Shipbuilder Reader Guide

The Time Travel Journals: Shipbuilder

1. What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
2. What specific themes did the author emphasize throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
3. Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
4. How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
5. In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author’s world view?
6. Did certain parts of the book make you uncomfortable? If so, why did you feel that way? Did this lead to a new understanding or awareness of some aspect of your life you might not have thought about before?
7. Do you think that Sam and Casey are wrong to try and change history? What about Sam’s vision to enhance the world’s technology at a faster rate?
8. Is Casey wrong to interfere in the ancient political and religious struggles of her adopted homeland?
9. What are some of the issues Casey faces as a woman in the early 20th century? If you’re a woman, how would you handle it, if you found yourself in her situation?
10. Thomas Andrews was a real human being who died when Titanic sank. He actually did many of the things attributed to him in TTTJ: Shipbuilder. Do you think the book gives you a good idea of what he was like? What did you like best about him?
11. Titanic is a timeless story – the kind of event that will touch people for many generations past the actual event. What do you think makes it timeless?
12. When did you first learn about Titanic? How did it affect you then. How does it affect you now? Does TTTJ: Shipbuilder help you understand more about the ship and tragedy?