07.11.07
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic… Summer Reading Blog Assignment
Did you know that there were at least 12 dogs kenneled and traveling on the Titanic’s maiden voyage before sinking??? As a dog lover, I was very interested to learn of their fate and survival. In this book, White Star: A Dog on the Titanic, Marty Crisp writes about a fictional dog based on his own research of the Titanic and his love of dogs. If you are a fellow dog lover and interested in this history of the Titanic, this is the book for you!
If you’ve chosen this book for your summer reading project, simply use the Summer Reading Blog Directions, click on the comment link below and begin writing your very own blog entry. Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to email Mrs. Farnum at cpmfarnum@cox.net.
Happy Summer!!
July 20, 2007 at 12:22 am
I loved the book White Star, A Dog on the Titanic. It seemed that I was always on the edge of my seat no matter what was going on. I loved the way they told the classic tale of the Titanic in a new, interesting, and exciting way. Most stories I read are about the people on the Titanic and how it sank, but this story was about the dogs. I enjoyed the day and time at the beginning of each chapter. It helped to understand what events were going on and how quickly they occurred. One of the reasons why I couldn’t stop reading this book was because I wanted to find out what had happened to two of the main characters, Finn and Bucky. Did they survive? I was never sure. It was a mystery to the end. I found humor in many parts of White Star, A Dog on the Titanic, but overall I thought Carlos Hurd was the funniest. I loved when he said to Sam, “You look like a survivor from a shipwreck.” I chose to read this book because the dog on the cover reminded me of my dog. It turns out that Star and my dog have the same lively personality. I loved the book White Star, A Dog on the Titanic and I’ll never forget the story of courage and passion that it has told.
July 20, 2007 at 1:56 pm
Madison — Great observations about the chapter headings. They really do help you keep track of how quickly time passes in this novel. I’m glad you enjoyed the book! Mrs. Farnum
July 23, 2007 at 9:11 pm
White Star, a Dog on the Titanic was a great book. My favorite part was when Sam and Star jumped over the enormous side of the ship. It was very suspenseful because I didn’t know if they were going to make it to a lifeboat before freezing to death. Luckily, they found a lifeboat, but just when I thought the suspension was over, Stars tail got on the metal oarlock. Fortunately Stars tail gets unhooked and they settle on the life boat safely. I was very relieved when they finally got onboard the lifeboat. This was my favorite part because it was exciting and thrilling to the end.
July 27, 2007 at 1:01 am
White Star: a Dog on the Titanic was a great book! I couldn’t put it down! It was so addicting that I finished it in one day. I loved this book for many reasons, but I especially liked it because I never knew what would happen next. Even though I knew the Titanic would sink, I didn’t know when it would happen. Also, I didn’t know if Sam, the main character, would sink with the titanic, or if he would live through it all with his dog, Star. I also wasn’t sure if Sam would get to keep Star, or if Mr. Ismay, her real owner, would take her back. This book was also great because my many questions didn’t stop after this. I also wanted to know if Sam would like his new step father, or if his unsure thoughts about him would continue to occur. One of the main reasons why I liked this book was because of how unpredictable it was. It kept me only wanting more, and I would definitely call it one of my favorite books!
July 27, 2007 at 1:27 am
If I could recommend this book to anyone, it would be to my cousin. Her dog is sick with cancer right now, and I think it would comfort her to read a survivor story about a dog. Star shows her courage through surviving in many ways during the book, one of them being when she paddled with Sam all the way to a lifeboat in freezing temperatures. She was also brave because she was simply on a boat. Most humans are afraid of that! I think this survivor story would not only be great for my cousin, but great for anyone in need of comforting and reassurance that miracles do happen.
July 30, 2007 at 6:46 pm
White Star was an exhilarating, adventorous book!! I chose prompt number 3.
Another title for White Star: A Dog On The Titanic could be A Star and Sam, or I followed my Star. The first option(A Star and Sam) could be chosen because of the close relationship Star and Sam have in this book. Also because in the end, Sam gets to keep Star. For me, the part of the book where it states that Sam got to keep Star was propably the most heartwarming part in the whole book.
