. Glen Blackwell is an accomplished storyteller who grabs the reader from the very first page and drags them fully into the narrative. It was brilliant watching the 11 year olds face as she became so enthralled by Emmie and Jacks dilemma-would they manage to get off the ship in time and get back to the present day? She couldn’t stop reading until she found out!
Highly recommended by us both!
Glen Blackwell lives in Suffolk, England. He has a career in finance and The Titanic Tunnel is his third book. Inspired by bedtime reading with his 3 daughters, Glen loves to bring stories to life for young readers.
mychestnutreadingtree 
You must be logged in to post a comment.