A Million to One

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I’m not sure what age range this book falls into but the writing style is a little young in the words and the pacing but at some points the actions do not match this younger age style. The big steal that is intended was always going to end in disaster, as the countdown reinforces at the beginning of every chapter. Violet - a Croatian immigrant in Ireland who is trying to put together finances to reunite with her brother Marko. I’m going to start this review worh the ending because it was much sadder than I anticipated - though I knew it would be a possibility! A heart-pounding, romantic adventure from the award-winning author of Hani and Ishu’s Fake Guide to Dating.

I can’t say who does what obviously, but when the ship does in fact start to sink, Adiba provides plenty of opportunities for these four to give unto others. Emilie is a rich Brown girl who went to Ireland to visit the places that reminded her of her dad (or something similar, I can’t remember).Two of Adiba’s four leads (Emilie/Hinnah) have dark skin and I can’t help but think Emilie’s Haitian roots are homage to the ships only passenger of African descent, Joseph Philippe Lemercier Larochce. Okay, to say Adiba uses dramatic irony effectively would be underselling dramatic irony as these characters and all else onboard are sailing (sorry) towards unknowable, and sadly avoidable, historical relevance. Although aimed at young readers, I think this is more suited for 14 and above because there is a small amount of swearing and some challenging vocabulary. Also, though this is Jaigirdar’s third book and she is an experienced author, the writing style has some significant flaws.

Josefa is a thrill seeker, something about the danger of almost getting caught, of thieving and getting away with it. Obviously there is much sadness and heartbreak, as the Titanic’s demise features in the final section of the book, but there is also a sense of fun and adventure throughout. I enjoyed this book but would have preferred more emphasis on the fateful night that the Titanic sunk.Perfect for fans of Stalking Jack the Ripper and Girl in the Blue Coat, this high-seas heist is an immersive story that makes readers forget one important detail— the ship sinks. Although it’s also made me realise how quickly a contemporary book can be out of date – as Annie would be all over reels and Tik Tok now! However, I did like how past actions and connections are revealed when the characters are already onboard.

It’s impossible to overlook the intersectionality between people of color and their station in life, and that the comparative few who were aboard would most likely be found among the steerage. And while it’s certainly true, that your station in life was a deterministic factor in your fate, the lower the Class, the lower the chances you made it to a lifeboat, there is another group whose odds fall below even that. I never got a sense we were in Ireland while the characters were on land, and I can not tell you a single description that transported me to the setting of the Titanic.

She is currently stuck performing super-human feats at a one-ring circus for dwindling crowds and a foul Ringmaster, having lost contact with any and all family back home.