The second option(I followed my Star)would propably be the most likely choice because of the last line in the book; “I got lucky. I followed my star” This, too, captured my heart. I really enjoyed this book and hope that everyone else that reads it will be enchanted!
July 31, 2007 at 10:20 pm
A true masterpiece! I couldn’t stop reading; this story incorporated all the elements to make it such an exciting thriller. Before reading this story, I truly had no idea there were ever dogs aboard the Titanic, but now I realize how big a part they were to the families that owned them. They provided love and comfort during the voyage across seas. The thing is, (as you can tell from the dates at the beginnings of chapters) it happened so quickly, without notice, that many were too shocked and suprised to realize the real crisis, and how crucial it was to evacuate the women and children to the safety of the lifeboats. I would have to say that my favorite part was when the boat, Carpathia, had come to the rescue; I thought the survivors really needed something to cheer about! This book weaves a life or death situation into a fabulous mystery no reader is sure to forget!
July 31, 2007 at 10:31 pm
In the story, White Star: A dog on the Titanic, one line really helped me comprehend the true sentiments the defeated travelers were facing as they boarded the Carpathia.’It was true. Rescue was at hand. But everything would never be ‘all right’ again.’ It struck me hard with the emotion Sam was trying to express, the pain would never subside. This tale wraps it all together, suspense, action, humor, sorrow, and joy. I reccomend this book to all fellow dog lovers out there. The connection and trust between Sam Harris and Star on the Titanic will really motivate and inspire other dog lovers like myself. What a spectacular read!
August 1, 2007 at 1:25 am
White Star:A Dog on the Titanic was an adventurous book that kept me wanting to read on to find out what was going to happen next. The book was unpredictable. Right when I thought I new what was going to happen it totally changed. I would recommend this book to my dad because he is a true dog lover. Also,we had a dog named Star before, and she was brave and couragous just like Star in the book. One of the best parts of the book was when the Titanic starts to sink, and Sam and Star are swimming in the ocean. White Star is one of the best books I have ever read because at some parts you’re about to fall off your seat and sometimes it was just funny. This book really caught my attention and touched my heart. I hope that everyone who reads this book enjoys it as much as I did.
August 3, 2007 at 5:16 pm
White star: A dog on the Titanic was a awesome book. I felt thaty way because i really love dogs and if my dog was sick I would read this book because it would make me feel better. I think I would recommend this book to my friend, Brenden because he reads like once every week and I think he would read this in at least a day because I told him about the book and he would love it. If I could chosse a diffrent name for this book I think I would name it Sam and Star: A boy and his dog. I would name oit this because it shows the relationship between them.My favorite part of the book was when Sam got to keep Star because I could tell how happy he was. this was a great book and I could read over andover5 and still really like it.
August 3, 2007 at 6:29 pm
White star: A Dog on the Titanic was an awesome book. I liked this book because it was suspenseful. For example, I was scared when Sam and Star were at sea in a lifeboat, and I didn’t know whether or not they would live. I also liked this book because it made me sad, happy, and angry. An example of how it made me feel sad was when I thought Sam couldn’t keep Star because Mr. Ismay wouldn’t let him. I think I would recommend this book to my friend, Brenden, because he reads once every week, and I think he would read more often if he reads this very interesting book. If I could choose a different name for this book I would name it Sam and Star: A Boy and his Dog. I would name it this because it shows the relationship between Sam and Star, which was an important part of the book. The title White Star: A Dog on the Titanic did not tell me that the book was about a boy and his dog. My favorite part of the book was when Sam got to keep Star because I could tell how happy he was, which also made me happy. This was a great book. I could read it over and over and still really like it.
