4 stars

Going into The Luck of the Titanic was bittersweet. Knowing a lot of the history of Titanic, I know going into this that the chance of a happy ending was slim to none. But Rachael over at @rqdreads raved about it so much that I knew I had to read it. And I am really happy I did, even if I did cry a lot.

Valora Luck was impossible not to love. RIght from the start, she smuggled herself onto the Titanic so she could have a better shot at achiving her dreams. She has the kind of courage I wish I had. Jamie was the sweetest and I loved him so much.

You know with a story like The Luck of the Titanic, I was not expecing it to be so funny. The laughs I had while reading this were amazing.

10/10 would recommend!

Full review to be posted on FYA site and mini review on Instagram.

Cover Story: Montell Jordan
There’s actually a good reason for the fancy dress cover! (Valora spends a lot of time pretending to be a rich passenger and wearing a friend’s dress designs.) The colors are so dreamy.

The Deal:
Valora Luck hasn’t had the best luck in her life, but she knows that once she reunites with her twin, Jamie, the last two dismal years without him will be but a forgotten nightmare. But after being turned away at the gangplank, finally sneaking aboard the Titanic, and tracking Jamie down in the engine room, he tells her he likes what he does and doesn’t want to continue their acrobatic duo routine in America.
Valora isn’t one to wait around for her dreams to come true, so she sets about trying to change Jamie’s mind and plotting a way to get their act in front of an influential circus owner. But what Valora can’t know is the future, and that she’s cruising on a ticking time bomb…

BFF Charm: Yay
Valora is definitely not one of those book characters that I see myself in, though I admire her and would totally want to be BFFs. She has faced a lot of oppression and hard times thanks to growing up half-English, half-Chinese with a father who dreamed big but failed to get most of his ideas off the ground. She has a rosier view of her father’s struggles compared to her brother, partly because she is also a dreamer. She believes she knows better than Jamie and that she can eventually persuade him around to her way of thinking, and isn’t that just like a sibling sometimes? I definitely didn’t always agree with her methods, but at her core Valora is a kind, strong person that I would love to hang around with, and not only because I’d get to see a ton of free acrobatic shows.

Swoonworthy Scale: 4
Valora connects with one of her brother’s friends and they share some cute moments, but for reasons I cannot go into, the romance wasn’t anything to write home about. I was more interested in what else was going on with Valora’s life and I wanted more scenes with her friend, April.

Talky Talk: Your Favorite History Professor, Stacey Lee
At this point, I feel Stacey Lee needs her own FYA Talky Talk moniker, because she is killing it every time she writes a historical novel. The amount of research she must do is clear in each detail she puts to paper, and her characters make the these long-gone events come to life. The Titanic as a setting has been done to death in literature, but it’s obvious why it still fascinates us: the contrast of decadence and poverty, the hubris, the fight for survival, the macabre horror of so many needless deaths. Any story you set on this boat is going to be amped to the extreme.
What I loved is that Lee doesn’t just set a completely random story on the Titanic; she takes the barely-told, true story of the six Chinese survivors from the ship—who weren’t even allowed entry into the US after their harrowing experience thanks to the Chinese Exclusion Act—and shines a light on it, fleshing it out with, yes, totally fictional details, but also love and care because their experiences mattered.

Bonus Factor: Acrobatics
Sometimes I wish books came with companion materials because I would love to watch Valora and Jamie’s acrobatic shows where they balanced on the freaking railings of a giant cruise ship.

Bonus Factor: Fashion
Valora finds an accomplice and eventual friend in April, a rich, aspiring designer who witnesses Valora stowing away and covers for her. Valora was supposed to be on the Titanic as a companion to a wealthy widow who died shortly before the ship departed, and in a turn of events she ends up staying in what was supposed to be their room on one of the upper decks. To thank April for her silence, Valora agrees to wear April’s designs around the boat as she masquerades as the mourning widow.

