In October, I read the book Iceberg by Jennifer A. Nielsen. Iceberg is a historical fiction about a young girl named Hazel. Hazel has to travel to New York to lived with her aunt and work in a garment factory to make money to send to her family back in England. She didn’t have enough money to purchase a ticket, so she stows away onboard and as she explores the ship. She meets a poster named Charlie and a first class passenger named Sylvia. As she wandered through the ship trying not to get caught, she meets Mrs. Abelman, a sweet former governess. She gives Hazel a notebook, so she can write about a the questions she has and so she can write her newspaper story. However, while on their way to get to New York they hit an iceberg. Sylvia and Hazel were helping others to get to the top deck where the lifeboats were, while they’re helping they heard Mrs. Abelman calling for help. They got her out of her room, She told Hazel and Sylvia to got with Mrs. Gruber to the lifeboats. Hazel wanted to find Charlie, so they all could go to the lifeboats. Hazel wanted Mrs. Abelman to come with them to the lifeboats. Mrs. Abelman was helping others who could not speak English and were trapped in their cabins. She told Hazel that she would try to get up there, before Hazel left, Mrs. Abelman gave her a metal tin box to store her notebook with notes inside. She writes her story about the titanic to try to sell to a newspaper publisher.

I recommend reading this book because I love reading about historical events that happened throughout history. I was entertained throughout the whole story and I didn’t want the story to end. I loved how the story ended with Hazel writing her story and having all her friends with her and thankful for the people who sacrificed themselves for them to make on the lifeboats.

Hazel was my favorite character, because she was curious and didn’t letting anyone stop her from accomplishing goal of writing her own story. In the book it states, “If I was going to sell my first news story, I needed to write about life on board for the wealthiest passengers, not the poorest passengers. Which meant my next decision be either brilliant or utterly foolish. Or both. I needed a way back onto the first-class promenade. I glanced over at the deckhand. He didn’t seem to be going anywhere, but I did remember the gate that Charlie had led me through earlier. Hadn’t he said on the first day, the officers would be more lenient about mistakes? I hoped so because I intended to make another one.” (pg. 39) This quote proves that Hazel is curious because even though she wasn’t a real first class passenger, she needed to go to the first class deck so her story sounded professional. Hazel was rethinking her decision, but she was going to risk getting caught by the officers so she write about the first class passengers.

My favorite quote from the book is a letter Mrs. Abelman wrote to Hazel. It states, “In only the short time of our acquaintance you have become dear to me. Almost from the first moments on board, you reminded me of my daughter. She was as adventurous and brave and strong as you are. I never wanted her to work in that garment factory, but she insisted that she must build her own life. So must you, Hazel. But your own future with a pen in your hand and notebooks to fill. You have so many questions. Now go and find all of your answers. The questions are the best part of you for they will guide you into a future better than you can possibly imagine right now. I have one last gift for you. Use it wisely and it will allow you to live as you choose.” This is my favorite quote throughout the book because it shows the bond between Hazel and Mrs. Abelman in such a short time, Hazel has helped Mrs. Abelman when she needed it. Hazel didn’t want Mrs. Abelman to die on the ship, she begged Mrs. Abelman to go to the lifeboats, but she wanted to some of the passengers who don’t speak English and wouldn’t understand the instructions. Mrs. Abelman wanted for Hazel to live the she chooses, the short time Mrs. Abelman had she wanted to make sure everyone on the deck was safe. Hazel cared about Mrs. Abelman and wanted her to be safe, Hazel learned that there’s a high road and a low road and the meaning of taking the high road.