August 18, 2007 at 5:55 pm
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic was an exciting and suspencful book. I really liked this book because I love reading about the Titanic and dogs. My favorite part of the whole book was when Mr. Ismay let Sam keep Star. This was my favorite part of the book because I could tell that Star wanted to stay with Sam and Sam wanted to stay with Star. If I could recommend this book to someone, it would be my mom. I would recommend this book to her because she loves books about dogs, especially because we have two dogs. Even though some parts of this book were sad, it was fun book to read!
August 18, 2007 at 8:05 pm
The book I chose to read was White Star: A dog on the Titanic. I loved the book because it was very insperational as it showed what Sam Harris would do to try to save Star’s life as the Titanic was sinking.
In the days before the Titanic hit the iceberg, Sam and Star became great friends. When the Titanic was sinking, Sam went to the kennel and rescued Star. After he got Star, there were no lifeboats on deck so Sam and Star had to jump in the freezing water and tried to find a lifeboat and finally found a lifeboat that saved their lives.
I would name the book Sinking Star because Star was the dog that Sam Harris saved when the Titanic was sinking.
My favorite part in the book was when Sam Harris and Star saw a boat coming named the Carpathias which saved them and got them out to the New York Harbor.
If I had a chance to change anything about the book it would be to change the ending and talk about what happened to Finn, Bucky, and Pye.
If I would to recommend this book, I would recommend it to a dog lover because Star is just like a dog you’ll have at home.
August 23, 2007 at 12:32 pm
1. I enjoyed reading this book for several reasons. First, I liked the relationship Sam developed with a dog named Star. I felt this way because of the playfulness between them. For example on pages 20-21, Sam and Star were running through the boiler room together. “Star followed him with a joyful bark” (p. 20). Secondly, I liked how Star saved Sam’s life after the sinking of the Titanic. Sam responded to a reporters question in New York: “I didn’t save him. Star saved me” (p. 128). Thirdly, I liked how Mr. Ismay (the owner of the White Star Line & Titanic) gave his only dog, Star to Sam. Mr. Ismay responded to a reporter: “I have given this dog as a gift to the boy… “(p. 128).
I hated parts of this book. First, I hated that the Titanic sunk (p. 82). Secondly, I hated that there were only about 705 Titanic survivors (p. 134). Thirdly, I did not like that there where not enough lifeboats for everyone; the survivors in the lifeboats had to watch the Titanic sink and hear the ocean water filled with people yelling (p. 78-79). “Then the whole world fell silent as the great ship went dark” (p 79).
I could not stop reading the book because the story line was well-written. Also, the story was only for a short period of time: April 10 to April 19, 1912. The story line between Sam and Star kept me excited as stated above. The detailed relationships Sam had with other people and dogs on the ship till the end was very interesting and descriptive.
2. I would recommend this book to my friend Brian. First, He likes dogs and survival stories. Second, I would give this book to him because he likes the history about the Titanic. I connected with this book with him because it’s well written and descriptive about the people, dogs, Titanic and the survival stories. In conclusion, these are the reasons why I would recommend this book to him.
3. I think there could be a different title to this book. I creative thought that the new title might be: The Rescue Dog on the Titanic. There are several reasons for this new title. First, the dog, Star saves a boys life named Sam” (p 73-74, 128). “Sam’s arm tightens around Star. His other arm reached up and gripped the side of the lifeboat” (p. 73). Secondly, Mr. Ismay gives his dog, Star to Sam for saving his life (p 128). Thirdly, when a reporter asked Sam how he survived, Sam said: “I got lucky; I followed my Star” (p. 130). So, the main theme, besides the sinking of the Titanic, was how the dog rescued Sam. So, the new title: The Rescue Dog on the Titanic may be a new good title.