Bonus Factor: Family
Valora and Jamie both have a complicated relationship with each other and their deceased parents, and I love the way the book explores their bond and their misconceptions about their childhood.

Relationship Status:
As I closed your back cover, Book, I was reminded of a quote from that perennial classic, Anastasia: “This can only end in tears.” I mean, we’re talking about the Titanic—no one is going to make it out completely unscathed. But you are irrepressibly wonderful, so no matter how many tears or how many smiles you give me, I will be right by your side.

FTC Full Disclosure: I received my free review copy from G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers. I received neither money nor peanut butter cups in exchange for this review. Luck of the Titanic is available now.

Are you looking for:
•a plucky heroine?
•a sibling-centric plot?
•a historical fiction with thorough research?
•clever dialogue?
•a touching ending?
If you are, this book might be for you.

But only if you can stand:
•a slow-moving story
•a romance that doesn't take center stage
•a slap-in-the-face tragedy
•an ending that doesn't wrap everything up in a nice, neat bow

This YA felt so refreshing. A novel with a seventeen-year-old protagonist that isn't centered on romance, but instead on a sibling? You don't see that every day. Very impressive.

Lee's historical details (and ship vocabulary) are just as impressive. I learned so many new words from reading this book and learned a thing or two about the Titanic (which is saying something considering my slightly crazed obsession with it during high school). Really, really well done.

And even though tragic endings always leave me with mixed feelings, the ending of <i>Luck of the Titanic</i> was so touching that I can't complain. It was beautiful. I'm also not a fan of endings that leave things open-ended, but Lee does it so well that I can't complain about that either.

The 4-star rather than 5-star rating comes from the slow plot. I'm fine with slow plots, but I still want to feel a little thrill every time I get to read more of the story. I didn't feel any thrill during certain parts of this story. The middle dragged, especially since Stacy Lee almost never made it apparent what Val was going to do next—I couldn't look forward to Val's next move and, thus, the thrill of anticipation wasn't there. The only thing I knew for sure was that on Sunday, the Titanic was going to hit an iceberg (and that left me with more dread than anticipation).

But despite the slow plot, I'm really impressed with Stacy Lee. I hadn't read any of her books before, but I'll be keeping her on my radar from now on.

Thanks to NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an AEC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Luck of the Titanic is loosely based on the stories of the eight Chinese passengers on the Titanic (six of whom survived the ship sinking) who are now largely lost to history, and follows an 18-year-old Chinese-British girl, Valora Luck (hence the title) who sneaks onto the Titanic in an attempt to find and reconnect with her twin brother Jamie. Beyond just exploring not talked-about history, this is also an emotional book about the pain of realizing that somebody close to you is going to take a different path in life than yours, and a gentle reminder that you can't force a person to be somebody they're not.

The relationship between Valora and Jamie is done really well. Beyond just wanting to find her brother, Valora also hopes that by gaining passage to the United States she will also find opportunity in performing as an acrobat in the circus. She and Jamie trained together for years, but he doesn't want that for himself, a truth that Valora must come to terms with. Through short flashbacks, we learn about how close Valora and Jamie were for the majority of their lives, and how intertwined their fates appeared to be. This is further emphasized by the (positive) Chinese superstitions surrounding twins that Valora and Jamie were raised on. In fact, I really like how superstition was woven into the story--nearly every character has their own superstition, the impacts of which are explored.

Lee brings the Titanic to life with a diverse cast of characters and vivid descriptions of daily life on the ship. I especially liked the friendship that Valora develops with a girl named April, an aspiring designer who requisitions Valora to model her gowns and also helps her come to understand that you can't force a person to be somebody that they're not because of her own experience.

Overall, this was a lovely and moving story.

Advanced Reader’s Copy provided by NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers in exchange for an honest review.

