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Summary
Summary
Young Jim Mulholland can't believe his good luck: He has signed on as a cabin boy to the world's finest ocean liner, the Titanic, and can't wait for the history-making voyage across the sea to America. As part of his duties Jim is in charge of the ship's cat, a beautiful tortoiseshell that also appears happy to be on board. He calls the cat by the ship's construction number, 4-0-1, certain that she will bring him good luck. And he's delighted when 4-0-1 shortly gives birth to a litter of kittens. But once the ship's trial runs are completed and it's ready to launch to sea, Jim notices that 4-0-1 is nowhere to be found. He's got to find her-the Titanic can't cast off without her lucky cat. Jim is faced with a decision that will affect the rest of his life.A newspaper journalist for 30 years, Marty Crisp often writes about the animals that hold a special interest and place in her heart. She has published many award-winning books for children and adults, including White Star, her book about a dog on the Titanic. Marty lives in Ephrata, Pennsylvania. Robert Papp's award-winning artwork includes hundreds of illustrations for major publishers across the United States, and his first children's book, The Scarlet Stockings Spy, was named an IRA Teachers' Choice in 2005. His other books with Sleeping Bear Press include The Last Brother and M is for Meow: A Cat Alphabet. Robert lives in historic Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
Reviews (4)
School Library Journal Review
Gr 1-4-Jim Mulholland is a young man ready to see the world as a cabin boy on the Titanic. He comes from a family with maritime roots; he understands the traditions of life on the sea, as well as its superstitions. When he is charged with taking care of the ship cat while the vessel runs through its trials and prepares for its maiden voyage, Jim takes his job seriously. And when the cat gives birth to four kittens, he becomes extra vigilant. He cannot believe how lucky he is to be working on such a beautiful new ship. But while the Titanic is docked at Southampton, Jim spots the cat removing her kittens one by one. Concerned that she has forgotten one, he takes it to her and consequently misses the sailing. His duffle bag, his dreams-gone. Six days later, he learns just how lucky he is. An author's note details how Crisp researched this true story about a ship cat and the boy she saved. Papp's fresh-faced Jim and winsome kittens provide a sense of optimism as they await the great adventure that will never be. The picture-book format works well for this brief episode in the disaster. Reluctant readers will be able to read this amazing tale on their own, while listeners with a taste for longer read-alouds will enjoy hearing it.-Kara Schaff Dean, Walpole Public Library, MA (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Horn Book Review
Facts from various Titanic memoirs are woven into this story of young Jim from Belfast. As cabin boy, he is responsible for the ship's cat and her kittens, whose defection from the Titanic leads to his own--and thus saves his life. Detailed soft-edged paintings of Jim, the ship, and the felines are beguiling (though a few pictures are stiff). (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.
Kirkus Review
Young Jim Mulholland's very excited to be a cabin boy on the new ship Titanic. It's not only the ship's maiden voyage, but his as well. He deems it good luck when a tortoiseshell cat greets him at the ship's berth. She turns out to be the ship's cat, and Jim is put in charge of her. He discovers she's just had a litter onboard, and Jim has his hands full with both cats and chores. In Southampton, Jim sees the cat taking her kittens ashore as the passengers are boarding. The cat isn't fast enough to get all her kittens, so Jim helps and finds himself stranded on shore as the ship leaves. When news of the disaster breaks, Jim thanks the mother cat for sharing her luck with him. Based on stories that came to light only recently, Crisp's tale is told well enough. Papp's photorealistic paintings are beautiful but overdramatic, and the cats are inconsistently colored. Still, this will please young Titanicophiles and some kitten fans. (bibliography, author's note) (Picture book. 5-9) Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
In the late 1990s, a story came out about an Irishman who had crewed on the Titanic during its trial runs. Assigned to take care of the ship's cat, the superstitious fellow disembarked before the fatal crossing, when the cat left, carrying her kittens. Crisp takes this vignette and turns it into the story of cabin boy Jim Mulholand, a cheerful lad, pleased and proud to be working aboard the Titanic. He cares for the ship's cat, 401 (named for the ship's number) and her multicolored kittens, saving the black one when it almost falls overboard. He's heard that cats bring luck to a voyage, so when 401 disembarks with her kittens, he's startled. Then he notices she hasn't taken the black one, and Jim feels bound to bring it to her, though the ship sails without him fortunately. The crisp narrative is juxtaposed with lush, painterly artwork that fills the oversize pages. Papp plays with light and perspective and sometimes adds a photorealistic touch to the pictures. An author's note tells readers about the story's origins and lists sources.--Cooper, Ilene Copyright 2008 Booklist