4. There were quotes in the book that really caught my attention. First, was the terrible description of the sinking Titanic: “It as the faint music of many voices singing on the tilted deck of the Titanic” (p. 78). “A terrible boom likes thunder, as if everything was forward into the bow” (p. 78). Next, “there was a crack as if something huge was splitting in two. It sounded as if the ocean itself had ripped apart” (p. 78). These strong descriptive quotes caught my attention about how terrible the sinking of Titanic was for those who died and survived this darkness of the ocean. Secondly, other quotes focused on Sam being a survivor. “The Titanic was sinking. It was impossible. But it was happening right before his eyes (p. 72). “The world had shrunk to the size of Lifeboat Number 4. The Titanic was gone. And the people” (p. 82). From this point on, Sam and Star stayed out on this small Lifeboat in the freezing cold Atlantic Ocean until the ship Catpathia arrived on April 15, 1912 (p. 90). Very sad thought was that, “Nobody believed that the Titanic could sink” ( p.129)
5. There is nothing I would change in this book. My reasons have been stated in the previous answers (# 1, 2, 3 & 4). The only thing I would like to have changed is the historical fact of the Titanic sinking into the Atlantic Ocean, and that there were only about 705 survivors (p.134). But one cannot change this terrible history.
6. For me, I had a lot of favorite parts in the book. But my most very favorite part began when Sam and Star are in the freezing ocean after the sinking of the Titanic. This part of the book was full of descriptive action being rescued from the freezing ocean to which many died. Also, there was conflict of Sam and Star getting into the lifeboat. The people had a problem with a dog getting on the lifeboat. It took a while, but Sam and Star were saved by Lifeboat Number 4. The ship Catpathia ended saving them. Sam ended up in New York to live with his mother and stepfather. Sam received a gift named Star (because the dog rescued him) from Mr. Ismay.
August 23, 2007 at 4:59 pm
The book, White Star: a Dog on the Titanic was an exiting book. It was filled with action around every corner. For example, when they were in the lifeboat, it seemed like a few pages later they were rescued. I would recomend this book to Taylor L. because he loves to read and he likes dogs. He would love this book because it is an exiting book like his favorite series Harry Potter. If I could rename this book I would name it The Titanic’s Star: A Boy’s Savior, because his name is Star and he is on the Titanic. It also fits the story because Star saved Sam from being a victum of the Atlantics vast, hazardess waters. A quote that I thought was interesting was on page 11, paragraph 6. The Irish setter probably was the dog that was on the cover. I wouldn’t change a thing even if I had the option to. The book is great as it is. My favorite part of the book was on page 118 where it read,”They didn’t use the words lived or died. Beside each name was printed saved or lost.” It made me think how sad it was, and how many people died on that early morning. People didn’t believe that their spirits died, but that their bodies were lost. The book White Star was one of my favorite books.
August 30, 2007 at 12:24 am
White Star:A dog on Titanic was an a exciting and adventerous book.I really liked the book and and it kept my attention the entire time.It kept my attention because I love dogs so much I was afaid for Star till the very end.
I would recomend this book to my wonderful grandma because she is the biggest dog lover I will ever know.When she comes to visit she is always playing with my two dogs and is always so worried about them.
If I had to change the title of the book it would be “Sam’s Soulmate… On the Titanic.”
In chapter one when Bucky and Sam met Finn (Captain of the Canines) Finn said “But next time could you design a ship with doggie toilets we could just flush?” I thought this was funny and it showed what a funny personality Finn had!
I would not change anything in the book because I thought it was a well-written book.
My favorite part in the book was the ending because I was so happy that Sam had Star forever.
August 31, 2007 at 12:56 am
White Star: A dog on the Titanic, was a super awesome book! It made me keep reading until the end. You never really knew what would happen next. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves dogs. Another title that I would give for this book is “A Star that Saved My Life.” I would call it that because Star really did save Sam’s life. One quote that really caught my attention was, “I got lucky. I followed my Star.” This quote was very descriptive of what the book was about. If I got a chance to change this book, I would not change anything because it is so exciting as it was written. My favorite part was when Sam and Star jumped from the Titanic into the freezing cold, Atlantic Ocean. White Star was really one of my favorite books.