Ok, so, I know the story of the Titanic. I know how it ends. I know there weren't enough lifeboats, that 3rd Class was basically trapped/locked away to save the lifeboats for the wealthy. That A LOT of shady stuff went down on who got saved. And I'm of the generation that grew up knowing Jack could fit on that damn door with Rose. But even given all that, I willingly went back into those freezing cold waters to see the sinking of the unsinkable from a different angle. Because there actually were Chinese passengers on the Titanic, even if the world doesn't really know much about them.

Stacey Lee is a master of Historical Fiction and she got me all wrapped up in LUCK OF THE TITANIC that even though I know how it all ends, I sat there full of hope this would be a story with a happy ending. Then that epilogue hit and my heart shattered.

Valora is willful and feisty and I adored her as a character. I do wish Jamie had been fleshed out a little more, but not knowing where his head was at also added to the strife between the twins that was a major driving force of the narrative. Wink and Ollie... I fell in love with those two. And Bo too.

I love that Lee gave the side characters their own stories and let them shine at times. It was covered in the author's note, but I also appreciated that Lee focused on lesser known people who were actually on the Titanic rather than only adding in the big names everyone is familiar with. There were a lot of real people on that boat, if only all of their stories could be told.

And without spoiling too much, I know there will be readers like myself who got anxious when a dog became a character in the main plotline, and I am here to tell you... the poodle makes it onto a lifeboat.

This is a slow paced story throughout most of it, but I was engrossed and the ending hit me hard. I was hoping for the same magic I found in THE DOWNSTAIRS GIRL, and was a little disappointed that it wasn't there. But I think there was so much to set up plot wise for this one, that that derailed the storyline at points. I hope that LUCK OF THE TITANIC introduces a whole new generation to what happened on that fateful day in the early morning hours of April 15, 1912. Perhaps it'll encourage more research to uncover stories of the lesser known names on the passenger list so that their stories can be told.

I have always been a sucker for anything about the Titanic so I was really excited to pick this one up! And oh my goodness I’m so glad I snagged it because this book was SO good! The setting on the Titanic and the incredible character had me reading through this one in a single sitting. I absolutely loved this novel and will be talking about it for a long time! Thank you Penguin Teen and Netgalley for my review copy!

EXCERPT: "The latest upcoming novel from author Stacey Lee, Luck of the Titanic offers a much-needed perspective on history. While it grips too tightly on historical recreation at times, it’s an introspective study of the Titanic and the Chinese individuals who were a part of it."

Full review published online at Asia Pacific Arts Magazine.

*I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
This was an incredible historical fiction novel regarding a young Asian woman's experiences about the Titanic. While it seems like more of a straightforward journey at face value, the novel has many twists and turns that keep you engaged with the story. I loved the arguments regarding class and gender norms, and greatly enjoyed the cast of characters. This is definitely my favorite novel of Stacey Lee's.

First of all, a YA Asian retelling of the Titanic? YES, please!

Oh this book was everything I wanted it to be. I got so emotional reading this book, it was just so good!
My favorite for sure is the main character, she was so relatable and strong and I just loved her so much. I also loved the found family here, it's always something I love to see and it made my heart so happy for them!

The whole scenery of this was AMAZING, the way it's described though - poetic. Stacey Lee writes in the most enchanting ways and you just never want the book to end! This truly felt like a masterpiece!

Inspired by the forgotten stories of Chinese survivors on the Titanic, we follow twins Valora and Jaime Luck on their voyage from England to the USA. After being separated for two years, Valora manages to find her way onto the ship to find her twin brother. She needs to keep her head down as she navigates the first-class areas to locate and convince a circus owner to hire them as acrobats. All of this comes to a halt when the Titanic hits the iceberg and begins to sink.

What I loved 💖 :
• Atmosphere of a world in 1914
• Strong bond between Valora and Jaime
• Concept of “luck” for Valora’s place in society
• Emotional impact
• Telling of untold stories (from a fictional POV)

What I personally struggled with 😅 :
• Dragged in the middle, but picked up at the climax
• Romance was decent enough!

