From Nikki Shannon Smith, author of Stranded, comes a story of the Titanic, family, survival, and the secrets we hide from those we love.
Colette only wants three things: to prove she isn't weak, to get a job, and to uncover the mystery surrounding her father. All her life she's heard that he died in a factory accident, but she's haunted by dreams of bitter cold and a sea of stars -- and part of her knows it's somehow connected to him. Colette is not to work, is not to leave the house, and is to never speak of her father. But when Colette secretly gets a job, she becomes fascinated by the stories that Walter, the store owner, tells.
He was aboard the Titanic before it sank. He saw the ship fall beneath the waves and watched as his brother perished in the sea. His memories bewitch Colette in a way she can't explain. She's drawn to the Titanic, and the more she learns, the more intense her dreams become.
Then the stock market crashes. As things get desperate, Colette clings to Walter's stories -- especially the ones about a man he knew who shared her father's name. But then Walter reveals a truth that changes Colette's life and identity forever.
Can Colette live the life she's lived all these years, knowing the truth now? Can she forgive her mother for lying to her? What if the repercussions of the truth are more daunting than secrets? Her memories aboard the Titanic will be the key to the life she's always been denied.
Seamlessly weaving between the Great Depression and a journey aboard the Titanic, Nikki Shannon Smith tells a story about what it means to survive, and all those we leave behind to do so.
Nikki Shannon Smith is from Oakland, California, but she now lives in the Central Valley with her husband and two children. She has worked in elementary education for more than 30 years, and writes everything from picture books to young adult novels. Find her online at nikkishannonsmith.com