August 31, 2007 at 1:06 pm
I think White Star: A Dog on the Titanic is a fascinating book. I couldn’t put the book down! When I was at the beginning of a chapter, I would already be predicting what’s going to happen next. The book was very detailed. For example, at the beginning of every chapter, it said the title, the day, and the date. Plus, while I was reading the book, it felt like I was there in the scene. I also thought it was sad in some parts, mostly the ending. For instance, when Sam and Star were in the ocean watching the Titanic sink and listening to people screaming while jumping off the ship. It was very sad to read. My favorite quotes of the book were, “I didn’t save Star, Star saved me,” and, “I got lucky, I followed my Star.” My favorite part of the book was when Mr. Ismay let Sam keep Star. Sam didn’t even need to worry about giving Star back! I strongly recommend this book for any dog lovers, like me!
August 31, 2007 at 2:46 pm
“White Star” was a great book. In the beginning it was a little boring. Although, in the middle of the book it was filled with action while the Titanic sank. By this time I could not stop reading it! I would recommend this book to my little cousin. I would do this because he loves dogs and has one of his own! If I had to rename the title of this book it would be called “The Star that Guided Me.” This title could be used because Sam’s dog, Star, guided him to safety after they jumped off the Titanic into the Atlantic ocean! One of the funniest quotes I found in the book was, “Maybe you should put some of that lavender behind your own ears, sweetheart.” I thought that line was very funny!
My favorite part of the book was when Sam and Star both jumped off the Titanic together and landed in the water. This was my favorite part of the book because it was filled with tons of exciting action.
September 1, 2007 at 12:26 am
I thought that White Star was a thrilling, and adventurous book. I liked it a lot. I liked it because it was about a heroic dog named Star.
I would recommend this book to my Mom, because she really loves dogs, is intrested in the wonderous ship Titanic, and loves books of this time period.
If I had to pick a different title for this book it would be called “Sam’s Hero”. It would be called this because Star was Sam’s hero since he saved him.
A line in the book that I really liked reading was “I don’t know if you’ll understand this, but Toujours is my best friend in all the world.” I liked this line because I thought it was so sweet that miss Isham’s best friend was Toujours and that she’d never leave him, even if Titanic was sinking.
If I had to change something in this book I would change it so that the lifeboat that Sam was on went back to find all his friends even if the passengers swamed the boat.
My favorite part of the book was when Star rescued Sam. I think that it was amazing how Star rescued Sam in the freezing, cold wate, and managed to get Same safely to a lifeboat.
September 1, 2007 at 12:06 pm
The book , “White Star” was full of adventure , and drama. I could not put the book down! I found the chararcters interesting and their experience on the trip exciting and heartbreaking. Sam was very courageous boy who was rejected by his mom for six years, was about to meet his new step dad, and lost many friends when the titanic went down . He had a great friend named Bucky who was also courageous and loyal to his friend Sam. I think that Sam learned about responsobility. If i could change one thing in this book it would be to let Bucky and his dad live bacause Sam had already been through enough. My favoriet part was when he gets to keep the dog.
September 2, 2007 at 5:34 pm
My favorite part of the book Wite Star was when the Titanic hit a massive iceburg and people simply thoght that it would only slow them down, but it was more than that,way more than that. As i was reading the after pages,i noticed two things. first, on the titanic their are way more first class rooms than second and third class rooms. Second, more than fourteen years before the Titanic their was a book written by Morgan Robertson called the wreck of the titan.It was a novel about the largest boat ever built that hit an iceburg and sank most of the passengers in the novel drowned because of the lack of lifeboats. just like the Titanic.
September 2, 2007 at 7:17 pm
The book “White Star” was a very interesting and compelling. I didn’t know that there were dogs on board the Titanic. The book gives the reader a different perspective due to the fact that the main characters are a dog, named Star, and a 12 year old boy by the name of Sam. I thought that this book was very different because it told you just why dogs got the name “man’s best friend”.
I would highly recommend this book to many of my friends. I may even recommend it to a few adults because no matter which books they are into I believe they would adore its lovely tale of trust and bravery. It is a timeless tale of how dogs love their owners so much they are willing to risk their own lives to save them.