Overall thoughts 📖 :
Historical fiction books are a hit or miss for me, but Luck of the Titanic worked out in its favour. I really appreciated the depth and research this book had, which made the story more believable. Taking a major historical event into something more consumable is a skill that Stacey Lee achieved! I loved seeing a different perspective and seeing more diverse representation on the Titanic.

Inspired by the 6 Chinese survivors of the Titanic who had undocumented stories and were turned away in America due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, Stacey Lee is back with another fantastic Asian historical fiction YA novel. (I loved her previous one, The Downstairs Girl).

Valora Luck stows away on the grand Titanic in hopes of finding her twin brother who is supposed to be onboard the ship. Trained as acrobats, she is determined to get her brother back into doing their routine to perform for a notable and influential circus owner in order to make a new life for themselves in America - that is until the unthinkable happens on that fateful night.

Ever since the 1997 movie, I’ve been fascinated with the story of the Titanic, and still love watching and reading anything to do with it. I could picture so many parts of the ship through Lee’s writing, and even areas where I had to look up to help visualize where things were. You can also tell there’s an interest in fashion with the author, as dressmaking features in this story where hat making featured in The Downstairs Girl. Both stories also had the main character needing to hide who they truly were, because of their race.

Really enjoyed this book! I love the historical elements always woven into Lee’s books - helping to shed more light on a likely lesser-known aspect of Asian history in the Western world.

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee

I really liked this novel by Stacy Lee. We have already ordered our copy for our library. Our students love anything that involves the Titanic. This is a thrilling historical fiction story that I know our kids will fight over.

I really enjoyed this book. I am not mixed, but being Korean and adopted I could definitely relate to Rika in this book. There is one part that really opened my eyes to something in my past that I thought was really awesome. If you are looking for a good YA contemporary I would def try this one out. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me!

Thank you to @netgalley for this eARC!!!

Luck of the Titanic by Stacey Lee; G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 384 pages ($18.99) Ages 12 and up. (May 4 publication)

...

Stacey Lee, a fourth-generation Chinese American and author of critically acclaimed 2019 novel "The Downstairs Girl," explores another chapter of the terrible Anglo treatment of Chinese immigrants in this lushly imagined, compelling novel set against the dramatic backdrop of the sinking of the Titanic.

17-year-old Valora Luck, daughter of a British vicar's daughter and a Chinese immigrant, dreams of reuniting with her twin brother James and reviving their childhood act as acrobats in the United States. James is working aboard the Titanic, shoveling coal in the boiler room; she works as a maid and is set to accompany her elderly employer, Mrs. Amberley Sloane, aboard the ship's maiden voyage when the woman inconveniently dies.

Refused entry to the ship, Valora uses her acrobatic skills to sneak aboard and her acting skills (plus a veil) to pass herself off as Mrs. Sloane in first class as she tries to track down Jamie in third class and the circus owner she knows is among the passengers. Among the colorful characters created by the author is fashion designer April Hart, who uses Valora to showcase her gowns aboard the ship, and a sympathetic young woman who falls in love with James after recruiting him as her shipboard dog walker.

The novel is told from Valora's perspective: "Something skirts over my boot and I recoil. A rat. They are certainly bold here, called by the peanut peddlers and meat pie hawkers. I shrink away from a pile of crates , where the rodents are making short work of a melon rind. The river slaps a rhythm against Titanic's hull, and my heart beats double time with the slosh."

Lee offers a vividly detailed picture of life aboard the Titanic through a very different lens, of the racism experienced by its Asian passengers. She also manages to pull off a delicate balancing act, making it seem possible that someone could actually engineer an acrobatic circus audition aboard the rail of a luxury liner. A compelling romance adds to the poignancy of the finale.

