Book Reviews and More: Collision Course - Gordon Korman

Sunday, 31 August 2025

Collision Course - Gordon Korman - Titanic Book 2

Collision Course

Titanic Series Book 2

Gordon Korman

Scholastic Canada

ISBN 9780545123327

eISBN 9780545389327

ASIN B00551OGUO

Collision Course - Gordon Korman - Titanic Book 2

This book was originally published in 2011, and the most recent edition in 2016. According to Goodreads there are 24 editions of the second volume in this series, including editions in English and French listed. My introduction to Korman’s works was the 39 Clues back in 2009. Since then I have read 85 of his books including this volume, a few of them more than once. I set the goal of reading all his books about 2020. I now have less than 25 books from series to go, and have completed all the stand alone books and am now just working my way through the remaining series. Not counting omnibus editions I believe that as of the summer of 2025 Korman has published 109 books. With each that I read I am entertained and often challenged. My son, who is 17 often, reads these books to me or with me, and he still loves them. And my 14 year old daughter has enjoyed a number of them

The description of this volume states:

“The Titanic has hit the high seas--and moves steadily toward its doom. Within the luxury of the cabins and the dark underbelly of the ship, mysteries unfold--a secret killer who may be on board, a legacy that may be jeopardized, and a vital truth that will soon be revealed. For Paddy, Sophie, Juliana, and Alfie, life on the Titanic brings both hiding and seeking, as their lives become irrevocably intertwined.

And then, of course, an iceberg appears, and the stage is set for the final scene.”

About the author at the back of this volume we are informed:

“GORDON KORMAN started writing novels when he was about the same age as the characters in this book, with his first novel, This Can’t Be Happening at Macdonald Hall!, published when he was fourteen. Since then, his novels have sold millions of copies around the world. Most recently, he is the author of Swindle, Zoobreak, and Framed, the trilogies Island, Everest, Dive, and Kidnapped, and the series On the Run. His other novels include No More Dead Dogs and Son of the Mob. He lives in New York with his family, and can be found on the web at his website.”

I do not think there is anyone not familiar with the story of the Titanic, this version of historical fiction by Korman helps us experience the events through several different sets of eyes, mostly youth; youth from a wide range of backgrounds and life experiences. From a street urchin in Dublin, to an aristocrats daughter, to a young man who faked his age to serve on the ship with his father, to a girl who constantly seems embarrassed by her mother’s political activism. Other than the prologue the events in this instalment of this series take place between, Friday. April 12, 1912, 4:50 P.M. and Monday, April 15, 1912, 12:09 A.M.. But there in an excellent twist in this story having to do with a scrap book from the White Chapel murders.

I admit I have never been much into the story of the Titanic, I have never seen the movie, and it is on my all-time list to never see, but this book and series are excellent, and it were do but put to film, I would go to see it with no hesitation.

This story is another great read from Korman’s masterful pen.

Historical fiction at its best. Coming from a long line of Irish men, the Irish thugs presented here seem very familiar. I also love the hits at the Whitechapel killings and history around those events are intriguing. The numerous historical figures that are actually part of these events. It is masterfully written historical fiction, sure to be enjoyed by young and old alike!

Books by Gordon Korman:

MacDonald Hall Series:

This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall (1978)

Go Jump in the Pool (1979)

Beware the Fish! (1980)

The Wizzle War (1982)

(formerly The War With Mr. Wizzle)

The Zucchini Warriors (1988)

Light’s Camera, Disaster (1991)

(aka Macdonald Hall Goes Hollywood)

The Jokes on Us (1995)

(formerly Something Fishy at Macdonald Hall)