A different title for the book could be “White Star: Deep Sea Savior.” This might be a good title for the book because not many would risk juping off of a sinking ship, landing in the freezing ocean, and dog padle to a life boat. For a dog that is amazing and for a human it is out of this world incredible. In the book all Star does is be kind, nurturing and a hero. Doesn’t he need a little more credit than just “a dog on the Titanic”?
My favorite quote was the last line of the book. It is where the journalist is asking Sam how he actually got off the Titanic and he answers, “I got lucky. I followed my Star”. This sentence says everything that this book is about. Bravery, trust, and most importantly friendship. This quote was so well written that there are no words known to man that could describe it better. It is a great way to end a book.
This book is perfect the way it is. Every line is descriptive and fascinating. Every character has its own unique backround. Mr. Daniel seems like a hard working business man at first look but later on you find out he is a dog lover and a very kind man. He has an extra side just like all the other very descriptive characters.
My favorite part of the book was when Star made a daring jump and plunged in to the cold, dark sea. The Titanic was sinking and Star had to make a fast decision. Jump or be sucked down with the ship. Sam was being dragged by Star and the dog knew that they were in major trouble. Even if Sam recieved an injury he was saved by his best friend. It was obvious that Sam was very grateful.
September 2, 2007 at 8:21 pm
After reading the wonderful book ” White Star ” and watching the romantic and dramatic film ” The Titanic ” , I now understand the infamous story was not just about Rose and Jack, but hundreds of others as well. Author Marty Crisp did an exceptional job of portraying the story and relationship between the twelve-year-old boy, Sam Harris, and the extraordinary dog, Star. Even though I knew that the marvelous ship would sink because of it’s history and seeing the movie, I found myself on the edge of my seat every time I turned the page. I wouldn’t want to change anything about this intriguing story. Not the characters, not the plot, and not even the title. There were so many parts of this book that I really loved but I would have to say that my favorite was when Sam reunited with his mother and new stepfather Jack in New York with intentions of being mad at them, but in the end he figured that he couldn’t be mad at the ones that he loved. He found out that his mother still loved him and that his stepfather Jack was a pretty decent guy. He was kind, loving, and smart. Another great part of the book was that Sam was given Star in the end. It all goes to show that good can conquer it’s way through a disastrous situation and that once again, dog is indeed man’s best friend.
September 3, 2007 at 11:59 pm
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic is a meaningful book about a boy named Sam who is coming to America on the Titanic. The moment Sam sees the beautiful Irish Setter, Star; he falls in love with him. Star, as well as other dogs, is along for an adventure. When the Titanic starts sinking, they have to rely on each other to save their lives. I thought this book was a little slow and boring at parts, especially the beginning. Other parts were very thrilling and climactic.
I would recommend the book to my dad because he likes history as well as dogs. My favorite part of the book is when Sam and Star jump off the ship because it is sinking. I liked this part because it shows that they both have bravery and courage. I can’t say that I would do the same if I were in their situation.
If I were to rename the book, I would name it “The Companions’ Adventure.” Sam and star definitely are companions throughout the book, and any day an enormous ship, such as the Titanic, sinks, it is an adventure. If I could, I would change the beginning of the story to have some more action. Over all, I enjoyed the fact this book was historical and it taught me about history about the Titanic. I would look forward to reading another book about the Titanic.
August 22, 2008 at 6:10 pm
White Star always kept me from going to sleep. The entire book was filled with friendship, dissapiontment, humor, and parts where I would say to myself, “Thank God.” After an exciting part where Sam, the main character, and his dog friend Star almost got caught looking for a cat in a “Crew Only” room, they just made into Sam’s room before running into trouble. There also was a depressing time in the story when Sam’s best friend, Bucky, drowned in the Atlantic Ocean when the Titanic sank. Friendship and companionship played a gigantic role in this book because when Sam’s father died, his mom couln’t take care of Sam so he was sent to his grandparents in England. There Sam met Bucky and they both were moving back to America. After Bucky passed, Star was all Sam had.
