Just when I thought every possible story of the Titanic had been told, someone finally gives us something new. I have been obsessed with this story since I was a kid, to the point I have read more books than I can remember about it, both fiction and non-fiction. The downside is that after so many years and so many books, the topic, at least in terms of fiction, has gotten dangerously close to stale. While I am grateful the ship continues to elicit fascination, I simply can't read another love story or "lost inheritance" narrative tied to this tragedy. Which is why I am eternally grateful to Stacey Lee for breathing new life into this subgenre with her novel. The fact that she is bringing attention to a group of people who most Titanic fans are probably not even aware of is massively important and original. She has found a fresh perspective through which to re-tell this story, and it's one that truly helps illustrate the underlying themes and conflicts of the tragic story. While Titanic is seen by many as a tale of luxury lost, less discussed is the classism and racism that lay at the heart of its construction and voyage, as well as determined the hierarchy among those on board. Using the also too rarely discussed issue of the treatment of the Chinese in this period, Lee is able to tell the tale in a way that looks past the shiny veneer we are used to and respects the beauty of the ship while simultaneously avoiding the common trap of romanticizing poverty as she makes it clear that not everyone experienced the same privilege on board. While the opening scene and the main character's journey to actually board the ship do seem to stretch credulity somewhat, overall I am just happy that this book exists. In a sea of copycat Titanic stories, this one clearly stands out.