In an afterword, Lee notes that six of the eight Chinese men aboard the Titanic survived, an astonishing percentage when the survival rate for third-class passengers was only 25 percent. Shamed for surviving, they did not discuss their experience and little is known about them.

Lee is a founding member of We Need Diverse Books.

I'm just wow

That ending.

Stacey Lee is incredible. The amount of research and detail that must have gone into writing this book amazes me. She made it feel so real, and I learned a lot more about the third-class passengers that were on the Titanic. I didn't realize there were people from so many different nationalities.

Reading this book, you know where things are headed, and it kind of keeps you on edge (in a good way). Honestly, any mention of ice, lifeboats, water in general, had me freaking out. I've seen a couple documentaries about the Titanic, and I've watched that video on youtube of the Titanic sinking (over the course of hours) – that video was pretty much replaying in my head during the last 1/4 of this book – but besides that, I didn't know much else. Stacey Lee really adds so much to this historic event, and even though it is fiction, it feels very much real.

Wait, literally a thought as I’m trying to sleep. [The entire time Jamie is trying to get Val onto a boat and yet he’s the one who ends up getting saved. I’ll just go cry

I can't believe I waited so long to read this. And now I have to figure out how to make room for it in this year's Teen Roundtable. Here's why: It's got the Titanic in the title, so you know that's going to happen at some point. Despite that knowledge, this book manages to be a compelling historical fiction tale that really centers on the Chinese Exclusion Act, which most teens probably don't know much about.

I’ve always admired how Stacey Lee writes YA historical fiction with Chinese characters centered in the narrative. I was eager to pick up her newest novel Luck of the Titanic! In this particular story, readers are introduced to Valora Luck - a young British-Chinese woman who has stowed away on the Titanic. She has two goals in mind: finding her twin brother Jamie and convincing him that they should pursue a new life together in America, preferably as acrobats in the Ringling Brothers Circus. I’m going to leave the summary at that, as you can likely imagine how the story might end considering it’s set on the Titanic. Anyway, Luck of the Titanic was a great read! It’s been a while since I’ve read a novel set on the Titanic, but I used to find it fascinating (and terrifying) (and sad) at turns. There’s something undeniable about the pull I feel towards this large-scale tragedy; it’s unsurprising that I was eager to pick up a new story that includes it as the setting (and part of the plot). I really love how Lee wove her fictional tale about this headstrong young woman with the actual historical tragedy of the Titanic. It felt very seamless, and felt like a tale that I could fully believe was something that could have actually taken place all those years ago on this remarkable ship. It opened up a new perspective to an event whose key elements I was familiar with, which is always something I appreciate in historical fiction. I also enjoyed getting to know Valora, her brother and the variety of friends and foes she meets during her time aboard the Titanic. Luck of the Titanic was a wonderful addition to Lee’s existing body of work, and I can recommend checking it out!

I don't think I have cried about a book this much while FULLY knowing exactly what was to happen at the end. Stacey Lee writes so beautifully and I felt myself fall into the story with ease. I love the characters from the very start, Val and Jamie's relationship was so great to read and the budding romance between Val and Bo was also super fun. I appreciate how this takes a new perspective on a pretty well known tragedy by highlighting the non white people on board the Titanic. Incredible!

A well researched book that takes an entirely new perspective on the Titanic trip, from that of one of the Chinese travelers. After their father dies, Valor goes to find her twin brother, Jamie, who works with the coal ovens on the Titanic's maiden voyage. She has dreams of moving to American, but learns about the Chinese Exclusion Act while on board. However, Jamie has dreams of his own. With a supporting cast that you will just adore, this book is a must read.

I am so interested in the Titanic and the history surrounding it, so I was immediately sold on this book. It definitely did not disappoint. Valora was a great main character and I loved her and Jamie’s sibling relationship. I thought the acrobatic aspect would have been a bigger part of the story, so I was a bit let down by that. But overall, it was a lovely and heartbreaking historical fiction.

Rating: 4*