I would recommend this book to anybody who loves adventure and cliff-hangers, but this would be a very boring book to someone who wants puzzles. White Star had so many excitements like the one above, when Sam and Star swim in the Atlantic trying to find a raft, and when Sam rescues Star from his kennel while the ship starts sink and plummet to the bottom of the ocean. There were no parts where you had to pay close attention, but it still was very riviting.
Another title for White Star could be “Follow Me”, because Sam and Star depended on each other to guide them out of trouble and to help in the ocean.
A creative riddle Bucky and Sam wold say was, “Friends till Niagara falls?”
“Till Ida hoes,” Sam answered.
“Till Mary lands.”
“Till Tenny sees.”
A quote that made me laugh was, “Move those tree stumps you call legs. The lads are getting away from you.”
There was also a very gloomy quote was, “Pye is gone.” said Mr. Daniel.
Pye was his dog that was so close to being saved but sadly died.
I wouldn’t change anything about this book. White Star was an extroardinary book, I give it a ten out of ten. Although, I do want to know what happens to Mr. Daniel and Sam’s new life with his step-father.
My favorite part of White Star was when Sam was honored to help clean up the dog droppings. I think that’s halarious, because my one dog’s poop is enough smell, so I can’t imagine wanting to clean up about twenty of dog’s special presents.
August 25, 2008 at 9:25 pm
My favorite part of the book “White Star A Dog On The Titanic” written by Marty Crisp, was when the Titanic was sinking. Even though it was a terrible event to take place the author made it interesting, the way I like it. I liked it because there was action. Sam’s part made it even better because he refused to get on a life boat. He wouldn’t leave without the dog he called Star. To top that off Sam and Star survived after jumping into the oceans freezing water. The whole book was good ,but this part defenitely stood out to me.
August 27, 2008 at 4:34 pm
The reason I chose the book White Star, A Dog on the Titanic, was becasue I am interested in the Titianic and I really like dogs. I liked the book because I could imagine myself being Sam and wanting to save the dog. The part of the book that caught my attention was when the writer was talking about the things Sam could count on, like his friend, his grandparents, Star and the Titanic. No one ever thought the Titanic would sink, but it did! My favorite part of the book was the end because he was back with his mom and stepdad and he got to keep Star.
August 27, 2008 at 4:52 pm
The reason I chose White Star is because I like dogs and I like learning about the titanic. This book is exhilirating. You can`t put the book away you have to keep reading it. This book is kind`ve like a rollercoaster it has moments when you don`t what`s coming next, and it has moment when you are scared. It is a really good book.
If you like dogs and you like ships this is the book for you. The two main characters sam and star share a special bond together. The dog star saves sam`s life. If you want to find out the rest you`re going to have to read the book.
August 28, 2008 at 10:44 pm
Before I tell you about the book I chose, I want to tell you that I myself embarked on the Titanic this summer. I went to a museum exibit in Las Vegas that simulated how it felt to be on that huge and luxiourious ocean liner. When we got to the museum we were given passports. I was a second class passenger and I was about to find out if I lived or died.
After my voyage I went to the gift shop and found the book White Star! This book was a true bond with a boy Sam and a dog named White Star. I enjoyed reading every lucious detailed minute of this action packed book. It gave me all the feelings of his relationships with Bucky, a friend of his, and White Star, a dog that Sam found in the Titanic’s kennel.These are some examples of Sam’s relationships with Bucky and White Star.
One example is that when the Titanic was going down, Sam, being a good friend, tried to sneak Bucky on a lifeboat, but Bucky wouldn’t budge because he thought he would stay with his Dad. So then Sam went to Star and stayed with him every second of the way until they got to safty on the Carpathia. One other example is that Sam helped out the boy working the kennel, named Finn, by taking the dogs out on daily walks and cleaning the kennel and they became friends.
In conclusion, some friends died, and some lived. Luckily I survived my voyage. But let’s see if I can survive 6th grade!!!
