Children of the SS Atlantic by Danille Metcalfe-Chenail
The Lives Lost to One of History’s Worst Maritime Disasters
On April 1, 1873, the SS Atlantic sank off the coast of Prospect/Terrance Bay in Nova Scotia, an event that led to the deaths of 550 out of 952 passengers and crew. It’s the first of two White Star Line disasters connected to Nova Scotia, the second being the more famous Titanic.
In Children of the SS Atlantic: The Lives Lost to One of History’s Worst Maritime Disasters, Danille Metcalfe-Chenail chronicles the disaster both generally and by focusing on three of the children connected to the sinking: passengers John Hanley and Lillan Davidson and Tom Hamm, a Nova Scotian who assisted survivors.
“I often find it’s difficult to talk about disasters in children’s books due to the subject matter. However, Metcalfe-Chenail does so with an expert degree of care and skill.”
As someone who has read a lot about the SS Atlantic (and anything connected to the White Star Line), I was excited to see this new title designed for younger readers. I often find it’s difficult to talk about disasters in children’s books due to the subject matter. However, Metcalfe-Chenail does so with an expert degree of care and skill. It’s easy to follow, approachable method that doesn’t gloss over important details or facts. It simply allows the story to be told, but also leaves room for any questions children may have.
These questions might be answered by the book’s other features: a few fact sidebars, discussion questions and even a glossary to help readers understand terms they may not be familiar with. I especially liked the glossary because I know as a kid I’d be running to the dictionary trying to figure out what these words were.
Children of the SS Atlantic is a worthwhile addition to any personal, school, public or classroom library. It not only sheds even more light on story long overshadowed by the Titanic, but one that more people should know about, no matter their age.
About the Author
Danielle Metcalfe-Chenail is the author of eight books of nonfiction for children and adults, including Freddie the Flyer and Alis the Aviator. Her titles have received an Atlantic Book Award and First Nations Communities Read Award, been shortlisted for the Hackmatack Award, and are included in Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. Danielle and her family live by the sea in Nova Scotia, just up the coast from where the SS Atlantic wrecked. www.daniellemc.com
About the Reviewer
Katie Ingram is a freelance journalist and the author of Breaking Disaster: Newspaper Stories of the Halifax Explosion and The Undesirables: A History of Rockhead Prison. She’s also a part-time instructor with the University of King’s College School of Journalism, Writing and Publishing.
Book Details
Publisher : Nimbus Publishing Limited
Publication date : March 24 2026
Language : English
Print length : 104 pages
ISBN-10 : 1774715252
ISBN-13 : 978-1774715253
Danielle is such a talented author and wonderful person. She takes great care in her stories and research and I just know this one is great, too. Thanks for celebrating it.