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Reviewed by: Kathy Jaccarino, High School Librarian Title: A Million to One Author: Adiba Jaigirdar Publisher: Harper Collins
Year: 2022 Good for Grades: 8-12 Genre/Type of Book: Historical Fiction
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: No Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: The book centers on a heist planned for a rare/valuable prize that will be aboard the Titanic, and books about the Titanic are always intriguing to me. The protagonists were all females, of varying ethnic/racial backgrounds, which lends to the stories depth. If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: A gripping tale of diverse young women trying to overcome adversity aboard the Titanic. Their daring plan to steal a precious gem-studded copy of the Rubaiyat unfolds against the backdrop of a ticking clock, as the ship is hurtling toward its tragic demise.
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Review:
I liked the book, stories centered on the Titanic are always fascinating. I thought the author did a great job developing a diverse group of main characters, without making it too formulaic. The young women represent various ethnicities and cultures, and there is a hint that two of the characters are attracted to each other.
The plot centers around these group of young women, all struggling with some type of hardship, at a time in history when women did not have many options. As they plot to steal a rare, gem-studded copy of the Rubaiyat, the classic book of Persian poetry, from a passenger on the Titanic, we learn more about their motives and what drives them, and why they agree to this plan. I would say the plot line here is not quite believable…it seems far fetched that one girl can “pick pocket” for four ticket to board the Titanic and another can overnight forge the papers necessary to travel abroad. But, if you buy the premise, the story is a good one. It is face-paced, and the characters are engaging. Also, the author begins each chapter with a count-down to the ultimate demise of the ship. I thought this lent to the suspenseful air of the novel as the girls, unknowingly, race the clock. And each chapter is told from the perspective of one of the girls, which was very impactful.
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Find more about A Million to One at Teachingbooks.net
For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website
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