August 30, 2008 at 6:44 pm
This book had everything, action, sadness, and a great ending. Personally, I don’t like reading but as soon as I started I couldn’t stop. I have always been interested in the Titanic but never knew much about it until I started reading this book. I know that they thought the Titanic was unsinkable but I didn’t know that they had only about 14 lifeboats for a ship of that size. I have two favorite parts of the book. The first is when Sam starts helping out in the kennel on the Titanic. I like this part because I can see myself as Sam. I love dogs and if I were on the ship I would be helping out in the kennel too. My other favorite part is at the end of the book when Mr. Ismay gives Sam his dog Star as a sign of appreciation for saving his dog. All in all, it was a terrific book!
August 31, 2008 at 4:02 pm
I really enjoyed the book, White Star; A Dog on The Titanic. I think that the author made the book very exciting and suspenseful, which made me want to read more. It was exciting when Star jumped off of the Titanic and took Sam with him. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes history but doesn’t want to just read a textbook with facts. I also think that someone who likes dogs or is interested in the time of the Titanic would love to read this book. If I had to give this book a new title, I would name it, Iceberg Ahead: The Story of A Heroic Dog. This title would show how Star saves Sam from a horrible death in the icy cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean. I also chose this title because it shows how the Titanic suddenly struck an iceberg. One of the quotes that I liked best in this book was when Bucky sang, “Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay, If we go down today, I’ll swim the other way, Ta-ra-ra-boom-de-ay.” I liked this quote because it is funny and it showed Bucky’s true personality. Another funny quote is when Sam and Bucky said that they will be friends, “Till Niagra Falls, Till Lands End, Till the Swansea, Till the Killy begs.” I liked this quote because it showed their true friendship. If I were writing ths book, I would change the ending so Bucky would live. It was very sad in the book when he died and the story was not as funny without him. My favorite part of the book was the time Sam and Star were swimming to the lifeboat and Sam refused to let go of Star. I liked this part of the book because it showed how strong Sam’s feelings were for Star. I am glad I had a chance to read and enjoy White Star.
September 1, 2008 at 3:18 pm
I really liked the book, White Star A Dog On The Titanic, because I have always enjoyed learning more and more about the Titanic. I found Sam’s journey to be sad but yet interesting at the same time. Sam lost his father at a very young age and he and his mother had a very bad relationship and had not seen each other in six years. I really enjoyed seeing Sam and Star’s relationship deepen.
I would recommend this book to people like me, who are dog lovers and who like to learn about history.
If I were to change the title of the book, I would change it to: A Dog Lovers Worst Nightmare! because over 12 dogs died on the titanic because people did not think they were important.
My favorite quote from the book is:
“Till Niagra Falls.”
“Till Lands End,” Sam answered
“Till the Swansea”
“Till the Killy begs”.
It showed how strong the relationship is between Sam and Bucky and how they would always be there for each other.
It would be hard to change anything about the book because it is historial fiction so it would be hard to re-write history. But, if I would change anything, I would have all of the people and dogs survive.
My favorite part of the book is when Star led Sam out of the Titanic and over to a lifeboat. It showed how much they cared for each other.
This is the best book I read all summer!
September 5, 2008 at 12:50 am
I loved the book, “White Star..A dog on the Titanic” very much. I loved the relationship that Sam had with Star because I also love animals and have two dogs named Hurley and Callie who I would do anything for. One of my favorite parts of this book was where Star jumped from the Titantic into the freezing ocean and Sam went in after him. Sam refused to be rescued without Star. I loved how much Sam loved Star. Sam’s father died when he was young and he had not seen his mother in over six years so I think he considered Star to be his family and I think Star felt the same way.
I also loved that Sam always wanted to do the right thing. He loved Star so much but he was stilling willing to give Star back to his owner even though it would be so hard for him to do. Star was a very valuable show dog who belonged to Mr. J. Bruce Ismay. Mr. Ismay had put Sam in charge of taking care of his dog on the Titantic. After the Titantic sunk Sam knew he would have to give Star back to his owner. I was so happy when Mr. Ismay told Sam he could have Star. I was so happy for them both.